My Review of "East of Eden"

The early 1900's California country side in graphic detail, painfully difficult father-son relationships, whores, deep moral questions, scripture translated into Hebrew, a really wise Chinese guy who shares a mysterious liquor that tastes like good rotten apples, what more could you ask for? This is the kind of book that inspires mourning when the final pages arrive.

From the first descriptions of California's Salinas Valley, I was riveted to John Steinbeck's East of Eden.  It is a page turner with meat.  It is like a twelve course meal shared with friends that lasts and lasts, but doesn't leave you feeling too full.  

The story picks up early in the life of Adam Trask and follows him through two turbulent, but ultimately satisfying generations.  The perspective that ran as a theme throughout is really a moral question that is ultimately answered in Holy scripture.  They don't call em' classics for nothing! 

I found myself inspired on a spiritual level in addition to simply falling in love with the broad spectrum of realistically flawed characters.  Thanks, Annie Thomas, for the recommendation.  You've never let me down.