The story of East of Eden spans entire lifetimes and contains all the brutality, gentleness, humor, emotion, failure, and success that a lifetime will bring. John Steinbeck has a grasp on people and on society like no author I've read. The reader can find a piece of him or herself in every character. I finished this book a better person and I look forward to coming back. I needed to read this before I die.
I honestly had no idea if I would like Steinbeck, but after the first paragraph I was hooked. The opening chapter of this novel is the most beautiful description of a natural landscape that I have ever read. Before I even got to the characters (all of whom are incredibly life-like and some of whom are simply delightful), the Salinas Valley had already stolen my heart.
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