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East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Posted on 9/12/23 at 1:57 pm
Posted on 9/12/23 at 1:57 pm
Just finished it. Jeez, this book was heavy. Was needing a break from Fantasy/Sci-Fi and saw this recommended on here. Sounded interesting and I have never read any Steinbeck. So glad I read it, one of the better fiction novels I've ever read. Love his writing style so Grapes of Wrath is up next.
Spoilers ahead...
Cathy. My god what an evil woman. I mean she is like a comic book villain. She is the character that really stands out to me in a book with a lot of interesting characters, or at least the one I keep thinking about since I've finished the book. It's been a while since I've hated a fiction character that much.
The book kind of surprised me from the get go. I knew it was a modern day telling of Cain and Abel but towards the beginning when Adam and Charles were kids and they got into a fight and Adam was hiding while Charles went back to the house to get an axe to kill him, whew. That had my heart beating a little faster than I was expecting that book to.
Not sure how most view Adam but he was super frustrating. Felt bad for him in his youth obviously but once Cathy shot him he was just pitiful. Like come on man, you were with her for one(?) year and it causes you to completely neglect your children for a year and not show them any attention for 10-11 years. Get over it dude. He had some good qualities but her spell over him was kind of ridiculous. I get he didn't exactly have the best father figure but it did seem to be one of the more unrealistic parts of an otherwise very realistic feeling story.
Love that the main correlation from the scriptures in Genesis was actually in relation to your choices, not an actual murder. Those verses showed that Cain had a choice before him, free will, not predestination. The ending with Cal beating himself up and Lee taking him in there to Adam was such a good ending. Choices.
Thoughts on the book?
Spoilers ahead...
Cathy. My god what an evil woman. I mean she is like a comic book villain. She is the character that really stands out to me in a book with a lot of interesting characters, or at least the one I keep thinking about since I've finished the book. It's been a while since I've hated a fiction character that much.
The book kind of surprised me from the get go. I knew it was a modern day telling of Cain and Abel but towards the beginning when Adam and Charles were kids and they got into a fight and Adam was hiding while Charles went back to the house to get an axe to kill him, whew. That had my heart beating a little faster than I was expecting that book to.
Not sure how most view Adam but he was super frustrating. Felt bad for him in his youth obviously but once Cathy shot him he was just pitiful. Like come on man, you were with her for one(?) year and it causes you to completely neglect your children for a year and not show them any attention for 10-11 years. Get over it dude. He had some good qualities but her spell over him was kind of ridiculous. I get he didn't exactly have the best father figure but it did seem to be one of the more unrealistic parts of an otherwise very realistic feeling story.
Love that the main correlation from the scriptures in Genesis was actually in relation to your choices, not an actual murder. Those verses showed that Cain had a choice before him, free will, not predestination. The ending with Cal beating himself up and Lee taking him in there to Adam was such a good ending. Choices.
Thoughts on the book?
15
Posted on 9/12/23 at 2:05 pm to iwyLSUiwy
Buckle up.
Grapes is iven weightier, imo.
Grapes is iven weightier, imo.
Posted on 9/12/23 at 2:23 pm to iwyLSUiwy
quote:
never read any Steinbeck
A good light hearted Steinbeck is Tortilla Flat.
Posted on 9/12/23 at 2:28 pm to iwyLSUiwy
Steinbeck was subject of my thesis, and I love him dearly. So many great reads of his. Grapes definitely won't be any easier. His entire canon is worthwhile, imo.
Two of his lesser known books that I really love:
In Dubious Battle
To a God Unknown
Another one that's really great, albeit more of a travel memoir is Travels with Charley. Log from the Sea of Cortez is also good non-fiction from him
Two of his lesser known books that I really love:
In Dubious Battle
To a God Unknown
Another one that's really great, albeit more of a travel memoir is Travels with Charley. Log from the Sea of Cortez is also good non-fiction from him
Posted on 9/12/23 at 2:37 pm to DoItDoug
quote:
Buckle up.
Grapes is iven weightier, imo.
O lord, I might have to wait then. When I finished this I just let out a big sigh and stated at the ceiling for a minute. My wife was like "you ok?"
I read quite a bit but for some reason just have never given his stuff a go.
Posted on 9/12/23 at 3:08 pm to iwyLSUiwy
Timshel!
It's been years since I read EOE but I remember once I finished it thinking that it was probably one of the better books I'd ever read.
It's been years since I read EOE but I remember once I finished it thinking that it was probably one of the better books I'd ever read.
Posted on 9/12/23 at 4:48 pm to WG_Dawg
I felt like Grapes of Wrath really gave me perspective about life. It was depressing but wasn't. Maybe beautifully depressing?
Posted on 9/12/23 at 8:46 pm to iwyLSUiwy
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.
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.
