Thread: East of Eden
Buddy read John Steinbeck's classic with us
It’s a read-a-long!
Reading classics can be daunting, so
and I thought, why not read together? And because so many of you have already read and loved it, I thought, let’s open the discussion up to whoever wants to join! So here we are.I must be transparent, though - back in 2018, I got up to page 292 in East of Eden and then just… stopped. I blame it on circumstance, as I was in an exhausting relationship and read this book during a vacation with said person that left me with PTSD wholly unrelated to the actual work itself.
So, it's a partial reread for me, but not really because I’ve mostly blacked it out.
The difference between this thread and a book club discussion is that you can be anywhere in your reading journey to discuss. Usually, with a buddy read, you read at the same pace, so Martha and I may sync up on that, but please feel free to chime in anytime, no matter where you are - just try not to give away huge plot points right away. This is an open thread for anyone who has anything to say about the novel (or any lurkers who want to know what others think).
To get us started: When someone mentions Steinbeck or East of Eden, what pops into your mind? What associations or feelings?
Happy Reading - and Chatting!
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See you around the bookshelf!
Natalie
UPDATES ON EAST OF EDEN (6/14/24).
What am I reading? This is not at all what I thought it would be based on my first partial start years ago and this monolith idea of Steinbeck as an artist. The drama is at 100 and so is the general debauchery.
Notes
- everyone I come across loves this book (or at least they are the ones that make themselves known).
- I am highly impressed by the number of people who read and loved this at a relatively young age. I don't know I would have had the emotional maturity to appreciate this book in an earlier decade.
- Samuel is currently my favorite character, although Cathy is the most interesting. I find myself constantly wondering what Steinbeck's underlying attitude is towards Cathy - are we looking at misogyny or something else? She sure as hell goes after what she wants, evil or not. Is she ruinous, or is man just weak?
Steinbeck brings up images of the depression, dust bowls, guilt (for not having read him) and that Migrant Mother photo (https://www.thoughtco.com/great-depression-pictures-1779916). East of Eden makes me think of Christianity, family, farming, classic literature, high school literature, rugged individualism, and for some reason Ayn Rand? Please don't report me.