Reasons why you should read John Steinbeck’s East of Eden
In school, we all experienced having a requirement of reading for book reports. Every time, I needed to write a comparative analysis or a comprehensive report on whatever classic novel my teachers decided on, my love for reading would suddenly dissipate into smoke. The length of the books would take me months to finish them. I also find it hard to concentrate reading them which frustrates me. However, it is important to read classic literature, be it local or foreign books, because they teach us more than what the world looked like in their time. They contain multitudes. Such is the case of John Steinbeck’s East of Eden.
East of Eden is one of John Steinbeck’s best works.
I first stumbled upon East of Eden in Uncarley’s video about Emma Chamberlain’s new favorite book. I was surprised to see the copy of the book in the video because it was the same copy we had at home. Perhaps it was some divine intervention for me to read it. I tried reading bit by bit over two months to lessen the pressure of finishing the novel. It was a surprise, even to me, that I enjoyed it so much.
Written in 1952, East of Eden is considered one of John Steinbeck’s best works. The novel is set in Salinas Valley and follows the lives of two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons, throughout their lives in California. I know the premise sounds boring.
But, I promise you, it is not.
It’s an easier read compared to other classic authors such as Dostoyevsky or Twain. The book is modern enough that you can understand what’s going on. The story is very compelling because it draws inspiration from biblical themes but does in a discrete and still surprising way. The length of the book is a little bit daunting, but if you’ve read a series of books before, this is pretty much the same thing.
The novel is a great re-read.
When I reached the end of the book, I immediately wanted to start it all over again. The novel itched an unknown need in my brain, which happens to all good books I read. The effect of the novel is subtle but ripples throughout. The characters, the setting, the plot – all of them work to bring Steinbeck’s message on life’s greatest mysteries.
And here I make a rule – a great and lasting story is about everyone or it will not last. The strange and the foreign is not interesting – only the deeply personal and familiar.
East of Eden, John Steinbeck
The book is unique because its words gripped me from start to finish. While there were times that I didn’t know when I would finish reading it, the end was so satisfactory that it made all the time spent reading it worthwhile. It’s a classic novel to read again and again. I bet the next time I read it, I will find something new to rave about.
