East of Eden by John Steinbeck Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of East of Eden
Book Review: Absolutely great book!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of the best books I have read in quite some time. The plot catches you up (after a slightly slow start) and doesn't let you go. I had a difficult time putting this book down to do anything else. If you're ready to devote a few days to reading, this is the book to choose!Book Review: Amazing
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a MUST READ book! The story is something we can all relate to in our darkest places we hide inside.Book Review: Amazing Epic Retelling
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is amazing. I never tire of the plot or characters, but while the story is extremely enjoyable, it is the compelling characters that Steinbeck created that truly give the book its merit.
As the excerpts on the book covers suggest, East of Eden is a loose epic retelling of the Biblical stories of Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel. Set in the Salinas Valley in the early 20th century, the novel involves the Trasks and the Hamiltons, telling of three generations of these families. The introduction to East of Eden is, while not as intriguing and momentous as the rest of the book, still successful in drawing in the reader. It is easy to understand both the story and the characters because of Steinbeck's simply composed sentences, though the characters introduced in the beginning have less depth than later characters. Because Steinbeck weaves over three separate stories in one novel, his plot may seem disarrayed and confusing at times. Ultimately, however, this contributes to the wonderful reading experience, as the reader is able to experience multiple stories involving contrasting characters and different paces. The book never gets sluggish or monotonous, because of the overlapping plotlines.
East of Eden is such an incredible book because the depth of the characters causes the reader to feel a wide array of emotions. Cal, for instance, is possibly the most appealing and intriguing character in the entire novel, despite Steinbeck's continual assertion that nobody likes the dark, secretive boy. Everyone can relate to Cal and his struggle to overcome the evil quality inside himself, and emerge "good" like his twin brother Aron. Everyone can understand Cal's desire to be accepted, his desire to be loved and appreciated. Everyone knows what Cal is going through when he tries to vindicate himself by trying to get revenge on those who favor his brother. He is jealous and he is vengeful, but he is also loving and sensitive. Cal's complexity makes the second half of the novel so wonderful to read- his progress from a dark little boy to a mature, caring young man is amazing. Steinbeck's characterization is excellent, but he also writes scenes in which Cal and Aron are simply innocent, curious boys, rather than profound, universal characters part of an epic tale. East of Eden is so easy to relate to, but it is also a fantastic ambitious saga.
One of the most common criticisms of the book is that the main antagonist, Cathy, is an unrealistic one-dimensional character, but she is, in fact, a complex character, as she embodies several types of evil, rather than just cruelty or insanity. She is written very sophisticatedly; if her severe lack of humanity and warmth seems unrealistic, it is because, in comparison with the other characters, Cathy is blatantly evil. There is no other character as depraved as Cathy in the story; even Charles desires love and displays fondness for his Adam, and Cal ultimately chooses goodness. Besides, Cathy does show brief episodes of weakness, which obviously show that she is somewhat human and not just an antagonist who opposes the protagonists and then suddenly disappears. The book begins to move at a faster pace when she is introduced, and as her mind disintegrates, the reader is left to wonder what her true level of humanity is, and whether she should be pitied. Cathy is one of the most fascinating characters in the book, because the nature of her wickedness is so intense that it easily heightens the suspense of the story.
Though I only touched on the more prominent aspects of East of Eden, the entire book is worth reading multiple times. Every single character is unique, realistic, and wonderful in some way. The plot is extensive, but there are so many different facets to explore, especially because Steinbeck elaborates on universal themes such as light versus dark, good versus evil, jealousy versus love. It is not be the simple plot that gives this book its wonderful quality, but the actual experience of reading through the history of the families and experiencing the multiple feelings this book incites that will make you fall in love with it.
Book Review: Amazing Novel
Summary: 5 Stars
East of Eden by John Steinbeck is just about as good as it gets. This story features the classic battle of good vs. evil.
Adam Trask represents the good while the woman he falls in love with is the epitome of evil. Now this should not ruin the story for you, nor provide any hidden insight, as Mr. Steinbeck tells a truly remarkable story; leaving little to the imagination. From the birth of one character, and her intitial label as a monster, to the evocative descriptions of a barren landscape; Mr. Steinbeck is at the peak of writing prowess.
This book is well-worth the time investment necessary to read it. Once done, however, the end result is well worth it. The characters in this book will stay with you.
Book Review: An Amazing Novel
Summary: 5 Stars
Steinbeck's novel is truly a masterpiece as he weaves the stories of two unique American families and exposes the character's deepest, darkest thoughts, particularly those of Cathy and Cal. Each character is carefully constructed and the personalities are told in great detail. The story begins when Steinbeck describes the serene land in the Salinas Valley. I felt mesmerized by the beauty of his language, for he describes things extensively- from appearance to scent. I could imagine the wild flowers in spring and the tiny Victorian houses right before me. From the complexity of the characters to the meticulousness of the setting, this novel is simply beautiful.
Even the structure is unique and it is evident that Steinbeck took a lot of time to perfect the order in which his story would be told. In Part 1 of the novel, Steinbeck alternates between the Trask family and the Hamilton family each chapter. The families are on different parts of the country and have no relationship whatsoever. It is not until part 2, where the two families merge in Salinas, California. I found this method very clever because I was able to differentiate the families in their respective environments. It was interesting to read the characters' pasts because it would certainly affect their futures. For example, the fact that Adam Trask's father lied to him as a child accounts for Adam's determination to be a good father for his own children; Cathy's poor childhood and the lack of parental love account for her horrible actions towards her children. As the story progresses, I learned that Adam's tough character is a result of serving in the army. Away from his family, Adam had to be independent and strong- both physically and emotionally.
In an attempt to start a new life, Adam bought a piece of farmland from Samuel Hamilton. However, the story immediately turns dark and somber as Cathy, Adam's new wife, abandons her twin boys. Cathy is a dark character and she is the epitome of evil. She is a selfish woman who blames her wrongdoings on other people. Every word Cathy said made me despise her, for this woman neglected her children to run a brothel. Cathy's dialogue in conversations with other characters made me develop only disgust for her. Steinbeck was careful in his writing because after depicting the evil Cathy, he would switch to men of wisdom: Lee and Samuel Hamilton. These characters offered relief from the tense drama occurring by offering peace. Lee and Samuel, firm believers in God, spoke straight from the Bible to convey a sense of goodness. Unlike Cathy, these characters care for the twin boys and are proof that there is still good in the world. Cathy's ruthless nature is passed on to her son Cal, as he struggles to form his own identity. Cal feels trapped between good and evil, until the wise character Lee offers him profound advice. He learns that he is his own person and is not doomed to be evil like his mother. Cal is a human being (whereas his mother is a "monster") and thus is subject to make mistakes. I developed so many emotions from reading this, such as joy, relief, sadness, pity, and utter disgust. Even though I found some parts to be predictable, I felt that the entire novel was filled with suspense. There was not a single moment that I wanted to stop reading. This novel is so intriguing because it explores the dark side of the human mind, including such concepts such as revenge, sin, and evil.