I read this having read other works of Steinbeck before, including Of Mice and Men (!!) and The Grapes of Wrath (!!!!! <3), so I am a little biased. Positively, because I'm a huge fan of Steinbeck and negatively, because of high expectations. 
 And I still liked it. Readers who complain that this book wasn't mostly about the red pony, are you kidding me?! Most of the story meandered along and just went past me, except for the bit on the stranger claiming his right to stay on the place he was born in/"They got a right to rest after they worked all their life"/"I can't afford to pasture you in my kitchen". (Does this constitute a spoiler?!) 
 The ending got to me too, although I can't seem to place my finger on it. Ugh.