Mark ’s review of East of Eden > Likes and Comments

This is one of those that I need to get to!
Hope you are discovering how good an Author Steinbeck really is.

Lesle wrote: "This is one of those that I need to get to!
Hope you are discovering how good an Author Steinbeck really is."

Cheers Lesle - well The Grapes of Wrath is in my all time top 10 for sure, and this is just as good, it really is. I hope you read it soon and thanks for stopping by :))

Sir Mark...You seem to be into some hefty reads of late! Enjoy this Steinbeck classic!

One of my absolute favorites of Steinbeck. Happy Reading Mark! 📖

Fran wrote: "Sir Mark...You seem to be into some hefty reads of late! Enjoy this Steinbeck classic!"

Yes, I think I might be getting brainier Lady Fran, it's hanging around with you lot that does it!!!!!

This is brilliant :))

Karen wrote: "One of my absolute favorites of Steinbeck. Happy Reading Mark! 📖"

I can see why this would be one of your all time best Karen, it will be (and already is!) one of mine too. How about Cathy/Kate?? 😬

I know, Mark. I love that you are connecting with this one, so well! ☺️

I need to read it ASAP! Glad you loved it, Mark. This encourages me to pick it up sooner rather than later. Looking forward to reading your final thoughts. :)

Maybe you can have two GOATs, mate ::) I've never read Steinbeck - sounds like it might be worth trying.

I'm so glad you enjoyed this one Mark. This is one of those books that I always say I want to read again. I think it is being made into a mini-series on Netflix.

So glad you enjoyed it!!!🖤💗

Not that anyone asked, but... My vote: The Count of Monte Cristo 😘

Karen wrote: "I know, Mark. I love that you are connecting with this one, so well! ☺️"

I just read your review, and loved it Karen 🤗🎈

Debbie Y wrote: "I need to read it ASAP! Glad you loved it, Mark. This encourages me to pick it up sooner rather than later. Looking forward to reading your final thoughts. :)"

Oh, I hope you read it soon Debbie - it is so, so, so good!!! 🤗🎈

Wow! High praise! This is on my list. Love the five stars. Love how much you loved the reading experience.

Terence M [Quot libros, quam breve tempus!] wrote: "Maybe you can have two GOATs, mate ::) I've never read Steinbeck - sounds like it might be worth trying."

Mmmmm.............can we have two GOATS Tezza, surely it would be 2GOATS then, it doesn't ring true - I HAVE to choose one mate. I hope you read Steinbeck one day soon. The Grapes of Wrath is also a GOAT BTW!!!! 😂⚽⚽🦘

Jeannie wrote: "I'm so glad you enjoyed this one Mark. This is one of those books that I always say I want to read again. I think it is being made into a mini-series on Netflix."

Oh yes Jeannie!!!! The Netflix Series, to be released in July I think!!!! Can't wait - I hope they get it right 🤗🎈

V.D. wrote: "So glad you enjoyed it!!!🖤💗"

Yes it was brilliant - I am at a real loose end today Vasilii!!! 🤗🎈

Teres wrote: "Not that anyone asked, but... My vote: The Count of Monte Cristo 😘"

Hahahaha - I'm glad you asked, or - I mean responded, to the question I asked, or was going to ask - and then for you to respond to Teres!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.............If I asked 😂😂 Ohhh, it's a tough one right?? 🤗🎈

Jonas wrote: "Wow! High praise! This is on my list. Love the five stars. Love how much you loved the reading experience."

Thanks mate, a must read!!!! 🤗🤗

A favorite for many and one of mine too, Mark. Great to hear you loved it.

I love how you loved East of Eden. It has remained one of my favorites for decades! Truly everything by Steinbeck is tremendously good, what a gift he had.

I loved this beautiful book, Mark. But I have been wanting to read The Count of Monte Cristo for a long time so we will see!

Wow, possibly favorite book of all time?! That's some endorsement, Mark! I'll definitely have to add this and Count to my tbr. :)

Really? You’d put it in the same league as The Count of Monte Cristo? Now you’ve definitely got my attention.

What a dilemma, Monte Cristo or East of Eden! It really made me smile to think of choosing between them.I think there is room for them both on the same pedestal. Very different but both wonderful. I hope they do make a mini-series that does East of Eden justice. Now who could play Cathy?

I am so glad this one moved you so much Mark. I look forward to your review. ☺️

This is hands down a 10 on 10 book. Now I need to read Monte Cristo to compare.

Mark, you're one of the few people who might appreciate this: *East of Eden* is the only Steinbeck novel that's ever really landed for me. I've never quite understood the fuss over his other books, but this one definitely caught my attention. Lee and Samuel alone make it worth the journey.

Excellent review—and I have no intention of challenging your completely objective assessment of England's 1966 triumph. 😄

MM,
Every once in a while, I'll see a three star of EAST OF EDEN on here, where the person has written something like, "I don't get the hype." I must immediate avert my eyes and click on something else, before I write something caustic like, "And you never will, Fucker!
I'm with Fatima above, a "10 on 10 book." Enough said!
(By the way, I love it that this novel made you a "bisexual reader!" That's what Laurie Colwin did to me!)

And, to my beloved Canadian counterpart, Julie: Lady, I must forgive you your John Steinbeck trespass, just as you must forgive me my Leonard Cohen trespass. . .

