Here's Why Reading Steinbeck's East of Eden Will Grant You Solace During These Trying Times

"And now that you don't have to be perfect, you can be good." - John Steinbeck, East of Eden

When John Steinbeck is at his best, you can rightfully hail him as one of America's most captivating storytellers. Here's why you need to read or re-read his 1952 classic East of Eden.

It may be a modern-day Cain and Abel story, but there are enough twists and turns to grant what every reader could ask for out of a novel: to get lost in a tale as complex as it is simple.

As sibling rivalries strive to win their father's love, so does good and evil compete to earn the hearts of people within the Salinas Valley.

You will love some characters, hate some others, and feel conflicted with most as they vividly remind us of ourselves.

You're going to want to grab a comfy chair with this one. It's a mammoth of a novel with over 600 pages accounting for three generations of two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons. Did I mention the tale is essentially a biography of the Salinas Valley in its own right?

Writing this review took almost as long as it was for me to read it because I couldn't quite describe the novel in a way that makes me feel I'm giving the book justice. All I can say is that it's the perfect novel to read when you have a bit more time on your hands and don't want to waste it.

I won't get into how frustrating it is to live during these times. But with this book, I found solace. With a bandana wrapped over my nose, I would ride my bike far along MLK Drive, see an abandoned field to lay in the grass and read. This book was my companion.

Its immense focus on humanism and what I would dare to describe as poetic-Realism are some of the most touching parts of the narrative. We get a detailed account of every character's thoughts and feelings, making everyone seem equally important.

Descriptions of the "light gay mountains full of sun and loveliness" exhibits Steinbeck's talent and ability to highlight the ordinary through imagery and nostalgic tone.

Omnipresent first-person presents to the reader a unique voice that remains consistent through all four parts. "I always found in myself a dread of west and a love of east."

But how would readers relate East of Eden to the unique conditions we live in now?

Because like the pandemic, this novel asks us how we can do more good for our family, neighbors, and society. Now that we are all exposed to adversity, we are asking for ways to do our part.

In East of Eden, everyone is going through a war within themselves. Characters feel trapped, cursed, and many of them fall tragically into depression. But they still strive to do good even when there are forces against them.

I like to think most of us are trying to be more humane to those around us as we strive together to face today's bleak conditions. It's easy to blame the bad things that happen to us on other things like fate and destiny, and even on other people. But East of Eden teaches us to take responsibility for our actions. If your efforts are "good," then you are helping yourself and other people around you.

The seemingly cursed cycles the characters deal with may bring the reader a little down, but Steinbeck never lets you give up hope.

In the first two parts of the novel, I hated Adam Trask and the way he would fall so naively towards his evil wife, Cathy, his supposed "Eden." But you never give up on him because you believe he can find a way to conquer what brings him to his lowest point.

Quotes like "I believe a strong woman may be stronger than a man, particularly if she happens to have love in her heart. I guess a loving woman is indestructible," extends the idea that this novel gives you hope even during the most trying times. It's a less cheesy, cliché way of saying love prevails, and this is only one quote out of chock full of memorable lines and moments (plus, a feminist twist).

The one thing that may annoy readers is Steinbeck's habit of parodying his writing style unintentionally through unnecessary similes.

I wish I could go back and count the number of times he wrote, "as you would." Take my word for it, if you read this book, you'll know what I'm talking about. I admired Steinbeck's prose as you would praise an Italian masterpiece in the Uffizi. That type of thing, but over and over again until it grew redundant.

Okay, critique over. I still loved this beautiful story to death.

East of Eden is long, but if you're looking to make good use of your time to get through these dark moments, I'd recommend giving it a read. It's worthy of your attention.

It was certainly worthy of mine.