Rating: 
Summary: A Tedious Lesson
Review: If you've read any of Steinbeck's other books, don't expect anything different from this one. You either love him or you hate him. I've never been a fan of his, but it had been a while and having made such an impression on Oprah, I decided to give East of Eden a shot.
It seems trite to say the book was depressing, but heck, it was really depressing. The message is that we all have free will, but that's not breaking news to me and reading it was too much like tedious homework. The lesson was conveyed and learned, but it was not an enjoyable process. I just couldn't connect with the characters which, in my humble opinion, were never developed enough to incite any real empathy from me. I just watched on in disgust.In looking back, I recognize the genius and the simplicity of the theme and how he incorporated it into the novel. I'll also admit (reluctantly) that the book was very well written and successfully delivered the message. I applaud Steinbeck's writing skills, which is the only reason I gave it 3 stars. Alas, in the spirit of the book, we all have free will, so I won't choose to read Steinbeck again. I was disappointed in the read, but I'm sure my book club's discussion will be interesting. If you are in a book club or want something to talk about at the water cooler, then have at it. If you are just getting back into reading or looking for a good book to sink into, I would suggest you look elsewhere. If you don't know where to start, look at the reviews from a favorite book, find someone who had a similar opinion and look at that persons lists and other reviews. I've found some real gems that way.
Rating: 
Summary: John Steinbeck's best
Review: In my opinion, East of Eden tops everything written by John Steinbeck. Although it is a biblical story, Steinback doesn't present it as such. It's a modern-day Cain versus Able story. If you liked this book, you'll probably also like From the Heart by Kendall Bell. Both of these books are very inspiring.
Rating: 
Summary: Hardly Steinbeck's Best
Review: It's a shame that Oprah chose this of all Steinbeck's novels to resuscitate her book club. 'East of Eden' is, in my opinion, Steinbeck's worst. This was Steinbeck's bid to enter the lofty realms of the 'serious' author. So it is predictably bleak and angst-ridden, its characters constantly mired in futility and frustration. How different from the far sunnier (and more distinctive) novels, 'Tortilla Flat' and 'Cannery Row' and 'Sweet Thursday' -- any of which would have been a more agreeable choice. .... This is as close as Steinbeck comes to one of those potboiler sagas that just seem to go on and on and on, grinding through decade upon decade, and generation upon generation. Pick anything else by Steinbeck. Anything.
Rating:
Summary: This is My All Time Favorite
Review: There may be no greater threat to good fiction than high-school literature reading lists, unless it is a critic who believes that having possibly read a book in high school he remembers the book, or understood it if he did read it. I have heard it said that no one should be allowed to read Twain until he has passed his fiftieth birthday. I think you will find the same is true of most good literature, in this case "East of Eden." You have not read the book recently? You only remember the movie (based on only the last quarter of the book)? Maybe it was assigned by a teacher. At that age it was probably very easy to read the sordid parts, giggle at the whores, wonder at Cal, who probably morphs into James Dean as you think about it, put the book down and forget it. Many of us have done it, many will continue to do it. What high school student can possibly understand Samuel's statement "You know, Lee, I think of my life as a kind of music, not always good music but still having form and melody. And my life has not been a full orchestra for a long time now. A single note only - and that note unchanging sorrow. I'm not alone in my attitude, Lee. It seems to me that too many of us conceive of a life as ending in defeat." As far as that goes, is it possible for a high school student to conceive of the end of life for either them or their friends? How many funerals do you have to go to before you understand Adam's knowledge that it would be unthinkable not to go to Samuel's funeral, but at the same time have to maintain his knowledge that Samuel was not dead? Sure it's easy to wonder why Adam can't see through Cathy, but it takes only one failed marriage to come to the beginning of an understanding. How many people do you have to know to comprehend the sorrow that drives Tom to suicide when his sister dies? As the author says "Nearly everything I have is in it, and it is not full. Pain and excitement are in it, and feeling good or bad and evil thoughts and good thoughts - the pleasure of design and some despair and the indescribable joy of creation." Perhaps, just perhaps, the problem most people who attempt to review this book have is that it has been too long since they read it. This book has been around for over fifty years. Many of us read (or were supposed to have read) it in high school. Many who did think they remember it, or that they understood it. It is an adult book. It has characters developed over a lifetime. I have read this book at least 15 times. It still surprises, depresses, enlightens, engrosses, and thrills me each time I read it.
