Steinbeck never disappoints.
Still, I was a little less enraptured with The Red Pony than I usually am when I pick up a Steinbeck novel I've never read. There are a number of brilliant scenes as usual, including a few extremely dramatic (and perhaps surprising) ones. These are emotionally packed and precisely and intensely relayed.

These powerful scenes aside, the energy J.S. is able to infuse in even the most basic observations always astounds me. He was truly both gifted and, I assume, assiduous.

I don't remember experiencing this in previous Steinbeck novels, but there are a couple of instances where I wished for "the rest of the story." I know this isn't necessarily the author's job, but in a few places I was expecting future surprises or follow-up that was never offered. Perhaps this WAS the surprise. This may also reflect the structure of the book, which, though it is a mere novella, is divided into four parts, each of which stands somewhat by itself; together they are glimpses into major events in the boy Jody's life, I guess.

I listened to this on audio during a brief road trip. Despite the reader having received some awards for some of his work, I wasn't as engaged as I have been with other audio books, where my level of attention seems to be strongly influenced by the reader. But I'm afraid I've wasted several minutes of your time, whomever you may be. My apologies. Read John Steinbeck; he's a much better investment.