East of Eden
by John Steinbeck
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Book Reviews of East of Eden
Book Review: My Brother's Keeper
Summary: 5 Stars
If the phrase "Great American Novel" implies a work of scope and substance, dealing with what is unique in American life, rooted in a deep knowledge of time and place, filled with characters who might well be our own forefathers, and infused with a strong moral purpose, EAST OF EDEN certainly fills the bill. At 600 pages, it is a much longer book than OF MICE AND MEN (103 pages) or even THE GRAPES OF WRATH (416), but it is filled with all kinds of light: the bright simplicity of Steinbeck's language, the spark of his humor, his shining song of the land, and the rich glow that comes from his deep understanding of human beings, especially imperfect ones.
Steinbeck himself appears in the novel as a young boy, and one of the threads in the story is the tale of his maternal grandfather, Samuel Hamilton, who emigrated from Northern Ireland in the middle of the 19th century and came to the Salinas Valley in California. There he raised a large family more on the proceeds of his work as a well-driller and handyman than through much success on his hardscrabble farm. The stories of Steinbeck's older relatives are scattered through the book as a touchstone of basic American values of faith, hard work, and the capacity to dream. One becomes rich when the automobile comes to Salinas, another dies in poverty, but most simply marry and raise families of their own.
But the central character in the book is a New Englander, Adam Trask. We see him as a boy, in a complex relationship with his half-brother Charles. Sent by his father, a Civil War veteran, into the army, he knocks around the country for years before unexpectedly coming into some money and settling in the Salinas Valley. The main part of the book follows the growth of Adam's sons Caleb and Aron to young adulthood, and it is clear that some of the old history of Charles and Adam is being repeated. Or of Cain and Abel. For that oldest of all stories about colonists in a new land -- farmer, hunter, man of action, man of dreams -- obviously has great resonance for Steinbeck. It becomes a symbol for American aspiration and American violence, a paradox of how two members of a family can be so alike and yet so different, and a challenge that goes to the heart of individual morality.
Steinbeck had used such resonances before, most notably in the final scene of THE GRAPES OF WRATH, but here he is constructing an entire novel around the exegesis of a biblical text. Some of his scaffolding is a little obvious, notably the prevalence of names beginning with A or C, and the numerous philosophical discussions. There is a serpent in this Eden, Cathy Ames, one of the great female psychopaths in literature, whom Steinbeck announces as a monster even before her birth. Goodness is represented first by Samuel Hamilton, and later by Adam's Chinese servant, Lee. But for all this polarization, Steinbeck's writing is so grounded in realism, and his treatment of good and evil so nuanced, that it is no longer a matter of how the old story repeats itself, but of how flawed human beings may claw back from the brink and be the masters of their own souls. This is a book to make you think -- but also one to make you laugh and cry, and above all to glory in this wondrous country and its people.
Book Review: An Epic Family Classic
Summary: 5 Stars
Steinbeck's epic novel, `East of Eden' is a depiction of his family's history in the Salinas Valley in California. Often the backdrop of many of his novels, `...Eden' is certainly more autobiographical than most of his works. The story branches off just like a family tree, and organically the characters blossom into full life.
Beginning with Cyrus Trask during the late 1800's, we develop a Jacob and Esau rivalry between his boys Charles and Adam. Cyrus is a martinet, so overbearingly so, that Adam joins the army just to get out of his sight. Later, when he returns, the boys have become men and continue their conflict, except Cyrus has died and left a small fortune to both of them. Much of the novel focuses on the transition each one takes to acquire land and place their wealth in the right direction.
From there Adam is the central focus of the story. He falls in love with a woman named Catherine (also Cathy or Kate) who is a local prostitute. Through him she bears a pair of twins, Caleb and Aron, who are destined to be as different as Adam and Charles were. Adam truly adores Kate despite her livelihood, but the relationship turns tempestuous. While he finds it easy to forgive her transgressions, he can't seem to tame her wily nature.
The remainder of the novel follows the aspirations of Adam's family, including Kate, whose conniving ways provide a colorful backdrop as Adam attempts to keep their mother's identity a secret until they are old enough to process her place in their lives. Many subplots intertwine with Aron being an aspiring college bound preacher who falls in love with Abra, a preacher's daughter, while Caleb tries to win his father`s affection as an entrepreneur at home. As a heartwarming touch, Lee, an Asian-American housekeeper, adds much to the drama as a second surrogate parent of sorts.
