In 2016, a good friend of mine shared that their favourite book was “East of Eden” by John Steinbeck. They explained it was a story that weaves through multiple families and generations, and I was intrigued.
It was a book that was in the back of my mind for years, and I picked it up on a whim a few months ago. It ended up being a really beautiful story, and I’m still recommending it to close friends and family.
Although it was written in 1952, I was surprised by how relatable and moving the stories still felt, and how timeless the questions it leaves with the reader are.
While reading and after completing the book, I’ve thought about what shapes “me” as a person. We’ve all heard the “Nature v.s. Nurture” debate, and in some ways East of Eden is another exploration of this idea. But I think it takes it a step further and questions how much “choice” each individual person has.
I loved the conversation between Samuel, Lee, and Adam when they were discussing the nature of choice, and how a deeper meaning was lost in translation across different Bible versions.
I messaged my friend again to thank them for the recommendation.
It only took me 10 years :)
Timshel!