re: East of Eden by John Steinbeck

I read EoE last year for the first time with no prior knowledge about it other than it was highly regarded and I was blown away. It was also my first Steinbeck.

It’s not my usual cup of tea, but damned if I wasn’t captivated throughout and thinking about the very relatable characters long after. That’s the sign of a great story and writer. Such a tragic story that goes to show people, not monsters or aliens, are often the most evil characters imaginable.

Steinbeck’s prose and the imagery makes it all feel so real and lived in. I always love when the setting is a character unto itself. For a story that’s a sprawling epic, it’s also paced strikingly well and never lingers in one place or with one character for too long. I found myself very often wanting more when a chapter would end. It definitely made me want to take in his other work so I’ll be reading The Grapes of Wrath soon.

The funny thing since with EoE to me has been recommending it to people or commenting how I liked it, so they naturally ask what it’s about. I’m always like, “Uh, well it’s…about a family over generations…just living life I guess? Like the human experience.” Hard to really put into words in a general sense without spoiling anything. I’d agree with you, it’s one of the best works of fiction you’ll find.