Reading Steinbeck's classic is delightful. I found the 601 pages to be a trademark page-turner from one of my favorite American authors. While I'll always revere 'The Grapes of Wrath (Penguin Classics)' as his most powerful classic, I now understand why `East of Eden' is considered among the upper echelon of his great works. 'The Winter of Our Discontent' and `Of Mice and Men' have an emotional immediacy that are his trademark, but his expertise is no less apparent in this novel with his ability to weave such an intricate and absorbing tale from beginning to end.
As poetic prose, Steinbeck's timeless work has been reaffirmed by becoming one of Oprah's prized "Book of the Month" selections.
(On a personal note, I'd like to add that 'The Red Pony' was the only Steinbeck novel I ever read in school. Apparently my educators saw the wisdom of leaving his legacy to my free time when I could savor his novels because I wanted to--and not because I had to. I read `Of Mice and Men' during summer break during college, but I read the bulk of his famous works during the early nineties. Enjoy.)
Book Review: East of Eden review
Summary: 4 Stars
John Steinbeck delivered another great America novel with one of his masterpiece, East of Eden. When I first picked up the book from the shelf of Borders, I was a little intimidated with the thickness of the book because long lengthen books tend to contain a lot of rambling and eventually I would loose interest. But because of the positive feedbacks I heard about the book, I decided to give it a read. The book was simply amazing and I'm glad that the length of the book didn't intimidate me as much.
Steinbeck begins the book with the setting of Salinas Valley, California. With the beautifully written description of the valley, Steinbeck introduces the start of the Trask family and the innately malevolence woman Cathy. The sympathetic Adam Trask takes in the ferociously beaten girl, Cathy, after he finds her on their doorstep during a rainy night. After taking care of Cathy's injuries, Adam finds himself madly in love with the girl. Cathy has extreme physical beauty, but the nature of her immorality is at hidden. Adam marries the girl and soon Cathy gave birth to twin boys- Aron and Cal. The young couple moves onto a plantation next to the Hamiltons. Then Cathy shoots Adam by the shoulder and flees from the city. Torn by Cathy's love, the confused and deprived Adam raises the twins with the help from his Asian helper, Lee.
Steinbeck then shifts the focus of the story to the Hamilton family. Samuel Hamilton, the man of the house, alludes to Steinbeck's grandfather. He describes Samuel to be a highly respected character with a brilliant mind. Through out the story, Samuel Hamilton becomes a great inspiration to Adam Trask. But when Adam takes Samuel's idea and starts the cargo business, the Trask family fells into poverty.
In the middle of the book, Steinbeck begins to unravel the mystery of Cathy. He starts this with her sons Cal and Aron. It is inevitable for the sons to not question about their `deceased' mother. But the words escapes and Cal finds his mother in the brothel of a city not too far from Salina Valley. After Adam learns the location of his wife, he travels to the city in search of her. Adam learns the abusive history of Cathy and the reasons to her beating on that raining night when they first met. Later she poisons the owner, Faye and takes over the place under an infamous title. Knowing that his sentimental brother will be crushed to know he has been lied to, Cal tries the best to keep the secret. But one night when their father chose Aron's gift over Cal's money, jealousy overwhelms Cal and the secret flees as well. After Aron learns about the truth, he immediately enlists in the Army claming that he has no emotions left to care.
There're more to the story after Aron goes to war. The book is enriched with plots, emotions, conflicts, and descriptive insights. I simply love Steinbeck's creative story line and the highly sophisticated way he played with the adjectives. The story is allusion to the Book of Genesis especially Chapter 4 of the story Cain and Abel. Steinbeck managed to obtain many of biblical references to the story without giving obvious ending to the book. I highly recommend this book to anyone who simple is looking for a good read.
Book Review: True to Steinbeck's form
Summary: 5 Stars
I have no problem admitting that I picked this book up for the author. I have had great success with the other books Steinbeck has written and this one is a masterpiece as well. What I liked about this one, however, is all of the lessons and hidden meanings that go along with the novel and the different interpretations that each reader has.
