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The Red Pony
by John Steinbeck
by John Steinbeck
My reintroduction to Steinbeck began with The Red Pony.
Sure I had read Of Mice and Men and Grapes Of Wrath in High School, but that was a number of years ago, and I can hardly remember either.
I found The Red Pony (a mass market paperback edition) all worn and hidden on one of the bookshelves in the classroom I work in. Apparently before it was my room, the teacher used to use it as a classroom text for 4th graders. The cover was striking and I'd been meaning to start reading some Steinbeck ever since I fell in love with the Monterey/Pacific Grove area in recent times.
The Red Pony is 4 short stories. Well 2. But the first one is split into 3 parts. I originally ranked it 3 stars, but have chosen 4 because the more I think about it, the more I like the story. Sure it's simple, and it's off-putting to people who think it's actually about horses, but the descriptive nature of Steinbeck's writing really bring to life the lonesome Salinas valley, as well as the characters who lived and worked there. Billy Buck, the ranch hand is a classic American character, old and gruff and full of wisdom that's not necessarily of the "philosophical" sense.
The stories are foremost about Jody, the boy, growing up. He deals with loss, gain, and things unexpected. Through the different stories, he begins to find his place in his family and in his life.
It's a nice, short read that can kill a lazy weekend and actually make you FEEL something when you finish.
Sure I had read Of Mice and Men and Grapes Of Wrath in High School, but that was a number of years ago, and I can hardly remember either.
I found The Red Pony (a mass market paperback edition) all worn and hidden on one of the bookshelves in the classroom I work in. Apparently before it was my room, the teacher used to use it as a classroom text for 4th graders. The cover was striking and I'd been meaning to start reading some Steinbeck ever since I fell in love with the Monterey/Pacific Grove area in recent times.
The Red Pony is 4 short stories. Well 2. But the first one is split into 3 parts. I originally ranked it 3 stars, but have chosen 4 because the more I think about it, the more I like the story. Sure it's simple, and it's off-putting to people who think it's actually about horses, but the descriptive nature of Steinbeck's writing really bring to life the lonesome Salinas valley, as well as the characters who lived and worked there. Billy Buck, the ranch hand is a classic American character, old and gruff and full of wisdom that's not necessarily of the "philosophical" sense.
The stories are foremost about Jody, the boy, growing up. He deals with loss, gain, and things unexpected. Through the different stories, he begins to find his place in his family and in his life.
It's a nice, short read that can kill a lazy weekend and actually make you FEEL something when you finish.
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My mother is retiring after 40 years as an elementary English teacher. I was helping her clean her room, clearing out stiff yellow books from the dusty shelf at the back of the room. I was reading Grapes of Wrath at the time, so I picked this little number up. It was hiding between other paperbacks.
Nothing against equestrians, I'm simply not a big horse fanatic. I just picked up this quick book to read more Steinbeck. I'll get back to you post-read, just had to share the similar story we share!