East of Eden: John Steinbeck Centennial Edition (1902-2002)

A story of two families in early twentieth-century California, one fictional, based on the Biblical stories of Adam & Eve, Cain & Abel, the other autobiographical. I’m hugely grateful to the friend who told me her reading group enjoyed this. I was gripped throughout its 728 pages. I loved the way, when a story thread was running, each new chapter immediately supplied what I wanted to know next, while, each time a story thread was for the time being exhausted, the next chapter hooked me fast into another character’s tale. I’m not usually a fan of allegory because looking for links to the original story distances me from the new story. This was absolutely not a problem in this book because the biblical stories are so cursory. The scant account of Cain & Abel in Genesis is quoted in full and discussed by the characters, several of whom, and also the narrator, offer astute thoughts about the human condition and its dilemmas. Another problem with allegory can be that the original story acts as a plot spoiler, but the outcome in this book becomes tantalisingly unpredictable when the Chinese servant Lee (a lovably wise, humble, and wonderful character!) investigates whether Jehovah told Cain ‘thou shalt rule over sin’ (as promised in the King James’s Bible), or ‘do thou rule over sin’ (as ordered in the American Bible), and discovers that, in the original Hebrew, the meaning is ‘thou mayest rule over sin’ (i.e. choice and free will). I enjoyed speculating whether Adam’s father Cyrus (a name that means ‘sun’ or ‘throne’) is intended to be read as Jehovah. He’s an autocratic fantasist who convinces the world that he’s been everywhere, knows better than everyone and has influenced everything for the good! The interwoven autobiographical account of the Hamilton family, especially of Steinbeck’s grandparents, the wonderful Samuel & Liz, was engrossing and moving. Considered by Steinbeck to be his magnum opus, it’s an unmissable classic.

I came upon this book by chance and am so very glad that I did. It is a magnificent story of love, loss, tragedy and regret. The characters are vividly drawn. I especially liked Lee - such a compassionate and wise. This book will stay with me for a long time.

This is a very good book, and I can see why it's reported to be Steinbeck's favourite. He has a fantastic way of writing that is both straightforward yet profound. This is essentially a family saga but out is still much more than that. Each character is superbly written and Steinbeck gives them a real depth which helps identify with and believe in them. Throughout the book we learn so much about the characters, what makes them do what they do, and what makes them grow and evolve. Steinbeck covers a lot of themes here; family, love, friendship, family dynamics, resentment, guilt, power, regret....to name a few. Overall, this is a terrific book which didn't quite get the five stars as it occasionally veered a bit closer to melodrama than I would have liked.

There is little point in writing a review of East of Eden. A chorus of well deserved praise already exists, and everything that could be said about the mastery of characterisation, plot and setting has already been said. So I will just note a couple of noteworthy points from my writerly perspective. Firstly, I love the way the narrator belongs to the story without overwhelming it with an authorial ego. The narrator introduces himself to us as Olive’s son (Tom Hamilton’s grandson) thus establishing his personal investment in this tale. His inside knowledge makes him reliable – we can trust him. Yet, he remains objective (but not detached) and fair in his delivery. He cares without taking sides. Secondly, although the book is written in the omniscient third person, the narrator manages to keep it intimate and is able to modulate his voice to bring it in line with individual characters. When William Hamilton takes to the stage the style is business-like; when it is the Chinaman Lee, the prose becomes tender and learned; Cathy/Kate makes it brutal, Adam genteel. Joe’s backstory is told with such backstreet cunning that you will want to check your pockets to see if your wallet is still there. It is astounding how Steinbeck can manipulate his language with such individualised nuance. Lastly, the insight Steinbeck has into human nature is sharp and intricate. He must have spent several lifetimes observing people. The characters grow before the reader’s eyes. Nothing is set in stone. Typecast characters surprise themselves as they shake off the mould of what’s expected of them. Over 650 pages of supreme fiction, with every page harbouring a gem of exquisite narrative beauty.

Very long book but amazing

good

Very pretty book with a beautiful deckeled edge. Only flaw it came with is a slightly smashed corner on the top left - barely noticeable. It is a bit smaller than I was expecting but the size doesn't take away the beauty of this edition.

Estou amando a leitura

Güzel bir kitap..tavsiye ederim