East of Eden, John Steinbeck Centennial Edition

"East of Eden" covers the time from the Civil War to World War I. The period between these two big wars offered a perfect slate for examining the human condition which becomes clear by showing the personalities, deeds and actions of two families, the Hamiltons and the Trasks. Yet this book is not simply a study of good vs evil but rather an ode to how conflicted and complicated human beings can be. And it is a story of how each action will bring on a reaction and then the consequences of such actions and individual decisions. There are three sets of characters covered in the book: the Hamiltons, a relatively poor but loving family headed up by Sam, the family patriarch, whose dreams and deeds were so often in the clouds though he had great personal strength and integrity. The Hamilton children are each covered individually. Secondly, there are the Trasks, a family led by a father who preaches duty over all else including love. He had two sons, Charles and Adam. The third character is the land itself, both back East (of California) where Charles lives and farms his rocky acres and especially in Salinas Valley, California. Steinbeck himself grew up in Salinas Valley and he must have greatly loved it for his descriptions are so vivid as to put the reader there with a gentle breeze ruffling tree leaves while scents of blossoms fill the air and one's fingers can feel the richness of the earth. Much has been made of the Cain/Abel comparison to the story in the Bible and with good reason. The two Trask sons, Charles and Adam are opposites and often at odds with one another. Charles never married while Adam's two sons, Cal (Caleb) and Aron (he did not like two A's in his name) are also of opposite personalities. So the age old question once again arises of whether humans are shaped by nature or nurture since both sets of boys lived with the same father under the same conditions. But how much consideration should be given to the fact the fathers favored one son over the other while the unfavored son knew of it and felt it? So clever of Steinbeck to build such strong characters for we, the readers, to ponder such questions! As each character is introduced the nature vs nurture question arises several times. For instance was Cathy Ames born with an evil mind which continued to develop and guide her throughout her life because she learned from an early age that she could manipulate people? No one stopped her or called her out on her negative manipulations and carefully crafted lies. No one asked her to be nice instead so she saw no reason to behave any other way. Cathy (who later called herself Kate) was very petite, extremely pretty and very clever making it difficult for those around her to look for negatives and, if any were found, they were disregarded. So was she (and most other people) born blank slates while the environment/nurture shapes the person? Or in the final analysis is it a combination of both nature and nurture? However, even Cathy/Kate had a few positives such as wounding her husband, Adam Trask, rather than killing him which she later admitted she aimed the wounding shot. As long as those around her completed their tasks to her satisfaction, she paid them what she agreed to with no effort to cheat them even though she was so powerful in her position that she could have done so and gotten away with it. Small things to be sure yet out of character for her overall since she had no scruples against cleverly murdering those who had something she wanted. And once meeting both sons at high school age, why did she favor the nicer one over the one who was more like her? Would the one who was more like her overcome his negatives as he matured? Although Steinbeck did an excellent job of developing and showing the personalities of each character perhaps one of the most pronounced was Lee, the Trask's live-in caretaker. Not only was Lee a learned and intelligent man, he had the inner strength to keep Adam and his two sons, Cal and Aron, reasonably functioning while dealing with his own nuances. There is the old adage: 'like likes like' and so it was with Lee and Sam Hamilton. They enjoyed sparing intellectually and respected each other greatly even though their lives otherwise varied significantly. It is through the development of each very different personality that Steinbeck really shines. Each person has his or her own weaknesses and strengths and his or her own individualism. There was also focus on how all the Hamilton children matured into such different individuals. Did those children differ that much from the Trask children and if so how and why? How each character from both families behaved based on their own personality is so realistic as to give the reader pause at times to stop reading and consider how it could be so. "East of Eden" is a book to be savored, to be absorbed and considered and remembered long after one reads the last page. I read modern love stories and mysteries for pleasure while also over the years having read many of the 100 best books of all time (also a pleasure!). Many of those books are 500 pages or more (East of Eden is 600) which gives the author space to develop characters while letting the reader sort through the angst and/or happiness to draw their own conclusions. Such as that cannot be rushed. It is my opinion that Steinbeck, within his characters, covered the majority of personality strengths and weaknesses found among humankind and he is to be commended for that accomplishment. "East of Eden" is highly recommended for those who like personality driven stories. The 600 pages will disappear before you know it and there you will sit strongly disappointed that the story ended while wishing it to continue. Steinbeck is a great story teller, one so deserving of the Nobel Prize for literature. What an honor that he left behind novels like this one for readers to savor for generations to come. This is true apparently due to his understanding of human nature and his eloquent and expressive use of language, also outstanding. The book could not have ended any other way in my opinion. It is after all up to each individual to choose their own path. A review should not give away too much about a story so know that this book is complex and full of showing to build each character through their deeds and many actions toward one another and to others. I loved this book so much that while I had already read "Grapes of Wrath" I will now read his other books and doubtless re-read this book as well, something I rarely ever do. After all, one remembers the good books while the others are easily forgotten. It will be a very long time before John Steinbeck is forgotten. His literary life will parallel that of Dickens and all those other long-lived writers we love so much centuries after their demise!

