John Steinbeck's masterpiece, East of Eden, is a story of two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons, and how their lives and destinies become intertwined. Adam Trask leaves the East Coast and moves to the Salinas Valley in California, hoping to live close to the land and create a good life for his famly. Things don't go as planned though when his wife comes un-done and he's left to raise their twin sons alone. Often painfully brutal, this story of love/hate and good/evil is a modern day re-telling of the story of Cain and Abel.
Is it possible to be born bad? Or good for that matter? Definitely a question that is explored in East of Eden. The characters are so flawed, so well-crafted, so real that I felt that I knew them. That is not to say, however that I liked them. This book is a heavy read, so if you're looking for something lighthearted, you may want to pass. However, if you're looking for a supremely well-written tale, I recommend giving it a try.
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