I just ordered a copy Mark.

Ron wrote: "A favorite for many and one of mine too, Mark. Great to hear you loved it."

I liked your review and rating on this one Ron - what a wonderful read, right? Thanks mate 🤗🎈⚽

Lori wrote: "I love how you loved East of Eden. It has remained one of my favorites for decades! Truly everything by Steinbeck is tremendously good, what a gift he had."

It is such a great book Lori, isn't it? A true classic. Nice to see your 5-stars too - thanks for stopping by 🤗🎈⚽

I'm so glad you got to read this!! It's a gem for sure!

Lorna wrote: "I loved this beautiful book, Mark. But I have been wanting to read The Count of Monte Cristo for a long time so we will see!"

I just read your review and loved it Lorna, much classier than my emotional rant!!! Having said that The Count of Monte Cristo is essential reading mi querida amiga!!!! 🤗🎈⚽

Yun wrote: "Wow, possibly favorite book of all time?! That's some endorsement, Mark! I'll definitely have to add this and Count to my tbr. :)"

It's well worth it Yun, really worth it - I hope you do!! 🤗🎈⚽

Gopal wrote: "Really? You’d put it in the same league as The Count of Monte Cristo? Now you’ve definitely got my attention."

So I didn't have your attention before Gopal?? 😂😂😂 - yes, it's that good mate. I reckon you'll love it 🤗🎈⚽

Angela wrote: "What a dilemma, Monte Cristo or East of Eden! It really made me smile to think of choosing between them.I think there is room for them both on the same pedestal. Very different but both wonderful. ..."

Loved your write up Angela and great to see you loved this one too!! 5-stars, what else?? It's a bit exciting with the Netflix Series imminent isn't it? The actor playing Cathy is Florence Pugh a British Actor - I don't know here, but I can see a bit of Cathy in her:

Karen wrote: "I am so glad this one moved you so much Mark. I look forward to your review. ☺️"

I loved your review Karen, just posted mine (I couldn't review it properly as I had too much to say!!!). Thanks again for commenting 🤗🎈⚽

Fatima's Books wrote: "This is hands down a 10 on 10 book. Now I need to read Monte Cristo to compare."

Yes Fatima, The Count of Monte Cristo is a must read - I hope you get to it. Don't be intimidated by the size of the thing, like this one - it reads very quickly. Yes 10 on 10 all day long 🤗🎈⚽

Julie wrote: "Mark, you're one of the few people who might appreciate this: *East of Eden* is the only Steinbeck novel that's ever really landed for me. I've never quite understood the fuss over his other books,..."

Objectivity is probably my strongest suite Julie, along with having the emotions of an iceberg - well spotted!!! 😂😂 It is so good right? Oh - I didn't realise you'd read it, as I saw it was only 'added' on your thread. Either way - what a book!!! 🤗🎈⚽

Mark wrote: "Oh - I didn't realise you'd read it, as I saw it was only 'added' on your thread. Either way - what a book!!! 🤗🎈⚽"

Yes, Mark, I did read it—a couple of years ago, in fact—at the urging of Julie G. (aka American Julie). Whether she remembers it or not, we even had a great discussion about it while I was still in the middle of reading it.

This one genuinely moved me. It intrigued me, and it even made me reconsider Steinbeck. I remember thinking, if he could write this, perhaps there's more to him than I'd been giving him credit for.

So I'll happily give him this one.

Alas... every time I've wandered back to the rest of his work, he's continued to defy my interest. Perhaps EoE and I simply found each other at the right moment. Or perhaps Steinbeck himself was inspired, just this once, to write something above even his usual reach. 😉

Either way, I'm grateful he did.

Julie wrote: "And, to my beloved Canadian counterpart, Julie: Lady, I must forgive you your John Steinbeck trespass, just as you must forgive me my Leonard Cohen trespass. . ."


And to my beloved American counterpart, Julie G: I must forgive you your John Steinbeck trespass, just as you must forgive me my Leonard Cohen trespass. Let history record that neither of us succeeded in converting the other, and somehow the friendship survived. Posterity, I trust, will vindicate me. 😉❤️🇨🇦🤝🇺🇸

No international incidents were caused in the writing of this post.

To CJ: And, thank God for Wilfred Owen!!
xoxo

Your review makes me want to read this again, Mark.
Glad it hit the mark for you.
Getting a ‘world cup’ line in there - great!
CB

Excellent review my friend … I need to pit this on hold!

Julie wrote: "MM,
Every once in a while, I'll see a three star of EAST OF EDEN on here, where the person has written something like, "I don't get the hype." I must immediate avert my eyes and click on something ..."

Whhhoooooaaaaaa Jools!!!! Now let's not get ahead of ourselves here - yes, I adore and love Lee, but our marriage would be asexual. Yes, we will hug, hold hands and sit on each others laps, but that's it my dear friend. I just looked up Colwin, is it the author or a character of hers that made you swoon??

What a book, what an author hey? I loved your letter to Steinbeck - wonderful!! 🎈🎈🎈🎈

Diane wrote: "I just ordered a copy Mark."

I am glad your onto it Diane, I am sure you will love this - it truly is one of the best. I am jealous 🤗🤗🤗

Jsiva wrote: "I'm so glad you got to read this!! It's a gem for sure!"

Great to see you loved this one too Jsiva!!!! 🤗🎈🎈