As a busy mom of three juggling a full house at 41, finding quiet time to read can be tough, but this East of Eden by John Steinbeck completely stole my attention. The writing is so rich and deep, diving into complex family dynamics, love, and human nature in a way that stays with you long after you turn the last page. This Centennial edition has a gorgeous, high-end feel with lovely deckle-edged pages that make it a joy to hold during those rare quiet moments on the couch

Is is possible that Netflix may boost literacy? I just did a Netflix mini-retrospective look at James Dean's films: "Rebel Without a Cause," "Giant" and "East of Eden." Watching the complex story of "East of Eden," reminded me that I had never read the Steinbeck novel from which the film was adapted. This came as a surprise to me, since I am a huge fan of Steinbeck's writings and have long considered "The Grapes of Wrath" among my favorite novels. So, I embarked on reading the novel. I was expecting it to be good; I was unprepared for the depth of the writing and the brilliant insight into human nature that marked Steinbeck's writing at this stage of his career. In my opinion, if he had never written another novel besides "East of Eden," he would have been worthy of the Nobel Prize that he won in 1962. The story is a complex and very moving modern setting of the Cain and Abel story told at multiple levels through several generations of the Trask family. Adam and Charles Trask lay the groundwork for the narrative by vying for the affection of their father, an ersatz Civil War hero who carved out a reputation and a fortune by misrepresenting the role that he played in key battles of the War Between the States. The saga continues into its main section with Adam's two sons - Cal and Aron - struggling to please him. Adam is raising them as a single father - with the not inconsiderable help from Lee, the live-in Chinese cook - after his wife abandoned the family shortly after giving birth to the twins. The most profound musings that stand as the intellectual and spiritual center of the novel are found exactly halfway through the narrative. The setting is that Lee, the Chinese cook, is having a theological discussion with a neighbor, Samuel. The crux of the discussion bears on varying translations of Genesis 4:7, in which God addresses Cain and implores him to overcome the temptation to sin. Lee describes the result of two years' of study by elders in the Chinese community who had undertaken to understand the issue in all of its subtleties: "After two years we felt we could approach your sixteen verses of the fourth chapter of Genesis. My old gentlemen felt that these words were very important too - 'Thou shalt not' and 'Do thou.' And this was the gold from our mining: 'Thou mayest.' 'Thou mayest rule over sin.' The old gentlemen smiled and nodded and felt the years were well spent. It brought them out of their Chinese shells, too, and right now they are studying Greek. Samuel said: 'It is a fantastic story. And I've tried to follow and maybe I've missed somewhere. Why is this word so important?' Lee's hand shook as he filled the delicate cups. He drank his down in one gulp. 'Don't you see?' he cried. 'The American Standard translation orders men to triumph over sin, and you can call sin ignorance. The King James translation makes a promise in "Thou shalt not." meaning that men will surely triumph over sin. But the Hebrew word, the word timshel -"Thou mayest" - that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open. That throws it right back on a man. For if "Thou mayest" it is also true that "Thou mayest not." "Yes, I see. I do see. But you do not believe this is divine law. Why do you feel its importance?" "Ah!" said Lee. "I've wanted to tell you this for a long time. I even anticipated your questions and am well prepared. Any writing which has influenced the thinking and the lives of innumerable people is important. Now, there are many millions in their sects and churches who feel the order 'Do thou,' and throw their weight into obedience. And there are millions more who feel predestination in 'Thou shalt.' Nothing they may do can interfere with what will be. But 'Thou mayest'! Why, that makes a man great, then gives him stature with the gods, for in his weakness and his filth and his murder of his brother he still has the great choice. He can choose his course and fight it through and win." Lee's voice was a chant of triumph. Adam said, "Do you believe that, Lee?" "Yes, I do. Yes, I do. It is easy out of laziness, out of weakness, to throw oneself into the lap of deity, saying, 'I couldn't help it; the way was set.' But think of the glory of the choice! That makes a man a man. A cat has no choice, a bee must make honey. There's no godliness there. And do you know, those old gentlemen who were sliding gently down to death are too interested to die now?" (Pages 301-2) Steinbeck's argument reminded me of the exquisite Grand Inquisitor passage in Dostoevsky's magnum opus, "The Brothers Karamazov." The Inquisitor confronts a Christ who has returned to earth during the Spanish Inquisition and excoriates him for having condemned mankind to freedom of choice. Both Steinbeck and Dostoevsky are delving into levels that represent the quantum physics of the soul. This is great literature - writing that combines story telling as an art form with profound examination of the human condition. Even in the age of Netflix and Grand Theft Auto IV, there is still room for great writing - and great reading. Enjoy! Al

