Steinbeck’s prose is always a pleasure, and this short novel of his snuck up on me. It left me a good deal more to think about than a boy and his pony. Good stuff. ( )

This was a disappointing, offensive book. The main characters were all outsiders who did possess some positive qualities, but also exhibited much despicable behavior. They tormented and disembodied birds and animals and bullied others. ( )

Only the first chapter deals with the red pony, the rest portray the character of Jody, an observant, lonely young boy who can never please his father. The distance of his parents is illustrated by them being identified throughout the book by their first and last names. In the second chapter we see his father's displeasure extends to an elder first inhabitant of the place. The third chapter works out the effects of the pony's death in the choices of their hired hand. In the final chapter, Jody chooses to spend time (against his father's expectation) with his grandfather who has lost his life's goal. ( )

Four short stories centered around Jody Tiflin, the son of the owner of a small ranch in the Depression era. Two of the stories involve horses, and Jody's passionate desire to have a horse of his own. The other two deal with with old age.
All four stories were good, but none grabbed me to the degree some of Steinbeck's full novels have. ( )

Great! Now I wouldn't be able to see a pony without crying. Thanks, Steinbeck. ( )