East of Eden--John Steinbeck

I bought this novel as a fluke, kind of. I have learned that one of the best places to get book recommendations and to buy books is from college book stores because they are all being read for some reason and often have used copies in good condition (if you find the one previously owned by a slacker taking English as a requirement). So one day last semester I was doing my walk through the English aisles and saw East of Eden and bought it to buy it (along with my 18 other novels for the semester--yes 18!). It took me 3 days to read its 600 pages, not uncommon for me, but I am not a fast reader so I know it was a serious good book to keep me from 3 days of sleep (the again i read the last Harry Potter in 16 hours and didn't even stop for class so maybe that doesn't say much). Despite the time line it quickly become one of my favorite books of all time.

I had never read much Steinbeck, not for any particular reason, just had not but since I finished this one (the longest and one semi-autobiographical of his works) I have bought everything else he has written (including a first edition of Cannery Row) and am working my way through them. I do not even really know where to begin when talking about East of Eden though. My brother and I had a long and deep theological discussion based on it and Lee's quest to discover the exact meaning of god's response to Cain after he killed Abel. The Chinese elders he consulted determined god said "thou mayest" [avoid sin] however, this is contrary to many teachings which portray it as a command "thou will." This is just one of the interesting times in which Steinbeck puts life into better perspective. He encourages open thought and communication but does not condemn crime or other mistakes.

The novel basically is a retelling of the Cain and Abel story that follows for two successive generations. Sibling rivalry at its most deadly. Money is made and lost. Husbands and wives go crazy and centuries of theology is not simplified but reexamined to eradicate man of many of their mistakes while still holding them accountable for the harm done to family. East of Eden is one of the most powerful and thought provoking novels I have read in a long time and will likely remain my favorite of all of Steinbeck's works.