I didn't know quite what to expect from this novel claimed by many people today as a classic masterpiece. I had read many Steinbeck novels fifty years ago but not this one. On the whole, the prose was crisp and easy to read. The language Steinbeck used to paint the Salinas Valley was lushly beautiful; I felt like I was there. The Hamilton family story, while sketchy, was tender and sweet. The Trask family story, on the other hand, predominated the narrative and was particularly mesmerizing and dark. The patriarch, Cyrus, was an imaginative liar and a cheat. The sons, Adam and Charles, were depicted as rather bleek souls who were neither truthful nor kind to themselves or to one another; they seemed to be rather unloved and unloving, wanton souls. I kept hoping for an impelling breakthrough of character for the twin boys of Adam, Cal and Aaron. The Biblical Cain and Abel myth permeated the story in an overarching way but I came away wondering whether the author had ever come to believe in a benevolent, loving Spirit at work in the lives of the people in the narrative or in his own. i suspect not. Was Steinbeck a realist or a pessimist? That was also hard to tell. There was a paucity of joy and other deep emotions expressed in the story., except when induced by alcoholic beverages imbibed by the men in a secretly ritualistic fashion. The psychological darkness of the Trask family legacy seemed to overshadow the beauty of the more kind and generously loving souls, Lee and Samuel Hamilton. Women were not depicted in any depth in the novel, with the exception of one character, Cathy Ames, who was considered a "monster" by the narrator. Cathy was a dominant demonic character who had done one monstrous thing after another throughout the novel's six hundred pages. She was portrayed as having not one shred of conscience or benevolence. I felt saddened not to have seen a bit more evidence of hope and healing in the grinding out of this mesmerizing and dark saga. The ending is truly bittersweet.

Steinbeck has created characters that I will never forget. He captures the beauty, ugliness and complexity of our human existence. A haunting tale. Made me cry and gave me hope.

