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yimjess 's review for:
East of Eden
by John Steinbeck
I was initially going to rank the book a little lower than the 5 stars i have given it. Perhaps it was premature of me to come to this conclusion only a third of the way through the book but it was purely motivated by the distastefulness of how Steinbeck wrote and portrayed certain characters. I mean, the way he wrote the introduction and jargon of Lee? The way he would describe certain women and their value? It was offensive. But as I continued reading, mostly out of interest of how the plot would continue to fold into itself, I found instead an astonishment that was fermenting. Perhaps there was a deeper intention to paint certain characters in such a disgraceful light, only to chip away at the edges to reveal a deeper persona. I found that Lee is more than the dialect he was introduced with but an intelligent soul that craves for more understanding (enlightenment?). One who found himself being drawn to understanding the scriptures and the human condition, reasoning that there must be more than “fate” or circumstance. With each development and chapter, I found my hands clutching the book tighter. I was beginning to recognize that my initial unfavorable response to my first impression about these characters might stem from something far more complicated than presumed. Maybe the distaste I had is from sorely seeing how the sins of each character shares a unfortunate but very much real quality of my own.
Along with the incredible push and pull of the story, I thoroughly enjoyed Steinbeck’s characterization and prose. Even the monologues that are few and in-between were such a delight to read through. I most enjoyed how Steinbeck writes Samuel so full of life. This man who had the worst land and yet also had the greater portion and represents this force of goodness and tradition.
Books have a way of meeting us exactly when we’re ready for them. Your experiences, thoughts, and emotions all shape the way you connect with a story— so maybe now was the perfect time for EoE to find me. It’s a book that grows with you, too, so if you ever reread it years down the road, you might see it in a whole new light.
Along with the incredible push and pull of the story, I thoroughly enjoyed Steinbeck’s characterization and prose. Even the monologues that are few and in-between were such a delight to read through. I most enjoyed how Steinbeck writes Samuel so full of life. This man who had the worst land and yet also had the greater portion and represents this force of goodness and tradition.
Books have a way of meeting us exactly when we’re ready for them. Your experiences, thoughts, and emotions all shape the way you connect with a story— so maybe now was the perfect time for EoE to find me. It’s a book that grows with you, too, so if you ever reread it years down the road, you might see it in a whole new light.