East of Eden by John Steinbeck Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of East of Eden
Book Review: A Good Read
Summary: 5 Stars
This is among Steinbeck's best novels, and it is usually ranked among his top three or four, but not quite as good as "Grapes of Wrath." I have read most of his works including the present, which is a must read for Steinbeck fans. It has excellent prose and good drama but the story becomes a bit predictable for the last 100 pages of the 600 pages. That is the primary difference in terms of literary merit or being a good read. It is a pre-World war I novel set in northern California, and it is set partly in a small town and partly in a rural settings. The story is about family interactions, especially parent child relations, and uses three generations of characters from two families. There is less politics than in some of his other novels.
John Steinbeck (1902 - 1968) was among the best known American writers of the 20th century. He won the 1962 Nobel Prize for literature. His 1939 Pulitzer Prize winning novel, "Grapes of Wrath" has over ten million copies in print.
Steinbeck was born in rural California, went to Stanford, and spent most of his life in California. He has been associated with the plight of farm workers and others. His books have been very popular and many were made into movies and stage productions. He won an Academy Award nomination for best story in 1944.
I have read a number of his novels and am still surprised with the quality of his work - especially his short stories and short novels. The present work is a longer novel, 600 pages, which covers three generations of two families split between Connecticut and the Salinas area of northern California. It is a long and descriptive story but not as descriptive or as intricate as "The Grapes of Wrath." That Pulitzer novel tends to spiral down emotionally. Here in "East of Eden" we have a few peaks and valleys and a number of emotional hooks. Steinbeck manages to work in some clever literary ideas and names by using references to biblical passages. The characters are interesting. However, because of the similarity in the families, generation to generation, the story becomes a bit predictable towards the end, more predictable than his other works, and many readers will be able to guess the end by page 500 or 530.
This is a good book and it has good characters including the mother Cathy, and it has a number of interesting secondary characters. Also, the subplots, the overall structure, and the prose are good.
It is not a heavy read and takes a few evenings to read. The middle part of the book is very compelling, almost a page turner. I liked the book and recommend it.
Book Review: A Joy to Read
Summary: 5 Stars
I have never felt the need to review a book before, but I just finished reading East of Eden for the second time. I read quickly, but this time I read slowly and savored every page. As a long-time resident of Monterey County, I am touched by the poetic descriptions of places locals take for granted. The Salinas River which runs underground in summer made a dry river bed into a lyrical image that I have never lost. The beauty of the conversations between Samuel Hamilton and Lee, the sadness of the anecdotal stories that claim only a page or two, and the history of the area combine with the larger story seamlessly. Steinbeck didn't just write -- he conjured full-blown images that stay with me long after I put the book down.Book Review: A Profound Lesson
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the most significant vignettes in this book appears in the opening to Chapter 13, wherein Steinbeck appropriately recognizes humans as our planet's sole creative species, and champions the concept of individuality.He wrote, "And this I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes undirected. And this I must fight against: any idea, religion, or government which limits or destroys the individual. This is what I am and what I am about. I can understand why a system built on a pattern must try to destroy the free mind, for that is one thing which can by inspection destroy such a system. Surely I can understand this, and I hate it and I will fight against it to preserve the one thing that separates us from the uncreative beasts. If the glory can be killed, we are lost."
This is part of the reason a book such as "East of Eden" will continue to be read for pleasure, for study and for enlightenment -- whereas some communistic political hack's ghost-written piecemeal autobiography is destined by its nature to be a mere flash in the pan, and nobody will ever read it again after she has departed the stage.
Book Review: A Simply Amazing Novel
Summary: 5 Stars
When I first found myself assigned the task of reading East Of Eden, I was intimidated by its length and wondering about its significance and how impressive would be. When I finished the entire novel, there were no doubts in my mind about its ability to apply to all humanity and meld the Bible into the lives of ordinary people. I was absolutely entranced by this book. It is a masterfully crafted work of literature that deserves to be read and digested by all people, and is rightfully placed as a classic.
