East of Eden

My second time through in less than two years, and I still think of it as one of the great American novels. Hard to say which book I prefer--Grapes or Eden. Kathy is one of the enigmas of the book--she is so evil and self centered, that she does detract from the story, and you can see that instability come through Aron, and perhaps Cal, to a degree. But Samuel Hamilton and Lee are major heroes, great characters who redeem any of the weaknesses of the story.

And Steinbeck tells such good stories. The story of his mother flying with the World War I ace had both Sara and me cracking up and almost crying with laughter. I don't know; maybe it's not the novel that Grapes is, but the message of "Thou Mayest" has continued to resonate with me long after the book has finished.

Author: Steinbeck, John

Date Published: 1942

Length: 25hr 25min

Narrator: Poe, Richard