Finally reading East of Eden (John Steinbeck)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I enjoyed it too but felt a sense of foreboding at every page turn. Something to do with the mother. Was that just me feeling nervous the whole read?

I feel like that was by Steinbeck’s design.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Absolutely love it, especially the character writing. Personally I could live without the gratuitous love letter to California.

Then you should stay away from Steinbeck. It's well known that he was born and raised in Monterey and was extremely devoted to California. Many of his works are "gratuitous love letter[s] to California"

[Anonymous]

I mostly enjoyed it the first time I read it about 10 years ago. However, I felt that the character of Cathy was just completely one dimensional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:“Whoever is saying an audio book isn't the same as actually reading a book is woefully closed minded”

I mean, clearly listening and reading are two different experiences. They may both be valid and useful, but I don’t understand how someone can argue that they’re the same experience.

Semantics. Would you also argue that blind people reading a braille book are not actually reading the book? After all, touching and seeing are two different experiences.

[Anonymous]

Did the younger brother find peace at the end? I saw the movie, seems like he did. Was wondering about the book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did the younger brother find peace at the end? I saw the movie, seems like he did. Was wondering about the book.

To add, there are quite a few strings it touched for me. I grew up with a mentally ill mother with whom we just couldn’t find any understanding. She was longing for my compassion and understanding; I was longing for her acceptance and help but we could not give it to one another. I am sure she thought I was troubled.
I have a son who is very different from me (took after his dad mostly) so it’s daily work to understand him with no judgement. It’s interesting how karma works sometimes.

[Anonymous]

This thread is interesting to read because Steinbeck was my arch nemesis in HS English classes. Perhaps I should read East of Eden as an adult. I really couldn’t stand any of his books in HS.

[Anonymous]

In my high school AP lit class our teacher discovered almost nobody had actually read the books so she assigned us this one because at the time Sparknotes didn’t exist for it. I viewed it as a punishment so I probably didn’t get what I should out of it but I do remember that no good runaround wife

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is interesting to read because Steinbeck was my arch nemesis in HS English classes. Perhaps I should read East of Eden as an adult. I really couldn’t stand any of his books in HS.

I’m the AP lit PP and I grew up to be an English teacher. I think the big issue is that wayyyyy too many books we assign to high schoolers are not at all age appropriate for them. How many 17-18 year olds truly have the maturity for Toni Morrison or John Steinbeck? Almost none. We assign “classics” before kids are ready for them and then ruin the books for them forever that way.

Realistically, adults need to find their way to books like this on their own time when their age, wisdom, perspective and maturity allow them to extract the richness of the stories and the writing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is interesting to read because Steinbeck was my arch nemesis in HS English classes. Perhaps I should read East of Eden as an adult. I really couldn’t stand any of his books in HS.

I’m the AP lit PP and I grew up to be an English teacher. I think the big issue is that wayyyyy too many books we assign to high schoolers are not at all age appropriate for them. How many 17-18 year olds truly have the maturity for Toni Morrison or John Steinbeck? Almost none. We assign “classics” before kids are ready for them and then ruin the books for them forever that way.

Realistically, adults need to find their way to books like this on their own time when their age, wisdom, perspective and maturity allow them to extract the richness of the stories and the writing.

Well I think classics are less and less popular now, it’s mostly modern progressive stuff, no?
The problem is that unless exposed at school, most people are never exposed after.
I would actually play audiobooks in the car for my kid - the ones that he was a little too young for, but the classics. Because it’s better that way than miss the window forever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is interesting to read because Steinbeck was my arch nemesis in HS English classes. Perhaps I should read East of Eden as an adult. I really couldn’t stand any of his books in HS.

I’m the AP lit PP and I grew up to be an English teacher. I think the big issue is that wayyyyy too many books we assign to high schoolers are not at all age appropriate for them. How many 17-18 year olds truly have the maturity for Toni Morrison or John Steinbeck? Almost none. We assign “classics” before kids are ready for them and then ruin the books for them forever that way.

Realistically, adults need to find their way to books like this on their own time when their age, wisdom, perspective and maturity allow them to extract the richness of the stories and the writing.

Well I think classics are less and less popular now, it’s mostly modern progressive stuff, no?
The problem is that unless exposed at school, most people are never exposed after.
I would actually play audiobooks in the car for my kid - the ones that he was a little too young for, but the classics. Because it’s better that way than miss the window forever.

