East of Eden
by John Steinbeck
|
List Price: Our Price: $11.40 You Save: $5.60 (33%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $3.56 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of East of Eden
Book Review: A Biblical Tale of Epic
Summary: 5 Stars
Yet another powerful classic, East of Eden by John Steinbeck traces the history of the Trask and Hamilton families to their origins in California. Three generations of their stories are told through wonderful prose and imagery from the beginning until the very end.Essentially, East of Eden retells the story of Cain and Abel - a biblical story. But, reader beware, you don't have to be religious to enjoy such an exquisite book. Morals lurk in every corner as Charles faces the arduous task of gaining his father's love, which his brother Adam already has. Relative to our very own lives, you'll find yourself flinching at the destruction caused by Cyrus's unwillingness to accept Charles as his son. His eager acceptance of his other son empowers the book with themes of jealousy and the struggle between good and evil. Steinbeck then manages to push his cyclical themes through into another generation of people - Adam, Aron, and Cal - who seem to share the same problem. However, the plot and evil thicken. A brothel manager named Kate seems to get caught up in the mess as well - her evil; a vice of destruction. Supplemental to the main theme of good vs. evil are hints of other themes such as timshel, and knowledge which will become self evident as the book is read. Steinbecks fascinating ability to animate characters will mesmorize you until the very end. And, surprisingly, there is even room to spare for brilliant quotes and memorable lines.
East of Eden is a magnificent story that'll leave you turning the pages until the end, keeping you east of eden, ---- and wishing there was more.
Book Review: A Steinbeck Classic Worth Your While
Summary: 5 Stars
When I first started reading EAST OF EDEN I was surprised by the fact that it did not rush into the saga of Caleb and aron Trask. I was also somewhat shocked by the vulgarity. But as I read on i saw that John Steinbeck wasn't being vulgar, he was giving a provocative look at what human nature really is, down to the ugly roots of imperfection.
This book starts out with the story of good-hearted Adam and his wild brotehr Charles. Their father is harsh and they both come off with emotional issues. When Cathy Ames shows up at their house, beaten and in need of care, Adam rushes to her rescue. She is sweet and angelic and he falls in love, and they are married. Little does he know evil lies beneath her pretty face. She has a past of murder and is completely heartless. She is unfaithful to him on the very night of their wedding, and in just gets worse from there. After the birth of their twins she shoots Adam, leaving him desolate and in a state of shock. Eventually he comes out of it with the aid of his wise freinds Lee and Samuel. Adam recovers somehwat from his shock and starts raising his boys.
This is where Aron and Caleb come in. Aron is beautiful and loved by all. Caleb is covered in a cloud of darkness and he is loved by very few. All he wants is acceptance from his father, and all Adam wants is him to be like his brother.
With a splendid cast of unique characters, this book is amazing. It goes very deep and while it does ramble at times, the story is one of both good and evil, loved and unloved, love and hate.
Book Review: You just can't beat the classics
Summary: 5 Stars
If you love California and literature, this book is for you! "Samuel rode lightly on top of a book and he balanced happily among ideas the way a man rides white rapids in a canoe. But Tom got into a book, crawled and groveled between the covers, tunneled like a mole among the thoughts, and came up with the book all over his face and hands." This is a book that will get all over your face and hands and you will love it.
Steinbeck has innovative, articulate and beautiful ways of describing his family - their strength of character as well as his love for them.
"Her faith is a mountain, and you, my son, haven't even got a shovel yet."
"She had no love of places. A place was only a resting stage on the way to heaven."
"I believe a strong woman may be stronger than a man, particularly if she happens to have love in her heart. I guess a loving woman is almost indestructible."
"Dessie was not beautiful. Perhaps she wasn't even pretty, but she had the glow that makes men follow a woman in the hope of reflecting a little of it."
John makes you think, internalize and reflect on who we are and what we stand for.
"You can boast about anything if it's all you have. Maybe the less you have, the more you are required to boast."
"It would be absurd if we did not undertsnad both angels and devils, since we invented them."
"There are no ugly questions except those clothed in condescension."
"Perhaps the best conversationalist in the world is the man who helps others to talk."
Read this book.
Book Review: Life's struggles packaged in a book
Summary: 5 Stars
East of Eden takes the Biblical story of Cain and Abel and brings it to life with the characters. Analysis of the story reveals the belief in the power of man and choice. Complicated relationships and personal struggles in the characters portay life as it is. East of Eden is a book which discusses human nature.It looks into the hearts and minds of people, revealing both the good and bad that battles within a person.It stresses individuality and the hardships of life as well as the joy that can be found in living.He portrays numerous characters, each unique, developing them and describing the struggles and personality, revealing both strengths and weaknesses,just like any other person. Stuggles such as rejection, longing for love, ignorance, blindness from love, search of identity, shame and guilt, anger, and many more are expanded on and looked into.It brings understanding to the reader of differnt issues and patters in people. The story is well developed and written, containing much thought and insight.It starts with differnt stories but craftily intertwines as the story progessed, developing into a complicated web of relationships and lives. Many connections are made throughout the book, making the book a complete whole with constant substance, bringing it to life.This book contains a lot of useful information and insight that can even be applied to the reader's own life. It may allow greater understanding and personal growth. This book is definitely worth reading. It is by far my favorite book.Book Review: A BOOK FOR REMEMBRANCE, STEINBECK DOES IT AGAIN.
Summary: 5 Stars
"When June comes the grasses headed out and turned brown and the hills turned a brown which was not quite brown but a gold and saffron and red, an indescribable colour."
With a colorful set of characters this book will be a treat for all readers who love fat books, and like reading about the human condition and mind.
In the East of Eden, John Steinbeck introduces us to the Trask family, a somewhat problematic unit of Adam and Charles Trask and their father Cyrus, who more or less set the ground for the destinies of the two boys. Find out what kind of destiny is in store for Cyrus's offspring; Cal and Aron, Adam's sons, in this well written novel based in California.
The Trask brothers will have a life like none other for they will prove different, and throughout this story we will be entertained by the people who surrounded this family; those who tried to make them appear as normal and tried too hard to accept them. We will also, meet those who knew too much about them and carried their secrets to their graves.
However at the source of this book is Cathy Ames who will be responsible for their good or bad future in an indirect way.
A page-turner that will keep you up all night. If you haven't read any other of John Steinbeck's books, please get your hands on The Grapes Of Wrath after this one. It is something to write home about.
Rewiiewed by Heather Marshall Negahdar(SUGAR-CANE 26/12/04)