“When we were children we lived in a story that we made up. But when I grew up the story wasn’t enough. I had to have something else, because the story wasn’t true any more… [Aron] wanted the story and he wanted it to come out his way. He couldn’t stand to have it come out any other way.”
"How about you?”
“I don’t want to know how it all comes out. I only want to be there while it’s going on.”
—Abra & Cal, Ch. 52
Even though this reread experience was pretty different for me than the first time, East of Eden still impressed me with multigenerational storylines and incredibly complex characters. Few of these characters are easy to love. Some events that unfold are violent and disturbing; others are emotionally traumatic. But Steinbeck, all the while, seems to be driving home the point that we all struggle between the best and worst parts of ourselves—and unfortunately, the best parts are not always winning out. Still, we can always choose to be better. And for most of us, that can only happen when we stop letting rejection rule our lives, and instead start carving out our own paths.
One thing I do want to say, now that we’re at the end. On this reading, I was really struck by how strongly American values (both good and bad) shape this novel. Everything from blatant racism, to warmongering, to an independent, endlessly optimistic spirit. On the one hand, I think this novel is considered a classic because of how American it is. On the other hand, I’m not so sure how much I identify with this version of America in 2019. I really wrestled with that tension this time around. I know I will continue to respect this novel as a masterpiece of plotting and characterization, but I suspect I will continue to find its values challenging if ever I undertake another reread. Anyone else feel this?
All in all, though, thanks to all of you #EastofEden2019 ‘ers for reading along with @booksbythecup and me. I’ve loved seeing your photos, thoughts, reactions. (Still catching up on some of your posts—promise!) As always, I learn so much more by experiencing a book with a community.
Without further ado, onto our final round of questions, in comments below!
When you commandeer your friends’ books for your photo. #bookstagrammer #whatchagonnado
It has been an exceptionally pretty weekend here in Seattle—one of the first to really feel like summer in a while. Perfectly clear blue skies and temperatures right around 80 degrees. While it’s been amazing for my vitamin D levels, it’s been less great for actually getting many hours in for #24in48. So far, I’ve only read for about 7 hours, but I am pleased that I finally wrapped up The Winter of Our Discontent and Great Expectations, got a nice start on Sherwood, read a little more of Mistborn, and made it to Part 4 in our East of Eden readalong. AND, I got out to Lake Washington and Puget Sound, and read on this beach today. All in all, a really lovely weekend!
Hope you’ve had a beautiful weekend, too!
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#weekend #booksbythebeach #beachreads #summer #bookstagram #24in48 #readathon #beach #summerinseattle #booksbooksbooks #unitedbookstagram #booksoutofdoors #booksoutside #getoutside
It’s time to share my #24in48 TBR! The @24in48 readathon is this weekend, and it’s not too late to sign up!
While I don’t expect to hit the full twenty-four hours (lots of non-reading activities going on for me this weekend), I’m looking forward to devoting my free time to reading (and hopefully completing) a few books.
My TBR breakdown:
• SHERWOOD — This one came out a few months ago and I was so excited to start it, and then school got too dang busy and I never got to. So this one’s at the top of the list.
• THE KISS QUOTIENT — Borrowed this one from @booksandthebigcities a little while ago and it seems like the perfect summer read. Plus, I’ve heard a lot of glowing reviews from many other #bookstagrammers.
• WIDE SARGASSO SEA — Been wanting to read this one forever, about the madwoman from Jane Eyre. It’s relatively short, too, which makes it perfect for a readathon.
• SHOUT — An ARC I’ve been meaning to get to, and verse novels have worked well for me in readathons past, so on the list it goes.
• SMELLS LIKE STARS — An intriguing book I picked up at @massybooks with @paperbackpatronus back in January. It’s short and sounds fast-paced, so it’s another solid readathon pick.
I’ll also be continuing with some in-progress reads:
• EAST OF EDEN — for #EastOfEden19, of course. On audio and a reread for me, so this will be my take-a-walk/clean/make food read that I listen to.
• MISTBORN (not pictured) — I’ll likely pick this one up over the weekend, too, as I’m about halfway done.
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Q: Do you participate in read-a-thons?
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#readathon #myweekendisbooked #24in48readathon #tbr #bookstack #weekendreads #summerreads #sherwood #thekissquotient #eastofeden #widesargassosea #shout #smellslikestars #bookstagram #unitedbookstagram #booksandlavender #floralfriday
#throwbackthursday to this perfect moment on vacation a few weeks ago, when I was lying in a hammock, staring out at the most beautiful view of the Mallorcan coast, sipping coffee, and starting Mistborn.
I’m well over halfway through it now and enjoying it a good bit. The magic is pretty awesome, I’m just waiting for things to pick up—but I am starting to see why people have been recommending this one to me for a long time now.
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Q: What’s a book that’s been recommended to you a lot, but you haven’t read yet?
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#mistborn #brandonsanderson #fantasy #bookstagram #travelgram #unitedbookstagram #hammock #summer #hammockreading #vacation #booksbooksbooks #reading
“I think everyone in the world to a large or small extent has felt rejection. And with rejection comes anger, and with anger some kind of crime in revenge for the rejection, and with the crime guilt—and there is the story of mankind. I think that if rejection could be amputated, the human would not be what he is. Maybe there would be fewer crazy people.” — Lee, East of Eden
In many parts, East of Eden is a brutal, painful story. But Steinbeck seems to keep insisting that it isn’t a mindless violence; no, this arc follows the trajectory that humankind has been tracing since the dawn of time. Rejection, hurt, familial strife—all are familiar to us. Maybe that’s why this story continues to move us, nearly seventy years after it was written. It feels like one we’ve all heard before, perhaps one we’ve experienced ourselves.
