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3.33 AVERAGE
3.33 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When she watched Derry Girls, Caroline’s mom said, “teenage girls really are the same everywhere.” I think the same is true for boys and this book. Jody really is like any other little boy in so many ways, just growing up under relatively harsh circumstances compared to modern times.
I had several highlights in this book regarding the complexity of emotions and how well Steinbeck portrays them. They are so universal and timeless: Carl getting mad at himself and therefore speaking more angrily to others; Billy recognizing that Jody didn’t trust him blindly anymore and speaking harshly; Mrs. Tiflin (no first name needed I guess) being upset with her husband over his comments about her father. Despite the different time, place, and circumstances, these conversations and emotions just felt so normal. Pretty cool.
What I didn’t like was the violence of farm life. I know it’s realistic and the whole point of the story is that there are hard choices, decisions made based on experiences, but it was not pleasant to read them. Not saying all parts of every book have to be pleasant, just that some parts of this particular book were pretty unpleasant and I will be thinking of them moving forward.
I’m giving this four stars because I can tell it’s masterful and timeless, but I know I’d struggle to reread it just because of the tragic violence. I’m inclined to try another of Steinbecks short stories, though based on this one + of mice and men + grapes of wrath, i think they’re all going to have these tragically violent scenes. Sigh.
I had several highlights in this book regarding the complexity of emotions and how well Steinbeck portrays them. They are so universal and timeless: Carl getting mad at himself and therefore speaking more angrily to others; Billy recognizing that Jody didn’t trust him blindly anymore and speaking harshly; Mrs. Tiflin (no first name needed I guess) being upset with her husband over his comments about her father. Despite the different time, place, and circumstances, these conversations and emotions just felt so normal. Pretty cool.
What I didn’t like was the violence of farm life. I know it’s realistic and the whole point of the story is that there are hard choices, decisions made based on experiences, but it was not pleasant to read them. Not saying all parts of every book have to be pleasant, just that some parts of this particular book were pretty unpleasant and I will be thinking of them moving forward.
I’m giving this four stars because I can tell it’s masterful and timeless, but I know I’d struggle to reread it just because of the tragic violence. I’m inclined to try another of Steinbecks short stories, though based on this one + of mice and men + grapes of wrath, i think they’re all going to have these tragically violent scenes. Sigh.
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
emotional
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is my second Steinbeck, but the first time I've sat back and said, "I get it now." A coming of age for a child into maturity, and a farmhand into fallibility, and america realizing she is too big for her old stories, old expansions. Of course the pony had to die . Of course the colt is a mystery.
This was a nice little book. It’s absurd that it took me this long to finish it. Stupid reading slump. It’s technically a novella, but it’s really a collection of four short stories all centered around a boy named Jody who lives on a ranch with his parents and a ranch hand named Billy Buck. It’s a bit of a coming of age story, it all feels very melancholy and wistful, and I think Steinbeck was probably looking back on his own childhood from a very complicated lens. The characters have a lot of depth that’s developed with a simplicity that feels so matter of fact and easily done, it’s crazy how good he was at that. Billy Buck was such an interesting character, and it was interesting to see how his status as Jody’s role model changed over time. Jody’s dad was really complicated as well, and their strained relationship was lurking in the background of every single moment of the book. I think this book is worth reading if you like John Steinbeck. I am going to read one of his longer books soon (probably Grapes of Wrath) but I have no idea what I will read next. Need something that will get me out of this slump.
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I don't really know how to rate this, because Steinbeck's writing is always good, but boy this book is a kick in the teeth. More than once. Devastating & heartbreaking (a la John Steinbeck). Give yourself space for an emotional nap after.
I understand it was written in a certain time and it does capture that moment well, but so much unnecessary, callous and weirdly detailed violence against animals I can’t say I particularly enjoyed reading it.
adventurous
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death
Moderate: Racism, Colonisation