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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
This book felt like summer, but the sort of summer you can only have as a child.
The contrast of Jody's father against the character of Billy Buck was quite interesting. While the father held the title and social clout, Billy Buck was the one who Jody turned to and who held a greater knowledge and understanding of horses. Jody's loss of complete faith in Billy Buck (and Billy Buck's awareness of that loss) offered excellent commentary on the loss of innocence/faith in childhood, JS managed to capture both the grief and necessity of it as a road marker toward adulthood.
Some of JS's story threads got lost for the sake of brevity, but I found that I didn't mind too much.
I very much enjoyed the short story at the end of the book, though I wasn't expecting its presence. "Junius Maltby" was a curious exploration of simplistic happiness contrasted against the world's expectations and I've continued thinking about it for the course of this last week since I read it.
In each of these short stories, JS's abilities to capture his character's flaws and using them to sketch their humanity (rather than to vilify them) is excellent and something I hope to be able to emulate in my own writing.
The contrast of Jody's father against the character of Billy Buck was quite interesting. While the father held the title and social clout, Billy Buck was the one who Jody turned to and who held a greater knowledge and understanding of horses. Jody's loss of complete faith in Billy Buck (and Billy Buck's awareness of that loss) offered excellent commentary on the loss of innocence/faith in childhood, JS managed to capture both the grief and necessity of it as a road marker toward adulthood.
Some of JS's story threads got lost for the sake of brevity, but I found that I didn't mind too much.
I very much enjoyed the short story at the end of the book, though I wasn't expecting its presence. "Junius Maltby" was a curious exploration of simplistic happiness contrasted against the world's expectations and I've continued thinking about it for the course of this last week since I read it.
In each of these short stories, JS's abilities to capture his character's flaws and using them to sketch their humanity (rather than to vilify them) is excellent and something I hope to be able to emulate in my own writing.
Another excellent book from Steinbeck. Here we get an excellent look at rural life in Salinas Valley. We're presented with a few significant events in a young boy's life and the harsh realities of living on a farm/ranch. Steinbeck, of course, sticks to his no nonsense style giving fantastic descriptions when necessary and letting your mind fill in the blanks when possible.
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I read this in the fifth grade, this was seven years ago, so this review should be read with that in mind.
I had been placed into an advanced reading class with a teacher who looked like a catfish and smelled like death, in a classroom the size of a closet with very little ventilation. Just put yourself at our oval table, and then imagine yourself reading The Red Pony, and you will hopefully understand why I refused to read--or complained without end about reading--anything that John Steinbeck has ever written.
I hated the never ending descriptions and the insanely extensive details and pretty much everything about this book. In part because I was in fifth grade, part because it's the Red Pony, and partially because of that godforsaken class I was in.
So I got myself kicked out of the class, buried the book behind all the other books on my bookshelf, and never thought about John Steinbeck again until The Pearl four years later.
Since then, I have gained a certain appreciation for never ending descriptions and loads of details, and so I look upon John Steinbeck (but not The Red Pony) quite differently now.
I had been placed into an advanced reading class with a teacher who looked like a catfish and smelled like death, in a classroom the size of a closet with very little ventilation. Just put yourself at our oval table, and then imagine yourself reading The Red Pony, and you will hopefully understand why I refused to read--or complained without end about reading--anything that John Steinbeck has ever written.
I hated the never ending descriptions and the insanely extensive details and pretty much everything about this book. In part because I was in fifth grade, part because it's the Red Pony, and partially because of that godforsaken class I was in.
So I got myself kicked out of the class, buried the book behind all the other books on my bookshelf, and never thought about John Steinbeck again until The Pearl four years later.
Since then, I have gained a certain appreciation for never ending descriptions and loads of details, and so I look upon John Steinbeck (but not The Red Pony) quite differently now.
It's Steinbeck. 4 stars just for that. Short, sweet and beautifully written. That's what you get!
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
for such a small read and over a subject that i often find to be synonymous with elementary school reading (the concept of a small child and an animal bonding) this book took me by surprise! the last section was by far my favorite and reminded me why i like Steinbeck’s style so much. Details are given to show the importance and intimacy that the reader should feel for a scene in such an effective and simple way!
adventurous
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes