tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post4456503309192889802..comments2024-02-09T16:13:32.416-08:00Comments on Classical Carousel: East of Eden by John SteinbeckCleohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-67608187731111874942015-02-24T09:05:29.665-08:002015-02-24T09:05:29.665-08:00Hmm..... what have you liked about his writing and...Hmm..... what have you liked about his writing and how he puts the story together? I'm definitely going to read more of his works.<br /><br />I'll await your thoughts when you do get around to reading it.Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-77733461427827863912015-02-24T04:51:49.183-08:002015-02-24T04:51:49.183-08:00I haven't read this one yet (so I stopped read...I haven't read this one yet (so I stopped reading your post) but I've saved it for when I finally do get to it. I really enjoy Steinbeck - I've not read a lot, but every book I've loved, so I'm looking forward to this one! :)ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01245931629228090133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-23625013686002634412015-02-23T16:49:20.095-08:002015-02-23T16:49:20.095-08:00You've read The Odyssey? I don't see your...You've read The Odyssey? I don't see your review on it. Nor on Wharton. Just sayin' ....... ;-)Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-24057079851768937202015-02-23T13:10:57.398-08:002015-02-23T13:10:57.398-08:00Hey, I've actually read The Odyssey, thank you...Hey, I've actually read The Odyssey, thank you very much. :P<br />But yes, your point is well taken. I might try again but who knows when that will be.Jason Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08334917645691982404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-76303103939017883652015-02-23T06:01:08.506-08:002015-02-23T06:01:08.506-08:00Oh, great, now MY comments are not posting on your...Oh, great, now MY comments are not posting on your blog. (That's the second time!) Anyway, I said something like...Yes, I know. It's huge! I already started reading Confessions. I'm enjoying it very much, and I like Rousseau; but I think he and I are going to have some disagreements. <br /><br />Oh, and, I should finish East of Eden in a couple of days. And, yes, I will let you know if I figure Steinbeck's biblical connections.Ruth @ with freedom and bookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15531827758868215023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-54697765251670804522015-02-22T19:16:58.966-08:002015-02-22T19:16:58.966-08:00Well, if you can figure it out, please fill me in....Well, if you can figure it out, please fill me in. :-)<br /><br />I read it at a good pace because I knew I'd have some hefty reads coming up (have you seen Rousseau's Confessions?!!!!) And luckily I'm away this week and able to spend some time catching up. Yay!Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-23606077845786778262015-02-22T18:24:36.037-08:002015-02-22T18:24:36.037-08:00I'm almost done, so you didn't spoil it fo...I'm almost done, so you didn't spoil it for me. I've just been very busy and haven't been able to read much. Nonetheless, I relate to a lot here. I am thoroughly enjoying the read, but the connections to Scripture are not carrying as much weight as I had anticipated. But I am not done, so I am expecting him to wrap them up. We'll see.<br /><br />Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13214018937116524128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-80141055790341280132015-02-22T18:05:43.649-08:002015-02-22T18:05:43.649-08:00Thanks you so much, Jason and right back at you! :...Thanks you so much, Jason and right back at you! :-) <br /><br />I'm laughing because I can think of about a million reasons for you to read Homer, hundreds for you to read the Greek playwrights, hundreds for certain medieval texts and dozen for most 18th & 19th century literature, but I'm having a hard time thinking up one to convince you to read this book. Especially if you've already tried. The only encouragement I can offer is that Steinbeck's prose is very simple and straightforward so even at the size of the book, it's an easy read. A really pathetic reason, isn't it? :-ZCleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-72035295659197401382015-02-22T15:27:00.887-08:002015-02-22T15:27:00.887-08:00Your reviews are always a pleasure to read Cleo--w...Your reviews are always a pleasure to read Cleo--well-written , informative, a perfect balance of analysis and personal critique.<br /><br />I've tried reading this novel on numerous occasions; got through a few chapters before boredom settled in, put it down, picked it up again at a later date, got stuck at the same spot. Rinse and repeat. I really like Steinbeck but I just can't seem to get into the groove of this novel for the life of me. Jason Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08334917645691982404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-62803578635080706462015-02-22T10:44:19.236-08:002015-02-22T10:44:19.236-08:00It would be interesting if you read it, and then c...It would be interesting if you read it, and then compared your teen and adult experiences. <br /><br />While the symbolism was interesting, I didn't feel like it went anywhere. <br /><br />And you're right, parts of it were pretty shocking. The complete disassociation of Cathy from anything bordering on humanness was absolutely appalling. The fact that so much of the book was centered around her, took away some of the enjoyment. It was hard to care for or empathize with or even hate, a beast. **** Shudder ****Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-24518127349195551162015-02-22T09:23:18.836-08:002015-02-22T09:23:18.836-08:00I wasn't worried about the spoilers because I ...I wasn't worried about the spoilers because I read this book as a teenager and still remember the main points and arc of the story, although reading your excellent review and analysis, I realize how much of it I have forgotten. Back then I read it simply as a story, one I found shocking and fascinating. But even then I knew the novel was rife with symbolism although I didn't get all of it. I'll want to read this again at some point.Carol Applehttp://www.carolsnotes.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-3508527232160444812015-02-21T18:26:33.357-08:002015-02-21T18:26:33.357-08:00Rilla is my favorite in the series! In the late 8...Rilla is my favorite in the series! In the late 80s(?) a lot of her stuff was in print, so I got Blue Castle, Emily of New Moon, Pat of Silver Bush, a bunch of single volumes...I still have them.<br /><br />Atwood is spotty IME. I like some of her stuff a lot, and other stuff not so much. But I haven't read a ton.Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14247515387599954817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-2040406204748333942015-02-21T17:50:29.605-08:002015-02-21T17:50:29.605-08:00You make a good point about the author's life ...You make a good point about the author's life coming out in their works. I felt, while the Cain and Abel symbolism and the investigations into choice were interesting, they really went nowhere. It will be interesting to read another of his works to compare. If his worldview is really that limited, I wonder if his other works will be unvaried --- same types of characters in the same types of situations. Again, he's another author who is going to go onto my biographies list. Thanks for your insights, Sharon!Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-7599081318899677932015-02-21T17:46:45.663-08:002015-02-21T17:46:45.663-08:00I think that there are more of us, they're jus...I think that there are more of us, they're just afraid to admit it.<br /><br />I do love L.M. Montgomery, but it took me until a couple of years ago to read more than Anne of Green Gables; I read the whole series. Have you read Rilla of Ingleside? That was my favourite. Robertson Davies' books are reasonably good but odd. I enjoyed Catherine Parr Traill and Susanna Moody's books ~~ they are sisters and first Canadian settlers. But I have no more recommendations. I plan to read Margaret Atwood's Handmaid's Tale but with my experience with Atwood so far (1 book), I wouldn't risk recommending her. Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-37725162249600584262015-02-21T17:08:58.716-08:002015-02-21T17:08:58.716-08:00I read all of Steinbeck's novels while living ...I read all of Steinbeck's novels while living on an island (not a lot to do after the sun set promptly at 6pm every evening.)<br /><br />East of Eden, like Grapes of Wrath, expresses Steinbeck's worldview, which is pretty worldly. It stands in stark contrast to Christianity's moral code so while he's heavy handed with his "wanton female" characters, he's merciful with his poor fallen male characters and, of course, religious people are depicted as nut cases.<br /><br />But, as a friend of mine once said about Steinbeck, what do you expect from a hard drinking womanizer?Sharon Wilfonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466621290140789056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-46977042245279513392015-02-21T16:31:54.097-08:002015-02-21T16:31:54.097-08:00Finally! Someone understands me! We can be locat...Finally! Someone understands me! We can be locationist together.<br /><br />I would totally read a Canadian book. :) And yes, I love L. M. Montgomery. You can roll your eyes at me now. :DJeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14247515387599954817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-61034546357336075572015-02-21T14:31:43.912-08:002015-02-21T14:31:43.912-08:00Wow, I know EXACTLY what you mean! Canadian liter...Wow, I know EXACTLY what you mean! Canadian literature I treat as a disease. I'm finally reading a journal on the fur trade in Western Canada, but it is a journal from a Bostonian, so I'm still not exposing myself fully to a "Canadian" book. And, in spite of going through public school, I know much more American history than Canadian. I'm shameful!<br />Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-28315964816017429532015-02-21T13:34:02.955-08:002015-02-21T13:34:02.955-08:00Sigh, I should really read Steinbeck. The trouble...Sigh, I should really read Steinbeck. The trouble is, I *know* Steinbeck is great. I even enjoyed The Grapes of Wrath when I read it many years ago. But I *think* that he is a boring duty, because who wants to read about Bakersfield and Watsonville and Salinas? I was a kid in Bakersfield and my grandparents were Okies. My strawberries come from Watsonville now that I live further north (I spent my teen years in strawberry central, but more south; here, we do almonds). I dan drive through Salinas anytime I want. :P I am a terrible person and reader. But I would so much rather read about Russia or Africa or Europe.Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14247515387599954817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-88531023546004261972015-02-21T10:32:49.750-08:002015-02-21T10:32:49.750-08:00I think you'll at least think that it's ok...I think you'll at least think that it's okay or better. I didn't know what he was doing with the Cain and Abel references ...... I mean, I understood it, but what was his point? And the focus on choice really bamboozled me ..... again, what was the point? It didn't seem to go anywhere. Perhaps you can enlighten me when you get around to reading it!Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-53180394811026742222015-02-21T10:25:55.089-08:002015-02-21T10:25:55.089-08:00I wonder if sometimes we're told that we shoul...I wonder if sometimes we're told that we should love something as a child and so we think we do, when we may not. I remember thinking I loved Disney movies when I was a child (when I didn't really) because I was told that they were so great but when I grew up I decided that I definitely didn't like them (or at least, most of them). <br /><br />I did enjoy East of Eden but I found it flawed compared with other great literature. I actually was more interested in Steinbeck's thoughts while he was writing it. I like to give some background on the author to better understand the book and, in this case, learning about Steinbeck's thought process certainly helped me appreciate the book more.Cleohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152128642971612433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-32460043042898412302015-02-21T01:35:18.466-08:002015-02-21T01:35:18.466-08:00Due to the spoiler alert...I skimmed the review bu...Due to the spoiler alert...I skimmed the review but read your comments at the end. I want to read the book without any prejudgements. This is a classic and I hope Steinbeck won't disappoint me. His book ' Winter of Our Discontent (1961) was not very good. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7495382709151625398.post-10686687161813325882015-02-20T23:46:11.847-08:002015-02-20T23:46:11.847-08:00Love the detail in your review. I remember reading...Love the detail in your review. I remember reading this at school many moons ago and being affected by it the way teenagers can be affected - much more than adults I think. I realised from your review how little i remember of it and think I will add it to my re-read list as I wonder if I have built it up in my brain to closer to perfect than maybe it is. Emma Emma Litttlefieldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06679359639138124138noreply@blogger.com