Anyway, on to Part II discussion for #EastOfEden19!
1. Do you think rejection can be amputated—as Lee proposes—from the human experience? If so, how? And if not, how can we cope with it in less destructive ways?
2. In Chapter 17, Steinbeck partially retracts the title of monster as applied to Cathy. Do you think this is justified in light of what we learn about her in Part II?
3. What do you make of some of the women in this section, such as Liza and Olive Hamilton? Why do you think they’re so different from other women we’ve met in the book so far?
4. Why do you think Samuel Hamilton and Lee have such different immigrant experiences in the U.S.? What do you think of Lee’s habit of speaking pidgin to those he knows expect it of him?
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!! Sorry this post is going up a bit late today. It’s still Sunday on the West coast of the U.S., but I apologize if it no longer is wherever you are. 😊
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#eastofeden #johninjuly19 #steinbeck #johnsteinbeck #classics #hydrangea #booksandflowers #readalong #summer #summerreads #bookstagram #unitedbookstagram
Greenglass House has been a cozy, easy read in the midst of a crazy week. It’s a middle-grade mystery novel and it has just the right amount of intrigue to keep me interested, while its charming characters and relatively simple story are just what I need when I haven’t been working, or listening to the much heavier East of Eden.
Sometimes, you just need to read something that doesn’t require you to think much, and this little mystery does the trick.
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Q: What do you like to read when your brain needs a break and you want to read something relaxing?
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#greenglasshouse #katemilford #middlegrade #middlegradefiction #mysterynovel #greenglass #read #reading #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #booksbooksbooks #unitedbookstagram
“I think the difference between a lie and a story is that a story utilizes the trappings and appearance of truth for the interest of the listener as well as of the teller. A story has in it neither gain nor loss. But a lie is a device for profit or escape.” — East of Eden, Chapter 8, John Steinbeck
Well, we’re past Part One and into Part Two this week for the #eastofeden19 #johninjuly19 readalong. Don’t miss Shell’s lovely discussion post on Part One over on her account, @booksbythecup — she has tons of great questions, and many of you have already commented thoughtful and intriguing things.
This one is hitting me in a new way this time. It’s my second read of East of Eden, and I’m really struck by the contrasts between violence and peace, by the use of physical weapons versus the use of words and manipulative actions. What exactly is Steinbeck trying to tell us about the power of force versus the power of the pen and the tongue?
And though I remember noticing this before, I’m a bit unsettled by how women have been portrayed so far. To some extent, I find the quiet resistance of Alice, the hard lines of Liza, and the otherworldly cunning of Cathy to be almost flattering for the time period. Each woman is resourceful, making the best of situations and men who try to oppress them. But none of the portrayals are particularly flattering. Still, I’ll save my assessment until the end, particularly for after we meet Abra, who, if I remember, is a bit different. 😉
Stay tuned for the weekend — when I’ll be putting up a discussion post for Part Two!
P.S. A few of you have asked how to be added to the readalong. Simple! Just be following me, @booksbythecup, and/or the hashtags #EastOfEden19 and #JohnInJuly19 — or ideally, all of those! 😊 Happy reading!
P.P.S. This is lavender lemonade in the photo and it is so good!! 💜🍋💜
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#steinbeck #johnsteinbeck #eastofeden #lavender #booksandlavender #summerreads #read #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #unitedbookstagram
Happy Independence Day to my American friends! ❤️🇺🇸❤️ While at @dauntbooks in London, I acquired these two books, which I’m hoping will give me some insight into how we got where we are in our country, and where we might be headed. I’d been meaning to get Zinn’s People’s History for some time, and it was just fate that People’s Future was sitting next to it. I was instantly drawn in by the speculative fiction re-imaginings of America by authors like NK Jemisin and others. I’m looking forward to reading these two side by side soon.
And it’s summer, and it’s the Fourth, so there has to be pie. This beauty is a Lavender Honey Berry Rhubarb Galette based on a @halfbakedharvest recipe. Can’t wait to try it later tonight! 😋😍
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Q: Do you read any history?
If you do, let me know your favorites! I’m looking to relearn my history lessons after feeling like I’ve forgotten most of what I learned in school. •
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#independenceday #fourthofjuly #america #americanpie #historybooks #history #book #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #unitedbookstagram #booksandpie #booksanddessert #booksandbaking
I’m returned from a fabulous two weeks in London and Spain, and this place, @dauntbooks, was near the top of my must-visit places. The turquoise walls, the multiple floors, the loft, the green reading lamps, the multiple of maps—it’s just so inviting. And it’s the first bookstore I’ve ever encountered with such an extensive collection of travel and country-specific literature—a bookish traveler’s dream!
Anyway, this was my first time in London, folks, and it is exactly as brimming with literary goodness as one would expect given the number of famous authors that have originated from there. I hope to be back, and you can expect a lot more posts from this trip in the meantime!
In other news, coming back to ‘real life,’ work, and a new job, after two weeks away, is a little jarring. But I’m mostly thrilled to be back to a semi-normal schedule thanks to no school this summer! (I’m also relieved to be back home for the little things—you know, like free water. I love you, Europe, but ya kill me with the lack of free water.) You’ll be seeing a lot more of me on #bookstagram, and I’m so excited for more time to read and talk books.
In reading news, I’m reading like the wind to wrap up some books I’m almost done with (Phineas Redux! I’m so close #trolloping friends!), and I’ve also started listening to East of Eden for our #EastofEden19 #JohnInJuly19 readalong.
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Q: What are you reading this month?
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#dauntbooks #london #bookishtravel #literatourism #bookstore #bookshop #independentbookstore #booksbooksbooks #unitedbookstagram #bookshopsaroundtheworld #travelgram #explore #travel #travellondon #england🇬🇧
