Bookworm, Issue 23
The Book: Pony Confidential by Christina Lynch
In Pony Confidential, author Christina Lynch packs a big personality into a little Pony, and then sends him crisscrossing the country on an adventure that’s imaginative, funny, and heartwarming. Pony is attempting to reunite with his human, Penny, to clear her of a wrongful murder conviction. Along the way, he makes friends and enemies, encounters cruelty and kindness, and experiences the transformational power of love.
As a girl who loved horses (now an adult who continues to do so) – I couldn’t resist a novel about a detective pony. Pony Confidential is a quick and entertaining read that avoids being overly absurd. I’ve paired it with a wine that is bright and refreshing, like this story, but also full of character, just like Pony.
The novel’s short chapters alternate between Pony’s and Penny’s perspectives; and while Pony is without-a-doubt the star, Penny is a likable character whose real-world concerns add depth without too much weight. Penny is a teacher with a failing marriage and a 13-year-old daughter who struggles with mental illness. In the prologue, she’s arrested for a murder that took place 25 years ago, when she was 12. While Penny’s imprisonment and trial are not entirely representative of real life (this book features anthropomorphic animals after all), her experience does draw attention to the failings and unfairnesses of the criminal justice system.
Pony introduces himself as “both adorable and devious,” “a mop-topped demon” who is “bent on revenge.” He is willful, bitter, sassy, and prone to dramatics. But he’s also witty, loyal, determined – and completely charming. Pony is nearly 30 years old, and in the years since he and young Penny were best friends, he’s been sold and resold, encountering human indifference and neglect. Pony professes to dislike all humans, but he actually craves a forever home and loving companionship.
Each surprising twist in Penny’s murder defense elevates the stakes in Pony’s quest to rescue her. He meets sinister villains and helpful animal friends, many of whom appear only briefly, but all of whom are imaginatively portrayed. When Pony befriends a hopeful hound dog and a cynical goat, they philosophize about human-animal relationships. Caya, the dog, says, “If I had a human who loved me, I would do anything to get back to her. That kind of connection is rare and magical.” Pony and Circe, the goat, disagree. “There is no such thing as magic or love. There is only relief that someone is not beating you, starving you, or eating you, or pain and fear if they are,” says Circe.
In several instances, the author cleverly draws parallels between Penny’s and Pony’s unfortunate circumstances. While Penny is in jail, for example, “Days pass. Like a dutiful horse, she is fed, exercised, has her teeth examined by the jail’s dentist, cold fingers in her mouth…She doesn’t want to be a polite and docile horse. She wants to be a naughty pony.” Pony is not above biting to express irritation; and so, when Penny’s public defender Steve fumbles a cross examination, “Penny wants to bite Steve, hard.”
It’s impossible not to get behind Christina Lynch’s feisty little Pony protagonist in this unpredictable mystery. For everyone who loves animals, but especially those with a special place in their hearts for ponies or horses, this book is for you – it’s an absolute delight.
The Wine: Amity Vineyards, White Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Oregon, 2023 $22.99
Amity’s tasting note suggests: “Pear, Orange Blossom, Linen notes.” I can get behind all of that – especially if “linen” is intended to evoke an early summer, sunny, breezy day. The kind of day in June, when lawns are still lush and flowers in bloom. When a person might stand in the backyard, in the shimmery, pale copper light, perhaps hanging laundry to dry on an outdoor line. And in the midst of this simple chore, discovering a clear mind. To focus. On nature. White blossoms, rose petals, and honeysuckle. Ripe white peach, white cherry, Honeycrisp apple, and tangerine. With senses attune, everything, including this wine, feels alive. The palate has personality, like the worn-in fabric of a favorite linen blouse, supple yet textured. Lemon curd, a chalky sensation, and layers of fresh and tart fruit. All together refreshing, yet mouth-filling; fruity and floral; white, not red. A bit of a mystery, courtesy of Mother Nature.
100% Pinot Noir, 34% of which comes from 50-year-old vines in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA. Sustainably farmed. These Pinot Noir grapes were harvested 2-4 weeks earlier than the ones Amity uses to make red wine. A gentle press to minimize color extraction precedes a slow and cool fermentation in stainless steel.
Why the pairing works:
Pony Confidential is an unconventional mystery starring a rebellious Pony protagonist, and so I’ve paired the book with a wine that is similarly surprising. If we were to blind taste this wine together, most of us would not deduce that it’s made from black Pinot Noir grapes. First and foremost, the wine is white, not red. And while it displays elevated acidity and medium body similar to many red Pinots, the aroma and flavor profile is quite different.
White Pinot Noir wines can be hard to find, generally because their red counterparts have a higher market value. To make a white wine from red grapes, the winemaker presses whole grape clusters very gently to extract as little color as possible. The juice is then fermented like a white white – long, cool, and off the skins.
So, the wine – a bit of a mystery – aligns with the book’s genre, but it also compliments the author’s lighthearted tone. It’s refreshing, fruity, floral, and easy-drinking, with a textural component for added intrigue and complexity.
To take this pairing one step further, I want to compare Pony to the Pinot Noir grapevine. Pinot Noir is a thin-skinned grape that is challenging to grow and vinify. It’s been called “difficult” and “finicky.” Similar to our Pony protagonist, perhaps?
Pinot Noir is sensitive to climate and soil conditions in the vineyard. The vines flourish in cool to moderate conditions and need protection from frost, wind, sunburn, pests, and diseases. Working with Pinot Noir in the winery requires attentiveness, too. The grapes produce elegant wines, but they can showcase flaws more readily than bolder styles.
Pony, too, has specific needs. He calls them “the three Fs: food, friends, freedom.” This includes “quality hay and grains, some other equines for company, and a large area to roam.” He spells out his “simple” requirements in greater detail; but clearly, his point is that caring for a pony or a horse or any pet requires devotion to the animal’s health and happiness.
And finally, as a wine lover, I always take note of sensory cues (especially those related to smell) in the books that I read. Below are two quotes from Pony that encapsulate the emotional range of this story – both touching and funny:
“Scent is central to memory, and memory allows us to see the past. How sad that humans have such a pathetic sense of smell. I think they would be better creatures if they could smell what I do.”
“The smells that come from the other side of the fence are intoxicating. I know hay the way sommeliers know wine. With one sniff I can tell you the terroir and vintage of any forage, be it grass, grain, or legume. One bite and I can tell you the balance of starch and sugar, protein level, and moisture content…I am swooning.”