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A review by 21stcenturyfox
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
5.0
This book alters me. Steinbeck breathes life into the characters, hell, this book is alive, driven by his transportive description of nature which has been one of my favourite parts about reading John Steinbeck's books.
I loved it, although you know I can't be satisfied so I had my own critiques. Some parts read like a lecture, but I did find something in it. It adapts a story as old as time: good and evil, nature and nurture, ultimately free will, but there are so many things in it. Now, I could just be a naïve teenager, but it did leave a mark on me.
I like how Steinbeck wrote the characters in this book, they are their own people, even the pure evil of Cathy has some complexity, though it doesn't lie in the creation of her nature, but it was not without point.
It starts from the beginning of Cal and Aron's father, Adam Trask. This novel is a retelling of the story of Cain and Abel, mainly referring to Cal and Aron, but Adam and his brother Charles shared the same. conflict: love and jealousy. Read: initials. Adam and Aron are loved by their fathers whereas Charles and Cal desperately desire the love of their fathers who prefers the other sibling. It makes sense that the mistake repeats as Adam was the brother who received more love and is unaware of his brother's desire.
In terms of nature vs. nurture, we see the character of Cathy, the mother of Cal and Aron, who is pure evil and Cal's struggle with his emotional turmoil, at which he questions whether evil was in his blood or could he take control of it?
Which comes down to a vital word from the biblical passage translated by Lee the Cantonese servant, who is practically a family member of the Trask, from Hebrew: Timshel -- thou mayest. About the choice to rule over sin and the differences of translation from different sects. That chapter was my favourite.
More on Lee, I really like his characterisation. He is one of the stereotypical enlightened Chinese sage characters, but Steinbeck did add nuances surrounding him. Other characters have their own flaws, Adam and his spinelessness for one, which added to their complexity. Wish we'd get to see more of the Hamiltons or just Sam.
Okay, I will just keep it short. Overall, I loved the book and it did make me think a lot. It might take weeks til the grip wears off and I'll probably think of it from time to time.
I loved it, although you know I can't be satisfied so I had my own critiques. Some parts read like a lecture, but I did find something in it. It adapts a story as old as time: good and evil, nature and nurture, ultimately free will, but there are so many things in it. Now, I could just be a naïve teenager, but it did leave a mark on me.
I like how Steinbeck wrote the characters in this book, they are their own people, even the pure evil of Cathy has some complexity, though it doesn't lie in the creation of her nature, but it was not without point.
It starts from the beginning of Cal and Aron's father, Adam Trask. This novel is a retelling of the story of Cain and Abel, mainly referring to Cal and Aron, but Adam and his brother Charles shared the same. conflict: love and jealousy. Read: initials. Adam and Aron are loved by their fathers whereas Charles and Cal desperately desire the love of their fathers who prefers the other sibling. It makes sense that the mistake repeats as Adam was the brother who received more love and is unaware of his brother's desire.
In terms of nature vs. nurture, we see the character of Cathy, the mother of Cal and Aron, who is pure evil and Cal's struggle with his emotional turmoil, at which he questions whether evil was in his blood or could he take control of it?
Which comes down to a vital word from the biblical passage translated by Lee the Cantonese servant, who is practically a family member of the Trask, from Hebrew: Timshel -- thou mayest. About the choice to rule over sin and the differences of translation from different sects. That chapter was my favourite.
More on Lee, I really like his characterisation. He is one of the stereotypical enlightened Chinese sage characters, but Steinbeck did add nuances surrounding him. Other characters have their own flaws, Adam and his spinelessness for one, which added to their complexity. Wish we'd get to see more of the Hamiltons or just Sam.
Okay, I will just keep it short. Overall, I loved the book and it did make me think a lot. It might take weeks til the grip wears off and I'll probably think of it from time to time.