East of Eden

I hate this book. Hate. Ponderous, pretentious, melodramatic, self-satisfied, patronizing to its readers, with ultimately nothing to say. Can be summarized thus: a bunch of people with no formal education whatsoever sit around discussing the time they read the Old Testament in Hebrew. They then tell us all how to live. Uh...right. I knew we were in trouble with the unbelievably lame introduction -- some forced, self-congratulatory metaphor about a box, if memory serves -- but it's hard to believe it actually got worse from there. In any event, with its smug aura of "Here you will find WISDOM," it's certainly no wonder that it's right up Oprah's alley.

The fact that people worship this misbegotten mess of a book as they might worship show more pieces of the True Cross is just plain depressing. Apparently the way to literary immortality is to give 'em a decent narrative, throw in some breathless nonsense about free will and the Bible, and don't forget to puff out your chest and tell everyone that you've written a masterpiece. Gack. For this they gave him the Nobel Prize?

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After deleting I don't know how many comments calling me names and getting several pieces of hate email, I'm adding this addendum, because it will save both me and a bunch of other people from wasting time: I'll delete any comments that I consider abusive or that I think constitute ad hominem arguments, so do keep that in mind if you're considering posting a long screed. show less

Steinbeck's magnum opus

I plan to read everything by Steinbeck. Two of his novels, Cannery Row and The Red Pony, are stunning heartbreakers and sit on my permanent shelf.

The first adult book I ever read, age 11, was The Pearl. In college we read the short story The Chrysanthemums and all these decades later I think of it still, will get a hankering for it, will find a copy (online now) and, after many times reading it, I will read it again. It remains wholly satisfying in that Steinbeck nuanced brilliance. This year I read and then was blown away by the historical significance of The Moon Is Down, which had admirable power to inspire thousands fighting for freedom in WW II.

That is why it pains me to say I did not like nor admire East of show more Eden. The work pained me as I read it. It was not nuanced. It was bloated, missing that lean writing style, where Steinbeck leaves perfect unspoken empty spaces for a reader to feel, to recognize the complexities of human emotions and the strength it sometimes takes to just live. Here instead he tells, he explains every intake of breath, every flash in the eyes, every interminable angst. It reminded me of that quality of certain Victorian writing that we've moved beyond. He didn't "Show don't tell" that he normally understood and applied so well. I can't think of any moment in the novel that he didn't explain to us.

That made it alternatingly boring and insulting.

There were a few fascinating characters (Cyrus) but they were mixed in, then replaced by dull, uninteresting other ones (Adam). There were richly drawn ones who then became flat, then ennobled (Lee, Samuel). On the other hand, I did find Cathy believable. Psychopaths without conscience are real enough. But I could not believe that she--otherwise so clever and in perfect self-control--could be forced to drink alcohol with her prey on multiple occasions, then lay open her true disgust. That felt like a weak plot device.

Steinbeck wrote this novel as if he was a writer enslaved to an idea, not to good writing. Missing was his usual subtlety and the many indulgent explanations overshadowed his normal genius. Yet he was well pleased with it, considered it his magnum opus. That baffles me. How, at age 50, did he forget what made his previous works so good?

It was okay, which is to say, was not a good Steinbeck. show less

John Steinbeck's East of Eden, a work of great wisdom, rests comfortably among the finest works in American literature. This epic multi-generational saga of the Trask and Hamilton families is beautifully written and spellbinding throughout. Steinbeck, as evidenced therein, is a master of language, plot, pacing, dialogue, and character. The book is filled with insights into human nature: the events and emotions that shape one's character, and simple yet profound truths about humanity at large. Steinbeck has created deeply nuanced, flawed, and thoroughly human characters. But the heart of East of Eden lies in its exploration of family relationships, particularly those of father and son, and sibling rivalries, of course drawing heavily on show more the biblical story of Cain and Abel. It is the ancient tale of good versus evil, but Steinbeck takes it one step further, illuminating that that conflict that lies within each of us, and that we all have the freedom of choice. Timshel: thou mayest. show less

I was completely absorbed, mesmerized and fascinated by this book. Steinbeck has such a genius for realism. I was very impressed with Steinback's "Grapes of Wrath" when I read it for the first time last year. And "East of Eden" surpassed my expectations as well. It is tragic, moving, inspiring and philosophical. It is sincere without being sentimental. I would almost call it transcendent but the core of the book is so no-nonsense and so utterly American that I hesitate to use that term. Steinbeck imbues these characters with all of the contradictions and opposites found in life. The outcomes of the lives of some of the characters often surprised me. Whether they were good or evil--I was able to relate, identify and feel compassion for show more most of its carefully delineated characters. Steinbeck elucidated the gray area of their inner lives with meticulous detail. The people of this book are thinking people. They ponder, they wonder, they ruminate. They are always questioning. They struggle to maintain a balance between good and evil within themselves; they struggle with the torment of their souls. And most of them try to love each other as best as they can.

