So, yesterday was the official kick-off of the Keep Portland Weird festival here in Paris, which meant that I had a reading/screening in the...
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This is not like any other of Steinbeck’s work. I never came away before with the impressions I have gotten while reading this, a novel that even he said was his best. And I agree.
Symbolism is strong in this book. It’s the tool used to engage the reader completely. There is good and bad, birth and death, feast or famine. Each of these is described and personified. They are part of the plot and the characters throughout.
This story is about pioneers trying to find their Eden and wondering if they have found it or if they’ve fallen short of their goal. Are they stuck in the land of Nod, or can they make it work, make this valley their Eden? Some succeed. Some fail. And this is their story. East of Eden is not only the best book I read last year, but one of the best books I've ever read period.
When I think of the thriller genre, this book will become an example I point to as good one.
This author keeps it simple, and I like it. There is no extraneous writing. The pace is brisk, the story enthralling, and several of the sub-plots are just as good as the main one.
There are twists and turns in this novel, as there should be. Some are predictable. However the way they’re presented, and timed, you forgive the writer. I wasn’t kidding about my reading this quickly. I couldn’t put it down and I wanted to get to the end as soon as I could. My advice? Don’t start this book before you go to bed.
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Biblio Brat has commented on (2) products.
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Biblio Brat, January 1, 2012
This is not like any other of Steinbeck’s work. I never came away before with the impressions I have gotten while reading this, a novel that even he said was his best. And I agree.Symbolism is strong in this book. It’s the tool used to engage the reader completely. There is good and bad, birth and death, feast or famine. Each of these is described and personified. They are part of the plot and the characters throughout.
This story is about pioneers trying to find their Eden and wondering if they have found it or if they’ve fallen short of their goal. Are they stuck in the land of Nod, or can they make it work, make this valley their Eden? Some succeed. Some fail. And this is their story. East of Eden is not only the best book I read last year, but one of the best books I've ever read period.
Child 44: A Novel by Tom Rob Smith
Biblio Brat, August 30, 2010
When I think of the thriller genre, this book will become an example I point to as good one.This author keeps it simple, and I like it. There is no extraneous writing. The pace is brisk, the story enthralling, and several of the sub-plots are just as good as the main one.
There are twists and turns in this novel, as there should be. Some are predictable. However the way they’re presented, and timed, you forgive the writer. I wasn’t kidding about my reading this quickly. I couldn’t put it down and I wanted to get to the end as soon as I could. My advice? Don’t start this book before you go to bed.
(2 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)