A review by poppyhelen_
East of Eden by John Steinbeck

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I’ve been putting off writing this review since I read this book because I was still grappling with the magnitude of this story along with how much of an affect this book had on me and how I view the world. 

I originally picked this book up after watching the film featuring my one true love James Dean, because I absolutely fell in love with Cal Trask. However I found with the book I loved it so much more than the film. 
(Spoilers ahead!!!!)

Steinbeck absolutely ate with those characters. First of all Cathy was awful, but she can be sympathised with to a certain extent as she was romanticised and used as almost a doll by Adam for the short time of their marriage, he never truly saw her or listened to what she wanted. Adam and Aron, supposed to be Adam and Abel from the story of Genesis were fantastic; the fact these perfectly good and just characters are surface level and to an extent self serving was so interesting. Aron ended up acting towards Abra as Adam did to Cathy, he played with her and messed her around until he felt he was no longer good enough for her. I feel as though Cal is a perfect character. He’s cruel at times but completely justified in his anger towards his father, and him never being good enough for his father’s love? Quite frankly fucking gut wrenching. His pain is so apparent in the book and I think was really well complimented by the setting and backdrop of the rich, Californian valley. Possibly one of my favourite parts of the book is the scene where Abra tells Cal she loved him because he’s not good, it’s been underlined and tabbed in my copy because what Cal has managed to do both Aron and Adam failed at: love someone without expectation. Pretty much everything that Lee said as well was absolutely fascinating and really forced you to think about the book through a wider lens than just encompassed in the setting, to the point where I enjoyed every single part he was in. I felt that the stories of Steinbeck’s own life felt out of place at times within the overarching retelling of Genesis, however I did immensely enjoy reading these short tales about his family.

Another thing I love in books is religious imagery and specifically the themes of Cain and Abel really captivated me in a way I’m still thinking about now. It may be the themes of sibling betrayal or the difference between the boys that led Adam to prefer Aron but it was absolutely devastating and I loved it.

Overall amazing book, I cannot express enough how much I loved it and want to reread it already, after first devouring this entire 600 page epic in a week and a half. Probably an odd Steinbeck to start, with but it’s made me very excited to read more of his works, because it’s been two months and I still can’t stop thinking about it.