PP who hated Steinbeck in HS. I don’t think the exposure to some classics helped me appreciate the authors. As an adult I avoid all Hemingway, Dickens, Vonnegut and Steinbeck because I couldn’t stand those authors in HS. I read two Steinbeck books and did cliffs notes for others we were assigned. I never finished any of the other authors’ books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is interesting to read because Steinbeck was my arch nemesis in HS English classes. Perhaps I should read East of Eden as an adult. I really couldn’t stand any of his books in HS.

I’m the AP lit PP and I grew up to be an English teacher. I think the big issue is that wayyyyy too many books we assign to high schoolers are not at all age appropriate for them. How many 17-18 year olds truly have the maturity for Toni Morrison or John Steinbeck? Almost none. We assign “classics” before kids are ready for them and then ruin the books for them forever that way.

Realistically, adults need to find their way to books like this on their own time when their age, wisdom, perspective and maturity allow them to extract the richness of the stories and the writing.

Well I think classics are less and less popular now, it’s mostly modern progressive stuff, no?
The problem is that unless exposed at school, most people are never exposed after.
I would actually play audiobooks in the car for my kid - the ones that he was a little too young for, but the classics. Because it’s better that way than miss the window forever.

PP who hated Steinbeck in HS. I don’t think the exposure to some classics helped me appreciate the authors. As an adult I avoid all Hemingway, Dickens, Vonnegut and Steinbeck because I couldn’t stand those authors in HS. I read two Steinbeck books and did cliffs notes for others we were assigned. I never finished any of the other authors’ books.

Yes exactly. They’re truly not age appropriate for most kids so everyone’s first exposure is tedium and boredom. The Scarlet Letter is AMAZING- how many 17 year olds can truly *get it* though? And I don’t mean get it in the way you can answer some questions and analyze irony but like GET IT. Not many. So we assign it and they hate it and never read it again.

We are better off building readers - people who love to read and have an identity as a reader and what they like - because when we do, they later will eventually find their way to the classics meant for them and enjoy them. It doesn’t mean we teach empty garbage texts but we also don’t push some classics just because - it ultimately isn’t beneficial. For example, I teach Frankenstein and the kids love it BUT- I don’t teach the original. It’s long and difficult. I teach an abridged version, or I got a grant to do a manga version they really loved. I pair it with other texts. This works so much better than handing them a dense text they’re just not going to like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is interesting to read because Steinbeck was my arch nemesis in HS English classes. Perhaps I should read East of Eden as an adult. I really couldn’t stand any of his books in HS.

I’m the AP lit PP and I grew up to be an English teacher. I think the big issue is that wayyyyy too many books we assign to high schoolers are not at all age appropriate for them. How many 17-18 year olds truly have the maturity for Toni Morrison or John Steinbeck? Almost none. We assign “classics” before kids are ready for them and then ruin the books for them forever that way.

Realistically, adults need to find their way to books like this on their own time when their age, wisdom, perspective and maturity allow them to extract the richness of the stories and the writing.

Well I think classics are less and less popular now, it’s mostly modern progressive stuff, no?
The problem is that unless exposed at school, most people are never exposed after.
I would actually play audiobooks in the car for my kid - the ones that he was a little too young for, but the classics. Because it’s better that way than miss the window forever.

PP who hated Steinbeck in HS. I don’t think the exposure to some classics helped me appreciate the authors. As an adult I avoid all Hemingway, Dickens, Vonnegut and Steinbeck because I couldn’t stand those authors in HS. I read two Steinbeck books and did cliffs notes for others we were assigned. I never finished any of the other authors’ books.

Yes exactly. They’re truly not age appropriate for most kids so everyone’s first exposure is tedium and boredom. The Scarlet Letter is AMAZING- how many 17 year olds can truly *get it* though? And I don’t mean get it in the way you can answer some questions and analyze irony but like GET IT. Not many. So we assign it and they hate it and never read it again.

We are better off building readers - people who love to read and have an identity as a reader and what they like - because when we do, they later will eventually find their way to the classics meant for them and enjoy them. It doesn’t mean we teach empty garbage texts but we also don’t push some classics just because - it ultimately isn’t beneficial. For example, I teach Frankenstein and the kids love it BUT- I don’t teach the original. It’s long and difficult. I teach an abridged version, or I got a grant to do a manga version they really loved. I pair it with other texts. This works so much better than handing them a dense text they’re just not going to like.

