East of Eden

Last night, in a mammoth reading marathon, I finished East of Eden by John Steinbeck. It’s a big book, and a bit intimidating to pick up (600 pages! and NO pictures?!?) but a librarian friend suggested it and all her other suggestions so far have been right on, so I decided to give it a go. The book has reoccurring threads of tragedy but is satisfying overall. Steinbeck’s writing is pretty amazing throughout the book. He does an amazingly good job of capturing the human spirit and drive. If Steinbeck had a blog, I imagine it being very popular.

There’s a running theme through the book that parallels the Cain and Abel story… good, evil, and the choice between the two. I would consider myself an amateur reader and probably didn’t pick up on a lot of the depth in the book. The most exciting ‘easter egg’ that I found was that the two generations of brothers in the book: Charles & Adam and Cal & Aron, both share the same first letters and characteristics as Cain & Abel.

This might seem extremely obvious when explained outright (especially considering that Steinbeck opening discussed Cain & Abel in the book)… but it was a major “Whoa!” as I was reading the book. I bet there was a lot of really deep symbolism too… but I just stink at finding it.

I always disliked my high school teachers who tried and get us to try and find meaning in books. I always believed that it was far more likely that the writer just wanted to write a story, than the possibility that all this deep symbolism was legit. I still believe that the biggest reason for reading fiction should be for enjoyment… but I’m beginning to understand that the author’s purpose may very well have been to share an idea not just a tale of adventure.

I wish my English teachers had spent some time addressing this*. Without that understanding I often times pushed their knowledge off as rubbish.

*it is quite possible that they did discuss this and I just wasn’t paying attention. I disliked English class profusely.

8 thoughts on “East of Eden

  • 9/6/2007 at 9:52 am
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    I just finished East of Eden a few months ago… quite the conquest and a bit on the heavier side to lug around. I was disappointed, however, that I get no credit for it on the 1001 books list…
    Because I, like you, am a product of the Stoneham public school system and can only pick out literary themes when bludgeoned in the face by them, I have taken to following a finished book with a quick visit to Spark notes–I think you’ll find you were aware of more than you thought.

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  • 9/6/2007 at 10:00 am
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    bludgeoned is such a great word.

    What are you reading now?

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  • 9/6/2007 at 10:56 am
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    Now I’m reading Catch 22–I’m only a short way into it but its HILARIOUS. I also highly recommend Slaughterhouse 5 which was a lightning fast amusing read after East of Eden… with aliens.

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  • 9/6/2007 at 11:06 am
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    I got to read East of Eden in high school. It was one of the few english class books I was forced to read that I enjoyed. I have a hard time with all the biblical symbolism b/c I don’t know the bible stories on any real level, oh well.

    I’m currently reading All the Kings Men, but I’m having a hard time getting into it. Not sure if I’ll finish.

    I’ve been reading tons lately, so I love all the book talk. Also I agree 100% with books(along with movies and everything) are primarly for entertainment but it’s ok for them to make you think a bit.

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  • 9/6/2007 at 11:07 am
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    I second these recommendations and add Farhenheit 451, fast read and enjoyable book.

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  • 9/6/2007 at 11:13 am
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    In Grapes of Wrath, Steinbeck does something similar with the initials of the Jim Casy character relating to a certain important biblical dude.

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  • 9/6/2007 at 11:28 am
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    Which Stephen King copied with John Coffee (like the drink) in the Green Mile.

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  • 9/6/2007 at 1:10 pm
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    You know, Steinbeck is one of my favorite authors, but I found East of Eden sort of bogged down in its own characters and symbolism. “To A God Unknown” is my favorite book by him, it’s much more natural and the themes (believing, god, land) are more resonant and self evident.
    BONUS: It pairs well with “The Bridge of San Loius Rey”, another early-century American book about the meaning of God.

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