East of Eden follows two generations of the Trask family as well as the Hamiliton family in the Salinas valley in California, and basically covers from the American civil war to world war I. It feels like a very ambitious novel. I think this book has everything but the kitchen sink all stirred together. I think the saying do one thing and do it well should have been applied with some constructive editing. Don’t get me wrong, the writing is wonderful, beautiful, descriptive, flowing, and filled with meaning and truth. There are also parts so devoted to description and personal musing that do nothing to further the plot that you might get lost in them and not make it out. In some senses the book combines an allegorical interpretation of the biblical story of Cane and Able with musings on human nature, rejection, the choices we make for good or evil, and how the absence and abundance of love shape us.
I enjoyed the characters and their interaction. I believe he tried very hard to portray pure evil in the character of Cathy, but never quite nailed it. I felt Adam was a cardboard cut out of a character for much of the novel. I loved the Hamilitons and would have liked to have spent more time in their own family story. Actually, If I could make a suggestion, I would suggest he split this enormous novel and give the Hamiliton’s their own book.
The philosophical dialogues were my favorite part. I would have liked to stay up late with these characters and get into some deep discussions. I think I was most disappointed in this book because it had so much potential and never quite made it for me.

East of Eden

John Steinbeck. Penguin (Non-Classics) 2002, Paperback, 601 pages, $11.59