What makes East of Eden such a masterpiece is that author John Steinbeck melds the theme to fit all humans, no matter what their background is. Steinbeck brings the Biblical tale of brothers Cain and Abel to prominence in the novel, focusing on this Biblical allusion above the many others also used. The feuding brothers Charles and Adam Trask represent one generation of the Biblical duo, and Adam's sons Cal and Aron carry on the symbolism. Although readers are inclined to sympathize with the slain brother Abel the two characters that represent him in the novel (Adam and Aron), Steinbeck skillfully blends good and evil to give readers a sense of empathy for Charles and Cal, who do not receive the same degree of attention and devotion from their fathers that their brothers possess. Cal is the person who constantly feels the need to change his environment, which in effect leads to harm, yet he is genuinely searching for love and recognition from his father Adam Trask. Using this situation as a major conflict in the novel, Steinbeck emphasizes the importance of love to all human beings and the need for love, and the dangers resulting from deprived love.
At certain chapters, Steinbeck diverts from the story and delves into philosophical discussions about human nature and the themes circulating in the novel. It is in these chapters that he explicitly mentions the ideas and motifs placed throughout the book, and the chapters further enhance the uniqueness of East of Eden. A wide variety of other Biblical events and characters are represented in the story as well, including Jesus, Jacob, Adam and Eve, the garden of Eden, and many more. The entire story is not a stale Biblical parable like one would think it is, but is actually an intriguing tale with a number of different storylines crossing together that succeeds in keeping the attention of readers. The major element that keeps East of Eden exciting and enjoyable to read is the constant conflict between good and evil, involving characters such as the thoroughly villainous Cathy, the sagacious Samuel Hamilton, and the wise, soothing Lee. Steinbeck uses these contrasting characters to depict the neverending struggle between good and evil that pervades the story. It is this battle that makes East of Eden such a constantly appealing book that all people can relate to. Steinbeck's skillful treatment of characters, conflicts and the themes of struggling for love and avoiding extreme actions succeed in making any reader interested and feeling relation to the characters. The message of the novel is best embodied through the character of Lee, the intellectual servant who introduces the word "Timshel", meaning "thou mayest", indicating that people are able to have control over personal futures, and carrying the story's idea that all people can choose their own paths in life. The strength of the book comes from its ability to apply to all people, which is what, according to Lee, the best stories are able to do.
The writing styles used by John Steinbeck in East of Eden are truly remarkable and something to admire. Steinbeck's skill in describing a scene or object in fresh and exciting methods and his ability to narrate in a dry voice that still captures the attention of readers is what makes the book enjoyable. When touching upon the themes in those certain chapters, Steinbeck writes as if he were engaged in actual conversation with readers, and immerses them into his explanations. To add humor to the novel, Steinbeck intersperses the narration with sharp and insightful comments about human nature and the motivations and actions of people. For much of the book, Steinbeck's language is simple but conveys deep meaning and accurately paints the images of the novel in a way that is easy for people to comprehend. Readers may feel that East of Eden is far too long to be read quickly, but the storylines and conflicts will keep readers hooked and eager to delve into the story and analysis.
Overall, East of Eden is a deeply entertaining novel that accurately reveals human nature and the difficulties and trials surrounding the lives of human beings. Steinbeck efficiently blends in Biblical characters and themes and elevates the struggles of ordinary people to as religious level that has relevance for all people. Such an accomplishment is rarely achieved by any author, making East of Eden a unique novel that is interesting to read and discuss.
Book Review: A Tedious Lesson
Summary: 3 Stars
If you've read any of Steinbeck's other books, don't expect anything different from this one. You either love him or you hate him. I've never been a fan of his, but it had been a while and having made such an impression on Oprah, I decided to give East of Eden a shot.It seems trite to say the book was depressing, but heck, it was really depressing. The message is that we all have free will, but that's not breaking news to me and reading it was too much like tedious homework. The lesson was conveyed and learned, but it was not an enjoyable process. I just couldn't connect with the characters which, in my humble opinion, were never developed enough to incite any real empathy from me. I just watched on in disgust.
In looking back, I recognize the genius and the simplicity of the theme and how he incorporated it into the novel. I'll also admit (reluctantly) that the book was very well written and successfully delivered the message. I applaud Steinbeck's writing skills, which is the only reason I gave it 3 stars.
Alas, in the spirit of the book, we all have free will, so I won't choose to read Steinbeck again. I was disappointed in the read, but I'm sure my book club's discussion will be interesting. If you are in a book club or want something to talk about at the water cooler, then have at it. If you are just getting back into reading or looking for a good book to sink into, I would suggest you look elsewhere. If you don't know where to start, look at the reviews from a favorite book, find someone who had a similar opinion and look at that persons lists and other reviews. I've found some real gems that way.