Rating: 
Summary: East Of Eden
Review: Of all his novels, Steinbeck seems to pour the power of his immense skills into this one. It's as if he needs to prove to himself that he is worthy of all the accolades heaped upon him. Yet there is an ingredient that seems to be missing in this work when laid beside his many other achievements. In Grapes Of Wrath and Of Mice And Men, Steinbeck never labored, never faltered as the characters and story lines developed into crescendoes of drama and excitement. In East Of Eden, the characters are developed slowly, deliberately; the pace is tempered to accomodate the author's labored struggle to go beyond his talent and yet, the reader is treated to a third demension, beyond character, beyond story, to that of the author who seems to be saying..."I will not rest until I have given you my best." Steinbeck proves to us he is afterall, only human; but only after he gives us this super human effort. While East Of Eden may not have been his best novel, it was by far his best work.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant and timeless
Review: John Steinbeck, despite past controversy, is one of America's finest novelists, fully deserving the resurgence in interest caused by The Oprah Phenomenon. It reflects the current cultural mania for 'names' that it takes such publicity to attract readers to someone who should be read anyway. Steinbeck is so much better than so many highly touted writers of today that the 'name' mania seems bizarre, inexplicable.
East of Eden is beautifully written in every sense--story, plot and characters. It draws the reader in from the start and demands to be read, to savor the magnificent prose and wonder at the skills of observation and exposition Steinbeck demonstrates. Some critics have suggested, over the decades since the book was first published, that the author pushed his biblical allegories too far, that Kathy was outrageous and improbable in her behavior, that the depictions of time and place were harsh and unrealistic. Those critics had clearly led simple lives and had never been exposed to actual people who behaved far worse--yes, they truly exist--or actual places where the cultural landscape was equally complex and often agony to experience.
It is perhaps difficult for a modern reader to adopt the attitude that would permit the comfortable assimilation of East of Eden. It is not a modern book, but this novel proves that great writing transcends time and fad, that Steinbeck was a hugely talented, powerful and fearless writer who could tackle difficult material and convey it with searing intensity.
I have re-read this book many times and remain in awe at how powerful and memorable it is. Having read, perhaps, 25,000 or more books in my life, I rate this among the top 10 and find it magnificent in every way.
Rating:
Summary: A true treasure!
Review: This book has been a joy to read and it is one book that is certainly worth reading again. East of Eden will have a permanent spot on my bookshelf - a book that I plan to keep for my young daughter, so she can read it when she's older. It is a timeless classic.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best novels I¿ve ever read
Review: I am NOT - repeat - NOT a reader. But I've just discovered 2 books that knocked my socks off. One fiction; one non-fiction. The non-fiction, Make Every Girl Want You, showed me how women want to be treated; the fiction book, East of Eden, was BETTER than Of Mice & Men & Grapes of Wrath. Although maybe that's because I was FORCED to read the others back in high school! I loved the biblical references throughout this piece of art. It takes place between the Civil War & World War I, & features 2 sets of brothers. I guess I can really relate to this because I have 2 brothers, I we have gone through similar circumstances (although, luckily, in times of peace, not war). Anyway, great read - Kudos to Oprah. I couldn't put it down, & I'm not typically one to read novels!
Rating:
Summary: A true masterpiece...
Review: I've read books by Steinbeck before this one. Actually, now that I think about, I read a quite a lot by him. But none of them hit me like "East of Eden." I think he was truly at his best when he decided to write "East of Eden." The characters are fascinating, and the way he seems to tie several different sub-plots together is absolutely amazing. His other books like "The Pearl" or "Of Mice and Men," showed that he was a good author. But "East of Eden" shows that not only is he an extraordinary writer, he has gift for portraying human relationships skillfully. Truly, his use of character interactions is astounding. And each character is wonderfully full and complete, lending a multi-faceted quality to his book.
Rating:
Summary: A tome
Review: If Grapes of Wrath were a song, this would be a tome - much more heavy hearted and densely wraught. Certainly Graphs of Wrath was depressing, but not so ornately religious as Graphs of Wrath.
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