The saga starts in the era of the Civil War, continues through the time of the robber barons and the adventurous pioneers who have come out to the Wild West to make their fortunes, resolving itself in the era of World War I. Kate Trask (Cathy Ames) is the undeniable "villainesse" of the book--At first I viewed her character as an outright psychopath. She is completely amoral; definitely a hustler; a gangster from a film noir picture; a criminal genius who manages to commit atrocious deeds, all the while evading prison or punishment. Though ultimately she can't evade the conscience that she tries in vain to deny that she has. The corrupting influence of money is a major theme of this book. Kate Trask deserts her husband to become the madame of a whorehouse. Out of guilt, Kate leaves her fortune to her son Aron Trask. who is traumatized upon being introduced to her by his brother Caleb (Cal) for the first time as a seventeen year old [to escape it's ugliness, Aron Trask imagines the world as being very pure]. Cyrus Trask makes a fortune whose legality is questionable. Cyrus leaves this fortune to his son Adam who essentially becomes a "fine upstanding citizen". Cal Trask earns $15,000 selling beans, to make up for his father Adam's losing "lettuce venture", and then burns the money when his father won't accept it--He tries to buy his father's love and fails. However--Adam's refusal of Cal's generous offer is also a tragic mistake that leads to this novel's dénouement.

Samuel Hamilton and Trask family housekeeper / confidant Lee act as this novel's philosophers. They are both great thinkers; yet both are down to earth and lacking in ego. The supporting characters / minor players of the novel are compelling as well. Tom Hamilton has the capability for greatness and yet struggles with self-doubt over his intellectual and creative worth. Dessie Hamilton is a warm, laughing character who brings happiness to the lives of everyone around her. But after selling her business and moving back to the ranch that was her childhood home -- She is suddenly afflicted by sharp, shooting pains and shortly thereafter dies of an unnamed terminal illness. As happens in real life -- Fate determines how much time these characters will be allotted for their respective existences. In 'East of Eden" -- Too much good in life is usually followed by too much bad. In the same way that the drought years follow the wet years of the Salinas Valley ..... In closing -- The 1955 film version of "East of Eden" pales in comparison to this novel. In fact the film "East of Eden" only manages to cover about the last 200 pages of the novel. I would not recommend the film; it is pastel, cardboard stand-in, supremely abridged and modified version of this book. The film also makes major compromises to the conservative mores of the 1950s. It would probably take 3 films, lasting at least 2 hours each, to do justice to the brilliance of the novel. show less

Standing at the plate, Steinbeck swung hard at this one. A crack and a soaring whoosh, the red-thread-and-leather moon enters the nighttime sky, soaring high over the crowd. Forget gravity; forget time. Look at it hang there, impossibly. That's this novel. I think of it as a mashup of Genesis and Grapes of Wrath. I loved it. I loved that at the end we are left with Cal and his whore mother, a fishwife with knives for eyes and an ophidian knot for a heart, and his father's mixed blessing: "Timshel," Hebrew for "Thou mayest." It's a sweet novel, well worth the eyestrain.

A powerful story, masterfully written, and the first 3 parts carried me along, but I had to fight my way through the last part. Lee, the magical other does not leave the Trasks, but returns to continue his care for them almost immediately and to beyond the end of the book. Also at that point the machinery of the Greek/biblical tragedy generated by refusal to see and accept people, including oneself, as who they or let them go, takes over and any semblance of choice is gone. It may be a classic, but not a classic I find I can cheerfully endorse.

"And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good." When I read this book I was SO moved on so many levels. If you want to read an expansive historical saga look no further. The character of Adam Trask has lived with me for years. Salinas Valley, CA exists in my mind as Steinbeck described in it such intricate detail. The character f Lee also made such an impression on me. Major themes: guilt, love, beneficence, acceptance, self destructive tendencies, depravity and freedom. Many parallels with the Bible: Genesis as well as Cain & Abel. And Timshel - man has the power to choose his path, neither good or evil. AMAZING.