Omg I did forget the narrator was a character I just finished chapter 15 and he started talking about his mother and that threw me for a loop for a second. Thanks for the additional context too!

Edit: just to add I am also really loving the book so far. I love jumping from perspective to perspective in stories and the characters are so interesting.

Edit 2: and also I’m looking forward to reading the grapes of wrath at some point but I have a whole backlog of books at the moment so idk when I’ll get around to it yet.

[–] valium_aggelein@hexbear.net 13 points 4 weeks ago

nice, glad you're enjoying it! i think east of eden is his "best" book but grapes of wrath is so endlessly quotable it's insane. you will definitely like it if you already fuck with his writing style

[–] TraschcanOfIdeology@hexbear.net 9 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

East of Eden is my favorite book, ever. And I think a large thing about it is how whenever a character makes a speech or statement where they're absolutely certain, they will be proved wrong for their hubris, almost like an ironic punishment by God. Only one character stays curious and humble, and is portrayed as the wisest, best among all characters.

It is a very biblical book, in the sense that Life, or God, will dole out judgement to people getting too big for their breeches, and to me it is largely about individual and collective sin and redemption. Not that there isn't a political read of it, but it doesn't seem to make politics one of its central themes, like in his other works.