Why this book: Selected by my reading group to be read over Christmas 2015.  Those who had already read it were enthusiastic about reading it again.  One said it was her favorite novel of all time.  I had been carrying a paperback copy around with me for decades, and had never read it. It was about time.

My impressions: This book covers a lot of territory and is truly an ambitious epic.  It begins with a family in Connecticut during the Civil War and follows two sons in their lives through the end of the 19^th century.  We also get to know a young woman who is something of a sociopath, able to use her beauty to manipulate (mostly men) to get what she wants. The path of this young woman crosses that of the two brothers, and tension builds as one brother recognizes the amoral character of the woman, while the other is fully taken in by her wiles, falls in love with her and marries her. The newlyweds head out to Salinas, California, and it is there that the meat of the book begins.

The story is a revision and updated version of the Biblical story of Cain and Abel – and it runs in two generations. We see good and evil, joy and despair, sin and redemption all within a story that, although it wanders a bit, is always interesting and includes some of the most compelling characters in the literature that I’ve read.  Steinbeck takes us inside their heads and hearts to see the world from their perspectives and share in their joys and struggles.   Samuel Hamilton, the wise patriarch of the Hamilton family, somewhat wooly headed, loved and admired by all, but who claimed not to have the courage to be “great”;  Liza, Samuel’s true believing, and stern disciplinarian wife and manager of the Hamilton family and household;  Adam Trask whose life never quite finds its direction, and though confused, is a good man and one of the main characters in the book;  Lee, Adam Trasks low profile Chinese assistant who seems to be the center of wisdom and insight in the story;  Cathy Trask, the disturbed woman and conscience-less master manipulator.     And then there are the twins Caleb and Aron, the modern day and updated Cain and Abel, who we get to know as young boys and watch mature into young men.  They struggle to adapt to a world which doesn’t always make sense.  They struggle with being good and human in an imperfect world. As do we all….

The ending is surprising and provocative. Steinbeck shows how men and women are pushed around by fate and chance, but ultimately they are free and must choose, and own the consequences of their actions.

Steinbeck is a man’s man of the mid 20th century, virile, intelligent and assertive.  This book is mostly about men and how they relate to each other and seek to overcome their weaknesses and master their environment.  There are three interesting women in the book – Cathy the sociopath, Liza the stern matriarch of the Hamilton family, and Abra who we get to know toward the end of the book as a strong and independent young woman, wise beyond her years.  She seems to be Steinbeck’s ideal.

East of Eden goes to the top of my list of truly powerful books I have read that are enjoyable to read, thoughtfully written and provocative.  The characters are interesting and well developed, and the setting – early 20th century Salinas Valley California is rural west –  could have been anywhere in the West.  The context, and even the story in many ways, reminded me of Ivan Doig’s Dancing at the Rascal Fair which I read and reviewed six months ago.  In East of Eden, we are treated to some great insights about human nature and how men and women behave and interact with each other in good times and bad.  I’ve read maybe 8 of Steinbeck’s novels, and I agree with Steinbeck’s own assesssment – this is his masterpiece.