A review by che4ry_pie
East of Eden by John Steinbeck

  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

My Review of East of Eden!! 

|| Honestly, I quite liked the first part and second part  better than the third part of the story. But really, I read around 400 pages, and then stopped when Samuel passed away, I really do like the Hamiltons more than the Trask family. It took me like two month to finally finish reading.||


|| the theme of love and jealousy resonated deeply with me, especially when Adam refused Cal's money, and how Adam was still heartbroken when Cathy shot him + the scene of Samuel trying to shake some sense into him. I see paralells between Charles and Adam and Caleb and Aron. Somtimes I really wanted to shake Adam by his shoulders and tell him to be a proper father to Cal and not gush over Aron. It made me incredibly angry when Cathy took advantage of Faye's kindness and k!lled her. Chapter 29 confused me a bit though, how was Roy/Joe and the car so important? Why did Steinbeck want to include a twist like that in the story? || 

||I liked it especially when it focused on Lee, Samuel and Cathy. My favorite character is Samuel because of how he is portrayed, and how he is an inventor of things and encourages others to talk and asks questions about everything. For me, I feel like Samuel and Liza's relationship is quite fascinating, Liza's curtness with Samuel's excitement of the world contrast nicely. Although I would have really liked it if Steinbeck focused on Liza a little bit more. I like how Lee isn't shown as stupid and uses pidgin language to protect himself.  I thought that he was going to be a minor character, but he really did find a place in my heart when he looked after Aron and Cal. I said an audible "awww" when Lee told Abra he loves her. Too me, cathy was a very easy to hate character. i couldn't help but feel sort of pity when she committed suicide though. || 

overall, 8.5/10 would I read again? no. was it worth it? yes.  I'll probably read bits of the ending again.