Ratings326
Average rating4.5
"Timshel!"
Part allegory, part autobiography, and part epic, East of Eden was an ambitious project from the start – a gift to Steinbeck’s sons that was meant to teach them about identity, grief, and what it means to be human. Tinged with biblical echoes of the fall of Adam and Eve and the rivalry of Cain and Abel, this sprawling saga has captivated audiences everywhere for generations. It is through the popularization of East of Eden that the Salinas Valley was truly transformed into “the valley of the world”; a place where everyone is able to find a piece of themselves in the golden, rolling hills.
Reviews with the most likes.
June ‘10: I just finished re-reading this book—the first time I've read it in four years—and while I loved it, I'm not sure I loved it as much as I thought I did. The elements I loved so much the first time didn't stand out to me this time around.
The theme of ‘thou mayest' will still be the strongest driving force in my overall outlook on life, though.
This and To Kill A Mockingbird are my all-time favorite books. Great plot, fantastic use of language. Read it slow and take it all in.
Ah, East of Eden. Just beautiful. Original sin is such a fascinating concept when you think of it. We are all born in need of forgiveness, and forgiveness is the greatest gift we can give others and ourselves.
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