Joe Kitchen’s Reviews > The Long Valley > Status Update

The Red Pony stories are all kind of sad.

"Saint Katy the Virgin" is a hilarious story of a really bad pig that gets converted and venerated. Quite the satirical piece about the Church.

"The Murder" is probably the most memorable of the stories so far. A man finds his wife with another (her cousin) and shoots him. The he punishes her.

It seems one theme through most of these stories is a man that's somehow suppressed, sometimes sexually by a woman. And then it comes out.

"Johnny Bear" is the story of the big bear-like man that has a snack for remembering conversations. He becomes the town's gossip mill - due the price of whiskey at the local drinking hole. Steinbeck seems to use the swamp and fog to indicate the ongoing mystery and doom.

"The Harness" is the story of a farmer who had been under the control of his wife. He has been fairly successful. When she dies, we find he's been controlled in more ways than one. He finally takes control and lives free from her control, or does he?

"The Raid" is about two labor organizers, possibly Communist, that are setting up for a type of rally. It gets raided by their opposition. This one has Grapes of Wrath or In Dubious Battle vibes.

"Breakfast" was simple: short and sweet.

"The Snake" is a story, apparently based on an actual event, of a mysterious woman that visits a zoological lab. Very good, with imagery enhancing the intensity of the situation. I was almost expecting it to go in a Stephen King direction!

"Flight" was kind of depressing. Young Pepé apparently kills a man during a trip to Monterrey. He returns home, and his mother sends him on the run. Things don't go well as he tries to flee over the rough California terrain. Very descriptive.

The White Quail: Not sure about this one... Mary has sought out her ideal life and has received it. Her identity is in her garden. She seems highly pleased with herself. He husband, Harry, seems to go along with her, even though he doesn't understand. When a white quail comes to the garden, she immediately sees it as herself. Harry is frustrated and vents it in an unexpected way.