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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 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 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 9/15/23 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 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 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 10/26/23 at 9:54 pm to iwyLSUiwy
Steinbeck is an outstanding writer and this is one of his best, in my view.
As a high school senior many years ago, I read this and had to write a short essay answer to a question about it for a grade.
I was surprised that I enjoyed East of Eden so much.
As a high school senior many years ago, I read this and had to write a short essay answer to a question about it for a grade.
I was surprised that I enjoyed East of Eden so much.
Posted on 11/1/23 at 10:16 am to iwyLSUiwy
the sequel book, "Exit to Eden", was better.
Posted on 11/10/23 at 2:46 pm to iwyLSUiwy
One of my favorite American novels. There was a television miniseries in 1981 that was excellent with Jane Seymour as Cathy. The 1955 film version left out much of the story. I believe that Netflix is adapting it as a limited series with Florence Pugh as Cathy.
Posted on 11/21/23 at 1:05 pm to iwyLSUiwy
I plan on re-reading this one along with Grapes of Wrath soon.
I read Grapes first and found it interesting at times, but hard to understand with much of the "okie" dialect in the dialogue, so I definitely want to re-read.
Eden, in comparison, was a much easier read for me.
I enjoyed both as well as other Steinbeck novels and Novellas.
His non-fiction travel book "Travels with Charlie" was great too. I am trying to start his collection of essays on America soon as well.
I went to the Steinbeck Museum in Salinas two years ago, and then stopped at Cannery Row. Both were worth visiting if you are a Steinbeck fan.
I read Grapes first and found it interesting at times, but hard to understand with much of the "okie" dialect in the dialogue, so I definitely want to re-read.
Eden, in comparison, was a much easier read for me.
I enjoyed both as well as other Steinbeck novels and Novellas.
His non-fiction travel book "Travels with Charlie" was great too. I am trying to start his collection of essays on America soon as well.
I went to the Steinbeck Museum in Salinas two years ago, and then stopped at Cannery Row. Both were worth visiting if you are a Steinbeck fan.
Posted on 11/24/23 at 6:23 pm to iwyLSUiwy
quote:
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.
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