East of Eden by John Steinbeck Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of East of Eden
Book Review: An American classic
Summary: 5 Stars
Steinbeck can be a bit heavy-handed at times with metaphor and moral, but this book is a wonderful read. I discovered it as an adolescent 30 years ago, and it still ranks as one of my all-time favorites. I'm delighted that Oprah has introduced it to a new generation! You are going to love this book. It's a can't-put-down page turner.Book Review: An Appreciation
Summary: 5 Stars
I've crossed another classic off of my "to read" list, and boy am I happy I read this one. This was pure satisfaction from start to finish. John Steinbeck's East of Eden is an amazing book that embodies the intersection of literary weightiness and readability. There are plenty of epics out there that span generations: Colleen McCullough's The Thorn Birds or Isabel Allende's The House of the Spirits, for example. Those books are a joy to read and you can luxuriate in the authors' virtuosity as characters are added to weaving storylines, but East of Eden seemed to have more weight to it. Unlike many epics, which to thrive on love, unrequited or forbidden, Steinbeck's book focuses on the struggles of brothers seeking their father's admirmation. From the title alone, it is obvious that this notion is Biblical, and the book's Biblical quality becomes its center. For the first time in a very long time, I did not rush through the book's last chapters, eager to get to my next conquest. I felt that pang that you sometimes get when you finish a truly magnificent book, the pang that is part sadness at the experience of reading the book being over and part a feeling of that book permanently lodging itself in your memory to be drawn from and remembered with reverence. There are, I think, very few books that can produce this sublime reading experience, but East of Eden is on that short list.Book Review: An Outstanding Novel!
Summary: 5 Stars
John Steinbeck does a wonderful job of exploring the age-old theme of good vs. evil.Book Review: An Overwhelming Book
Summary: 5 Stars
East of Eden is truly a novel of biblical proportions. Set in the Salinas Valley of California, where Steinbeck himself grew up, the story follows two generations of the Trask family, the main one consisting of Adam, his two sons Cal and Aron, and their servant Lee. When reading this epic piece of literature, I found myself immersed in the struggles, triumphs, and emotional battles of the characters, who are so thoroughly developed, I felt somewhat connected to them. There is no doubt that the story claims its grand renown predominantly through Steinbeck's ability to capture every facet of human emotion within his characters. They are intriguing, witty, flawed, unfathomable--the exact qualities that make them stand out as so real.
What is also interesting about East of Eden is that it not only parallels the story of Cain and Abel, but it explores it in greater depth, exposing the emotions and thoughts of Cal and Aron. This book is all about relationships--the main one being sibling rivalry, a competition between the sons for the father's love and approval. Steinbeck does the story of Cain and Abel justice through his captivating presentation of the classic tale, showing one son who is seemingly perfect, and the other son who finds it difficult to achieve love.
This story contains all the elements of a masterpiece: dramatic plot, round characters, intricate relationships, honest writing, and numerous messages about life.
I recommend this book to everyone who is literate.
Book Review: An addictive, easy read
Summary: 5 Stars
I have to say that this book came as a surprise to me. I saw the movie recently and was spell-bound so went and got the book immediately, and have to say that it is now actually the best book I've ever read. Personally, anyway. Something you have to understand, it is a very easy book to read. While lots of acclaimed books have pages upon pages of impossibly tiresome 'details' of the most uninteresting things, the pages in this are told simply through stories, as if Steinbeck is telling it over a coffee to a friend. There's none of the "the stalks were high and brown, and the golden sunlight lit the condensation like a miracle from the sky" nonsense to fill out pages. Everything Steinbeck explains is told so through one story after another, and in that way it is easy to see that this is clearly quite a documentation of his own life and memories. Which I personally think is the most wonderful form of storytelling. The characters are great, too. The first part has a chapter where one brother goes out with a hatchet to murder his other brother. Then not too long after we hear the tale of the most wicked woman ever created, Cathy, who kills her parents by lighting their house on fire. This is gripping, intriguing stuff. I can't believe it was written so long ago. I've never been much of a fan of Steinbeck's until now (we had to read Of Mice and Men in high school and that was okay), but now I have the great urge to buy all his books and have the time of my life all over again.