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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
this wouldn’t be my first (or fourth) recommendation for a short steinbeck reading.
Short form Steinbeck: it's often not a good idea to return to past pleasures since they are of the moment and may disappoint. I was given The Red Pony to read as a 10 year old, because Mrs McHugh was slightly unnerved by the speed with which I'd consumed most of the Eng lit curriculum and wanted to slow me down. It didn't, it simply introduced me to Steinbeck although I took a while to appreciate the joys. If you don't get him, stop right here for although it's a slim volume, this one has all the usual ingredients of detail, warmth and nature as allegory for the human condition. But it's lovely stuff, and the sign of an emergent master at work that he can feel so comfortable with so little.
I love the intimate nature of Steinbeck's writing. I greatly enjoyed how this book did not have a conclusive ending, allowing the reader to ponder for themselves the kind of life Jody will have, the kind of person he will grow into. The astute descriptions of the interactions and people in this story continually draw me in. Because of these qualities and length of this book, I believe it is a wonderful introduction to Steinbeck.
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
A good novel but not a great novel. In short, it’s a story about a kid who lives in a farm with his parents and a hired help, Billy. One day he is gifted a red pony and he loves it dearly. However one day it gets sick because of rain and it dies. Jody the kid is extremely sad. He moped around but eventually gets over it. Later on we see an old man character, Gitano, and after that the grandfather comes to visit. There is not really a plot, but rather a story telling about daily life in a farm in California.