East of Eden is an immaculate American narrative that spans decades in the lives of the Hamiltons and the Trasks in California's Salinas Valley. Steinbeck considered this novel to be his magnum opus, capturing the totality of his talents and efforts throughout his career. It was one of his final novels, and he received the Nobel Prize in Literature a decade after publishing it. The mythological scope that Stenbeck achieves in the book takes on an almost biblical scale – a grand, mystical and allegorical examination of several major aspects of humanity. He identifies the struggle of sculpting a personal existence and identity in the face of uncertainty – what is the difference between the internal and the external, and what does this mean in the context of families and relationships? He also examines time as a cyclical burden, as if its trajectory is that of a spinning arrow. We are ultimately tied to this track no matter how we fight against it, and sometimes it is the very fight against it that can cost us more dearly, or at least sooner, than if we accepted that we have no control over it. Some lose a freight car of produce, and others lose their lives. Finally, and perhaps the most notable of all of the thematic examinations that Steinbeck explores, the persistent question of what it truly means to be good or evil. Throughout the novel, we are presented with choices that characters need to make, and these choices are often difficult since there is a spectrum of consequences and victims to all choices. Additionally, these choices are complicated by their place on the character’s alignment like in Dungeons and Dragons - where Catherine is Chaotic Evil, Lee is Lawful Neutral, et al. These thematic ideas lead to the central point of the novel discussed several times: Timshel. That we all have our own power to choose our ideas of good and bad. To choose our destiny. That we have one go at it. It is philosophically revisited over and over again in the novel both literally (in conversations between Lee and others) and symbolically (through situational actions and reactions). In the end, Timshel is the only answer: that our destiny is in our hands, and we alone are responsible. I absolutely loved this book. Steinbeck is a master storyteller, and he is most masterful with is his sweeping portraits of characters and locales. This book is captured in vivid time and a place. What I found to be a bit surprising was that this was his third-to-last novel, simply by its length compared to his other novels save Grapes of Wrath. Many writers tend to try to say the most they can using the least amount of words, but in the case of this novel, we are treated to an epic and sprawling modern romance of the highest order... I just wondered quite often whether everything in the novel was necessary and if it was as long as it needed to be with some scenes that I simply didn’t understand having any gravity or importance... Still, easily one of the most immersive reading experiences I have ever had, and look forward to treating myself to many times more in this lifetime. A pure and striking examination of existence, good and evil, the nature of humanity, the nature of identity, and how our choices and lives are entirely within our control even when the consequences aren’t. A beautiful, beautiful novel. You can read about my Timshel tattoo in an article I wrote for Assignment Magazine by googling "assignment magazine timshel" since I can't post a link here.

long read. lots of parallels, loved how it all came together. the ending made it all worth it for me.

If I would have realized how excellent this book is, I’d have read it decades ago. I can’t help but compare this to another favorite, The Thorn Birds. Both are family sagas set on large, dusty ranches. The characters in both consistently make questionable choices and then have to live with the consequences. Both feature a very manipulative woman. The difference is that The Thorn Birds is about forbidden love, where East of Eden is about good vs evil, and a person’s free will to decide which they want to be. I loved these characters. I loved despising Cathy Ames. She is just as awful as Lee and Samuel Hamilton are wonderful.

Very pretty book with a beautiful deckeled edge. Only flaw it came with is a slightly smashed corner on the top left - barely noticeable. It is a bit smaller than I was expecting but the size doesn't take away the beauty of this edition.

O livro é maravilhoso, claro. Mas essa edição em comemoração ao centenário ficou perfeita, as bordas irregulares são um charme!

Horrible quality lol, paper isnt even cut properly

had no idea this was a classic until after I read it. long, interesting read. not normally my style but I was dared by a friend. I honestly was a tad bored at the slowness of it but I kept reading to see how it ended (after reading half of a book this long you can't very well put it down!) now I am excited to see the movie version! five stars because it was extremely well written, and very descriptive. you are easily transported back in time as one of the townsfolk who knows these characters.

EL MEJOR LIBRO QUE HE LEIDO EN MI VIDA! aMPLIAMNETE LO RECOMIENDO