This post was edited on 9/12/23 at 8:48 pm
Posted on 9/13/23 at 10:46 am to iwyLSUiwy
You probably should have started out with Travels With Charley and worked your way into the heavier stuff haha.
Posted on 9/13/23 at 11:11 am to Loubacca
quote:
I felt like Grapes of Wrath really gave me perspective about life. It was depressing but wasn't. Maybe beautifully depressing?
Started GoW last night. I think that description would fit East of Eden well too. At least certain parts of it. There was a relatively small amount of times this book made me smile outside of the Samuel Hamilton story line, but it was still amazing to read.
Posted on 9/13/23 at 11:19 am to Starchild
100% agree with everything you said. Really felt like it took me back in time with how real it was. Outside of a few things, maybe just how much Cathy got away with, this could have been labeled a non-fiction and I would have believed it.
Man I've already recommended it probably 3-4 times and each time I end up saying " yea it's hard to describe, but it's really good."
quote:
he 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.
Man I've already recommended it probably 3-4 times and each time I end up saying " yea it's hard to describe, but it's really good." 
Posted on 9/13/23 at 3:32 pm to iwyLSUiwy
The Grapes of Wrath is compelling.
The Pearl was a favorite to do book reports on because it was always the shortest book on the list.
The Pearl was a favorite to do book reports on because it was always the shortest book on the list.
Posted on 9/15/23 at 11:37 am to iwyLSUiwy
If you're looking for a shorter Steinbeck book, The Winter of our Discontent is a classic with also a good dose of heavy in it. The final section still sticks with me.
From what I've read, it cemented his career reputation later in life, just before his Nobel Prize.
From what I've read, it cemented his career reputation later in life, just before his Nobel Prize.
Posted on 9/15/23 at 1:00 pm to Htowntiger90
If I like Grapes of Wrath I'll probably try a few more out. That one sounds good just reading the synopsis.
Two nights of Grapes of Wrath and I think I'm 4 pages in. I've been so tired these past couple of nights. I think I read the same paragraph 8 times last night before I realized I needed to call it quits
Struggle through a paragraph then wake up with the book flat in your lap. Struggle through a paragraph then wake up with the book flat in your lap. Repeat 5 more times. That's pretty much how I fall asleep each night.
Two nights of Grapes of Wrath and I think I'm 4 pages in. I've been so tired these past couple of nights. I think I read the same paragraph 8 times last night before I realized I needed to call it quits
Struggle through a paragraph then wake up with the book flat in your lap. Struggle through a paragraph then wake up with the book flat in your lap. Repeat 5 more times. That's pretty much how I fall asleep each night.
Posted on 10/7/23 at 7:22 am to iwyLSUiwy
One of the best parts of a novel I’ve ever read is when Steinbeck describes Cathy for the first time, saying there’s monsters born into the world. And just like there are monsters born without arms or other physical signs, there are mental or psychic monsters, born with malformed souls. Souls without compassion or a conscience. But whereas a physical monster can see where they are not normal, a spiritual monster has nothing to tell them they’re abnormal and so think people with a conscience, or kindness, are the ridiculous ones. It’s brilliant.
Posted on 10/9/23 at 2:32 pm to iwyLSUiwy
The end of Grapes of Wrath
Posted on 10/9/23 at 2:53 pm to Rubberbandman21
quote:
One of the best parts of a novel I’ve ever read is when Steinbeck describes Cathy for the first time, saying there’s monsters born into the world. And just like there are monsters born without arms or other physical signs, there are mental or psychic monsters, born with malformed souls. Souls without compassion or a conscience. But whereas a physical monster can see where they are not normal, a spiritual monster has nothing to tell them they’re abnormal and so think people with a conscience, or kindness, are the ridiculous ones. It’s brilliant.
This is just incredible writing. I wouldn't have been able to quote it but his original description of Cathy was actually one of the parts that stood out to me once I was finished. Just how perfect the description was. How he described her being someone who for some reason what she was good at was lying. Even as a child she was good at it. Just an evil person.
I don't know if it was in the preface of the book or somewhere else where I read it but Steinbeck said that basically everything he had written up to that point was preparing him to write EoE. He obviously felt like he was a better writer at that point in time and stuff like that is just brilliant.
Posted on 10/9/23 at 2:54 pm to whiskey over ice
quote:
he end of Grapes of Wrath
2/3 of the way through now. Hopefully finish it this week.
Posted on 10/9/23 at 6:08 pm to iwyLSUiwy
picked up East of Eden and Blood Meridian last week thanks to this board. Half way through Salem's Lot, will jump on them after
Posted on 10/10/23 at 6:14 am to hogfly
Is there a suggested reading order? I googled and could not get a direct answer. Maybe there isn't a good answer. I was thinking of starting with his lighter writes before delving into his heavier books.
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