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Summary: The Cain and Abel story in the fragrance of California
Review: As a little girl in Denmark, I read it for the first time and fell in love with the Salinas Valley and the people who settled there. Later, I visited Salinas and the Steinbeck museum. The book, which I re-read regularly, had a big impact on my life - and the story of the origin of the word 'timshel' is fascinating and riveting. The discussions among Adam, Sam Hamilton, and Lee are my favorite scenes of the book. Steinbeck will always be close to my heart.... Kirsten Weinoldt
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Summary: Long Story
Review: "East of Eden" is a good book, however it is a bit on the tedious side. After a time, the plight of Adam Trask seems pathetic, and you start to not care about his outcome. Samuel Hamliton is a strong force in the book, which is lost at his death. The most interesting characters were, in my opinion, Charles, the brother of Adam Trask, who we do not hear from in the later part of the book, and Cathy/Kate. Cathy's emotional detachment makes her dangerous and interesting, as she makes a life for herself. Ultimtely, I am pleased that I stuck with the book, but I would recommend Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath" or "Of Mice and Men." Both of these novels are not such a chore to read.
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Summary: I read this about 17 years ago in highschool
Review: And I am gearing up and reread it. I happened upon the movie and fell in love with James Dean. So, then I found the book at the local library. I couldn't put it down. There was so much more than the movie offered! An epic novel that makes you yearn for more and more and more.
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Summary: generations of people
Review: a story of family
a story of men
a story of boys
a story of betrayl and redemption
a story of enlightenment
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Summary: Check out the video w/ Jane Seymour
Review: Personally, I liked the movie better. Jane Seymour was brilliant!
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Summary: East of Eden
Review: It's sad to celebrate the 100th year of Steinbeck, and realize he wasnt that great of a writer. He is a story teller, but not a beautiful writer. East of Eden seems hurredly written, and I kept looking for a beautiful paragraph, a sentence that might make me read it several times. East of Eden was a real disappointment to me.
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Summary: A Favorite
Review: This is one of those books that I was assigned to read in highschool, but quickly became one of my favorites. It's a good study on good versus evil and how people have a choice to be good (or evil). Don't read it just because Oprah said to. Read it because it's a great classic and a great read.
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Summary: Way over-hyped ...
Review: If John Q-Nobody were to submit this manuscript to a publisher today, I doubt that it would make it out of the slush pile. The best parts of the book were Steinbeck's descriptions of flowers, rocks, hills and trees, which isn't saying much for the story.
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Summary: My review of East Of Eden
Review: East of Eden was originally published in 1952, and the setting for the novel is the late 19th and early 20th century. I still enjoyed reading East of Eden though, because there are timeless themes presented in this book. Sibling rivalry, guilt, and betrayal are some of the main themes in this book. It was ironic and interesting to read how 2 sets of brothers from different generations compete for the approval and love of their father.
There are many memorable characters with strong personalities in East of Eden. I loved the complex character of Cathy. She is a whore who shoots her husband and abandons her family. This incident leaves her husband Adam shattered and confused in the beginning of the story. I loved how Adam becomes a stronger person and a better father later in the book. I loved the supporting character named Lee in this novel. He is a loyal servant to the patriarch Adam Trask. He is also the primary caretaker to Adam Trask's sons Caleb and Aron. I loved reading about the development of the characters especially the twins Caleb and Aron. Caleb is the curious, brave, independent, strong willed sibling who has dark thoughts. His brother Aron is the sensitive, studious one. The contrast between their personalities is very interesting. The most intense part of the book is when Caleb learns of the existence of his mother and confronts her. East of Eden becomes a very predictable book about a third of the way in, but it is still a wonderfully written book. I simply loved the evolution of the characters especially Adam. East of Eden has themes of sibling rivalry, guilt, betrayal, loss, and the American dream of getting ahead and raising a family that are still relevant in society today. I enjoyed it very much.
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Summary: Changed my Life
Review: It was three years ago when I picked up this book for a way to pass the cold winter days in Virginia. Having come from a dysfunctional family, and fearing that I would be doomed to repeat the past of my family and after fearing that my mother would someday awaken within me, this book changed my life and my perspective on life and how I see it. It is the summation of many philoshical viewpoints on God and self-determination all rolled into one story. The story does take a while to pick up, but I am glad that I stuck with it. Anyone who sticks through it and allows Steinbeck to flesh out the meaning of his novel will be pleased with the end-result. It is a great lesson/message for anyone who has had difficult people in their families (who hasn't?).
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