Not my favorite book(s) ever, but more tolerable than "Of Mice and Men."

These 2 stories are the John Steinbeck I love. Some of his work is depressing and a little dull.

The Pearl is about a man who finds a pearl in Baja, California. As a result of his new-found wealth, he runs into thieves and other troubles, which end up in deaths, among other tragedies. He ends up throwing the pearl back into the sea.

The Red Pony is about a young boy who gets a new pony that dies. At the end of the story, a mare is pregnant and the boy is promised the colt. There is a problem with the pregnancy and the mother has to die to save the colt. All is poignantly told.

One of the sub-stories in The Pony is about Gitano, an old, feeble man, whose life is at its end. He takes an old, feeble horse, whose life is also at its end, and rides into the mountains, presumably to die with the horse. This is also written in Steinbeck's well-loved style.

This review is only for The Pearl. Charming story, even if a little too transparent with the theme of riches ruining character. This was timely reading--after a big promotion and raise :)

The Pearl: 1 star
The Red Pony: 2 stars

I think part of my loathing for this pair is that I was assigned to read them FOUR years in a row in school. I dislike The Pearl more than The Red Pony, when it comes to degrees of hatred.

I would like to state right here that I am sorry Mr. Erikson (7th grade English teacher), this book is wonderful. I ought to have appreciated it all those years ago...even if the pony does die on page 30...oops...spoiler alert.

.

The Pearl was great, but I couldn't quite get into The Red Pony.

The amount of stars is the average for both stories 4 for the first The Pearl and 3 for the second, The Red Pony.

The first story I liked a lot. Especially the beginning, when I had the idea that I was there in the book, in the hut near the ocean.
A wonderful tale of the human nature captured in words that went straight to my heart.

The Red Pony I liked less. It was not nearly as scenic, I had difficulty with the graphic scene with the fowling horse. And just the story itself was not so gripping, touching, compelling.

Two quick stories, but both are well written, poignant, and have a real emotional punch. Definitely worth picking up

Kind of strange and disheartening stories.

steinbeck para de me deprimir
mixed review pq the pearl foi ok mas o red pony foi mt bom