Reviews with content warning for Abortion - East of Eden

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East of Eden by John Steinbeck

25 reviews

manatad's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Like most American teenagers, I was required to read a few of John Steinbeck's novels when I was in school. I couldn't stand them at the time because all I wanted to read was science fiction and fantasy.

Years later, something made me want to try Steinbeck again, and I'm very pleased that I made the decision to start with what I'd always heard is his best work, East of Eden.

For a story about seemingly simple types of people, it has such great scope. It describes the battle between good and evil that takes place within every human soul from the perspectives of the most average of men. It shows me, as a reader, how I may never be able to change the world, but my actions are capable of profound effect on the people around me. It shows me that I wield the power of choice and self determination.

I have learned to love Steinbeck's prose. I find his writing to be plain and accessible while still being thoughtful and moving. I even love his long descriptions of the Salinas Valley, whose ever-changing nature makes it feel like a character of its own within the novel. I especially love the narrator chapters, which feel to me like some of the richest sections in the book despite often being the shortest.

Something about the narrator's tone is so welcoming and warm despite the many grim and sorrowful events that take place within the story. I never felt very sad when I was reading this book. In fact, I found it exceptionally relaxing to read. That may be my favorite thing about this book: how comfortable it feels.

I also feel the need to mention that I have never related to or loved an Asian American character in any story as much as Lee.

I wish I could recommend East of Eden to more people in my life, but I feel like many would be put off by its length and its slow-paced, rambling style. I, however, could easily see myself picking up this book again five or ten years from now just to see what new things I could gain from it. I can see why many others have described it as life-changing.

"And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good."

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sugarplumstories's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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jakobmarleymommy's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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mamatoca's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Very difficult to read the ugliness in the first 2/3 of the book. But it is worth it to persevere. This book is about free will, that is, our ability to do good or to do evil. It is about the evil that we see in the world - what we create ourselves and that which we see befall others/that which we see others create. Steinbeck does not offer a simple explanation for this mystery, but ultimately he does offer a hopeful outlook, and one that rings true to me.

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tdap1899's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book destroyed my mind, but in the best way possible. Its lessons are lovely and continue to still be applicable to the modern day. One of the biggest surprises about this book was just how modern it felt. When Steinbeck said this was his magnum opus he was not joking.

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