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May 13, 2020TEENREVIEWCREW rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
East of Eden is a novel by John Steinbeck, who is a winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. Touching upon complex themes such as the everlasting cycle of sin, the twisting roots of parent-children relationships, and the capacity of a human soul for evil, East of Eden is a thought-provoking and lyrically written work. While the story may seem fragmented with its different settings at first, the characters’ tales eventually twist together. Samuel Hamilton is an honest, open-hearted farmer establishing a family in the sere land of Salinas Valley, California. Adam Trask is a mild young man haunted by his childhood with a dishonest father and an abusive brother. Cathy Ames possesses a warped “monster” of a soul, packaged by a pretty face. John Steinbeck himself, the narrator, grows up with his sister Mary as a minor character. The flowing narrative, paired with vivid portrayals of scenery and characters, make East of Eden an appealing and satisfying read despite the heavy questions it ponders. East of Eden is a true masterpiece that successfully portrays the mysteries within the cycle of humanity. Rating: 4 stars out of 5 @StarRead of the Hamilton Public Library's Teen Review Board