East Of Eden - what a book.
I havent read a book like this. There is something special and pious about this book that has greatly improved my value as a reader.
The books greatness lies in its simplicity. There is no non-sense. It explores human nature, its strengths and weaknesses, its good and evil. The darkness in characters is something i had never experienced before. Not just in Kate, but in Charles, Cal, Will etc.
The intensity in scenes is something i have never experienced before either - the bond, love as well as deep tension between Charles and Adam from their childhood to adoloscence, outpour of evil by Kate with either Adam/Faye/Cal, the darkness and loneliness that Tom goes through on the ranch after his father’s death. I have held my breath many times especially in these scenes involving Kate.
How cut throatly has the author portrayed Adam’ love for one child over the other? How nicely has he created good characters like the Sheriff and the Doctor who keep an evil like Kate in check? Will we ever read characters like Sam Hamilton and Lee, or Liza, Dessie and Abra ever? How subtly has he added depth to an otherwise shallow character like Will Hamilton?
With all these things, the book has touched and shook me from my depths. This is the first time that a book made me feel my mind, bones and veins.
Shoutout to beautiful underrated unimportant scenes:
- When Alice tells Cyrus that Adam will not like the military, he first asks her to shut up, stays silent for sometime and then tells her in an almost apologetic way “it isnt as though he is your child”. Adds a layer of gentleness to Cyrus towards his wife very subtly.
- Charles would protect his brother from the world, but would kick him to death for winning a game.
- All Ethel wanted was dignity, and she did not have it atleast in her death.
- Deep down Will wanting approval from his family for being so different.