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4.46 AVERAGE
4.46 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you’re into classics, this one is an absolute chore.
I remember reading Of Mice and Men back in school and really enjoying that story. So I was pretty excited after a lifetime of hearing much fanfare about East of Eden to finally find the time to do dig in. Sadly, from the outset (by the second or third chapter) I felt hugely underwhelmed.
A slow and arduous read, while I can see how it was a classic of its times, I personally don’t feel this tale is timeless. The story hasn’t aged well so to read it now feels like a drawn out history lesson of novels from the era it was released in. It’s appeal is surely to those who follow religion and would have appreciated the biblical allegory of the stories of Cain and Abel woven throughout, via different character relationships within each generation of the family at its heart. If you’re not interested in Religious ideology or spiritualism, much of the ‘wonder’ you see in other reviews will be lost on you.
I’m adding my name to the list of readers that found this overly verbose. Whole parts of the book have no impact on the overarching storyline and could have been omitted and included in a different story.
Steinbeck delivers strong sanctimonious vibes throughout his narration and I wasn’t left with a good impression of him by the end, being of the understanding that he believed this was his greatest novel and held most of his character and life experiences within. By todays standards he would certainly be deemed as problematic; strong undertones of misogyny and racism presented in the story did not sit well with me and ultimately caused my lack of enjoyment of this book.
I remember reading Of Mice and Men back in school and really enjoying that story. So I was pretty excited after a lifetime of hearing much fanfare about East of Eden to finally find the time to do dig in. Sadly, from the outset (by the second or third chapter) I felt hugely underwhelmed.
A slow and arduous read, while I can see how it was a classic of its times, I personally don’t feel this tale is timeless. The story hasn’t aged well so to read it now feels like a drawn out history lesson of novels from the era it was released in. It’s appeal is surely to those who follow religion and would have appreciated the biblical allegory of the stories of Cain and Abel woven throughout, via different character relationships within each generation of the family at its heart. If you’re not interested in Religious ideology or spiritualism, much of the ‘wonder’ you see in other reviews will be lost on you.
I’m adding my name to the list of readers that found this overly verbose. Whole parts of the book have no impact on the overarching storyline and could have been omitted and included in a different story.
Steinbeck delivers strong sanctimonious vibes throughout his narration and I wasn’t left with a good impression of him by the end, being of the understanding that he believed this was his greatest novel and held most of his character and life experiences within. By todays standards he would certainly be deemed as problematic; strong undertones of misogyny and racism presented in the story did not sit well with me and ultimately caused my lack of enjoyment of this book.
None of them deserved Lee 🥹 I fear this book is as good as they say! So rich even for those like myself who are relatively unfamiliar with the biblical inspiration
Not in the mood to read, might try again later.
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found myself struggling to give this book a rating. It almost feels pointless to try to give it one, as if it's not meant to be experienced that way. Sometimes in life, things suck, maybe a little or maybe a lot, and you're still better off having gone through them.
This book was a hard read, I could barely stomach more than 30 pages in a sitting until the latter portion. I complained about the drab misery of the late 19th early 20th centuries, the bleakness of it all is something I felt as if it were floating in my own plane of reality. It takes a long while for everything to come together. You know it's a Cain/Abel retelling and you spend most of the book wondering where it comes in. Thinking you found it. Finding it again. Having it slip and slip and slip. Then it happens and you're so used to being mistaken, you don't realize you had it until you're reminded you did and it's all over. Maybe you get so bogged down with the themes that when you do manage find the thread of the story, it's such an exciting surprise, and you stay on your toes. I think I'm better off looking at it that way.
But there is real soul to the story. You can tell. You read it, and even though you're pushing yourself through, you understand why it's a classic. Steinbeck's prose is beautiful whether or not it's making a point. But more than that, it is deeply thought provoking. There are so many candid moments of what feels like getting to the bottom of the human condition as if it had been laying bare in front of us all along and we'd been too caught in the motions to notice. It's really a wonderful exposition of how we experience and grow from trauma, love, disappointment, fear, and courage. And most of all, it reminds us of what agency we do have over our lives when all feels lost. Sometimes it's a lot, sometimes it's just a little, and yet it all matters the same.
This book was a hard read, I could barely stomach more than 30 pages in a sitting until the latter portion. I complained about the drab misery of the late 19th early 20th centuries, the bleakness of it all is something I felt as if it were floating in my own plane of reality. It takes a long while for everything to come together. You know it's a Cain/Abel retelling and you spend most of the book wondering where it comes in. Thinking you found it. Finding it again. Having it slip and slip and slip. Then it happens and you're so used to being mistaken, you don't realize you had it until you're reminded you did and it's all over. Maybe you get so bogged down with the themes that when you do manage find the thread of the story, it's such an exciting surprise, and you stay on your toes. I think I'm better off looking at it that way.
But there is real soul to the story. You can tell. You read it, and even though you're pushing yourself through, you understand why it's a classic. Steinbeck's prose is beautiful whether or not it's making a point. But more than that, it is deeply thought provoking. There are so many candid moments of what feels like getting to the bottom of the human condition as if it had been laying bare in front of us all along and we'd been too caught in the motions to notice. It's really a wonderful exposition of how we experience and grow from trauma, love, disappointment, fear, and courage. And most of all, it reminds us of what agency we do have over our lives when all feels lost. Sometimes it's a lot, sometimes it's just a little, and yet it all matters the same.
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A timeless masterpiece! Though written decades ago, the experiences and insights still ring true. Such amazing characters (good and bad: Sam, Cathy, Adam, Lee!!!, Cal). Poignant quotes every chapter. Enjoyed it from beginning to end!
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Beautiful book John Steinbeck I love you you never miss