Based on the writing in your PPs, it’s a bit scary you’re an English teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is interesting to read because Steinbeck was my arch nemesis in HS English classes. Perhaps I should read East of Eden as an adult. I really couldn’t stand any of his books in HS.

I’m the AP lit PP and I grew up to be an English teacher. I think the big issue is that wayyyyy too many books we assign to high schoolers are not at all age appropriate for them. How many 17-18 year olds truly have the maturity for Toni Morrison or John Steinbeck? Almost none. We assign “classics” before kids are ready for them and then ruin the books for them forever that way.

Realistically, adults need to find their way to books like this on their own time when their age, wisdom, perspective and maturity allow them to extract the richness of the stories and the writing.

Well I think classics are less and less popular now, it’s mostly modern progressive stuff, no?
The problem is that unless exposed at school, most people are never exposed after.
I would actually play audiobooks in the car for my kid - the ones that he was a little too young for, but the classics. Because it’s better that way than miss the window forever.

PP who hated Steinbeck in HS. I don’t think the exposure to some classics helped me appreciate the authors. As an adult I avoid all Hemingway, Dickens, Vonnegut and Steinbeck because I couldn’t stand those authors in HS. I read two Steinbeck books and did cliffs notes for others we were assigned. I never finished any of the other authors’ books.

Yes exactly. They’re truly not age appropriate for most kids so everyone’s first exposure is tedium and boredom. The Scarlet Letter is AMAZING- how many 17 year olds can truly *get it* though? And I don’t mean get it in the way you can answer some questions and analyze irony but like GET IT. Not many. So we assign it and they hate it and never read it again.

We are better off building readers - people who love to read and have an identity as a reader and what they like - because when we do, they later will eventually find their way to the classics meant for them and enjoy them. It doesn’t mean we teach empty garbage texts but we also don’t push some classics just because - it ultimately isn’t beneficial. For example, I teach Frankenstein and the kids love it BUT- I don’t teach the original. It’s long and difficult. I teach an abridged version, or I got a grant to do a manga version they really loved. I pair it with other texts. This works so much better than handing them a dense text they’re just not going to like.

Based on the writing in your PPs, it’s a bit scary you’re an English teacher.

ignore this poster, English teacher. I appreciated your insights.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is interesting to read because Steinbeck was my arch nemesis in HS English classes. Perhaps I should read East of Eden as an adult. I really couldn’t stand any of his books in HS.

I’m the AP lit PP and I grew up to be an English teacher. I think the big issue is that wayyyyy too many books we assign to high schoolers are not at all age appropriate for them. How many 17-18 year olds truly have the maturity for Toni Morrison or John Steinbeck? Almost none. We assign “classics” before kids are ready for them and then ruin the books for them forever that way.

Realistically, adults need to find their way to books like this on their own time when their age, wisdom, perspective and maturity allow them to extract the richness of the stories and the writing.

Well I think classics are less and less popular now, it’s mostly modern progressive stuff, no?
The problem is that unless exposed at school, most people are never exposed after.
I would actually play audiobooks in the car for my kid - the ones that he was a little too young for, but the classics. Because it’s better that way than miss the window forever.

PP who hated Steinbeck in HS. I don’t think the exposure to some classics helped me appreciate the authors. As an adult I avoid all Hemingway, Dickens, Vonnegut and Steinbeck because I couldn’t stand those authors in HS. I read two Steinbeck books and did cliffs notes for others we were assigned. I never finished any of the other authors’ books.

Yes exactly. They’re truly not age appropriate for most kids so everyone’s first exposure is tedium and boredom. The Scarlet Letter is AMAZING- how many 17 year olds can truly *get it* though? And I don’t mean get it in the way you can answer some questions and analyze irony but like GET IT. Not many. So we assign it and they hate it and never read it again.

We are better off building readers - people who love to read and have an identity as a reader and what they like - because when we do, they later will eventually find their way to the classics meant for them and enjoy them. It doesn’t mean we teach empty garbage texts but we also don’t push some classics just because - it ultimately isn’t beneficial. For example, I teach Frankenstein and the kids love it BUT- I don’t teach the original. It’s long and difficult. I teach an abridged version, or I got a grant to do a manga version they really loved. I pair it with other texts. This works so much better than handing them a dense text they’re just not going to like.

Based on the writing in your PPs, it’s a bit scary you’re an English teacher.

lmfao. ok