It is important to remember that Steinbeck considers "East of Eden" his masterpiece. "Grapes of Wrath" had already become a classic in its own right but he was proud of this book in particular. Though I have to disagree to "East of Eden" being a better novel than "Grapes of Wrath", I can understand and respect all of the pride that is felt within the book.
Like his other books, "East of Eden" starts out very slow and very descriptive. Steinbeck takes us into the lives of two different families; the Trasks and the Hamiltons. The two families both have farms in Salinas Valley, but one family has wealth and the other does not. Just before I wanted to throw the book across the room from being fed up with imagery, Steinbeck once again grabbed my attention with the introduction of Cathy Ames.
By the time Cathy (Kate later in the novel) is introduced, the reader realizes that they are hooked to the novel. The reader has enough background on all the characters to feel like they are in the barn right next to the Hamiltons milking cows. This brings a tremendous amount of appreciation for each character.
Throughout the book a series of life changing events are constantly introduced to the reader and each scene is crucial to the novel. Each and every character is essential to the novel and by the end the reader can fully accept and appreciate each one. Some people will go into all the symbolism of this book with the story of Cain and Abel, or the obvious link to the garden of Eden and praise the book for how well the story adapted to the time period it was written. Though this was very apparent and is an excellent story analyze, I chose to focus on all the goodness found in the book.
Not to spoil the book, but many horribly sad and heart wrenching events take place. What I took away from the book was to look at the Hamiltons and the Trasks and see how different characters coped. It's truly amazing how good triumphed evil and really teaches a valid lesson of forgiveness. Martha Washington once said "I am still determined to be cheerful and happy, in whatever situation I may be; for I have also learned from experience that the greater part of our happiness or misery depends upon our disposions, and not upon our circumstances". The Hamiltons especially lived by this quote. It was really an eye opener and lovely book.
This book deserves to be a classic and John Steinbeck deserves to go down in history of one of the greatest authors of American Literature.
Book Review: A masterful re-telling of the Cain and Abel story
Summary: 5 Stars
One of the most familiar stories from the Old Testament is thatof Cain and Abel. Because God was more pleased with Abel's gift,
Cain murdered his brother and was exiled for the rest of his
life.
Cain may have been the first murderer, but unfortunately he was
not the last. His question, "Am I my brother's keeper" is as
crucial today as it was then. This crime is famous precisely
because it is so universal.
It is no wonder that novelists have used this story in their own work. One of the most famous of these modern parables is "East of
Eden" by John Steinbeck. In fact, he uses the story at least two
times.
The first part of the novel focuses on two brothers, Charles and
Adam Trask. As young boys their conflict began when their father
shows favoritism for Adam and continues throughout their adult
life, culminating on Adam's wedding night when Charles gets him
drunk and sleeps with his new wife.
Nine months later Cathy's children (Steinbeck never tells us who
the father is) are born. Their very names, Cal and Aaron, tells
us quickly that the Cain and Abel story is going to be continued
in the new generation, and sure enough, it is. Adam, like his
father before him, accepts a gift that Aaron gives him and
rejects Cal's offering.
The result is tragedy, and the search for redemption begins
again. When Cal asks if he can overcome the evil he finds within
him, he realizes that the answer is that he may, showing that he
has the power to choose good or evil for himself, a choice that
makes him great.
But the power of this book lies not just within the story itself;
the characters Steinbeck draws for us are among the most vivid in
modern literature. In addition to the two sets of brothers is
Cathy, one of the most corrupt women I have ever encountered.
From the time she burns her own parents alive to the way she
manipulates all of the men she encounters, she finds delight in
evil.
Balanced against her is Samuel Hamilton, a good man who finds
happiness in the land on which he lives and his many inventions.
When he first meets the Trasks, Adam is devastated because Cathy
has deserted her family to become a prostitute in nearby Salinas.
Sam helps him to recover.
But my favorite character is Lee, the Chinese sage who plays the
role of the typical subservient Chinaman, but who in private
guides Adam and his boys. It is Lee who reveals the meaning of
the Old Testament verb timshel as "thou mayest," giving the gift
of freedom to Cain and to us today. And it is Lee who must, at
the end, try to keep this family from destroying itself
completely.
Steinbeck is a powerful writer, and this is one of his most
powerful novels. I envy you if this is your first time reading
it.