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| Marj |
 Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 5:26 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
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"A fantasy and myth ... a strange and original work of art."
- The New York Times Book Review
With this we begin our discussion of East of Eden. I take great pleasure in introducing the lovely and melodious Melody, who will be our guide and moderator.
Sorry Mel, I just couldn't ignore a good synonym. |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 5:36 pm |
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Synonym? It's redundant and alliterative, but I don't think iy qualifies as a synonym.
I don't think illiterate people should be allowed on this site. |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 5:40 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
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Location: Manhattan
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"Synonym: one of two or more words or expressions of the same language that have the same or nearly the same meaning in some or all senses"
HA! |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 5:55 pm |
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But a declination (or whatever it's called) of the same word doesn't qualify. They have to be different words.
Besides, I'm pissed that you never invited me to your shower. |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 5:57 pm |
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OK, let's get on topic.
East of Eden is long. |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 6:01 pm |
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| Thanks Marj. Just hold off on the shower for about three days and I'll be there. |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 6:07 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
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Gary,
Check out "What's on your Bookshelf." I replied there. I see Melody, so lets give her a chance to begin the East of Eden discussion. |
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| Melody |
| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 6:09 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
Posts: 2242
Location: TX
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| Marj, I seriously doubt Marantzo considers me either lovely or melodious, but as I shall not be losing any sleep over this notion, nor should you allow filth to collect on your lovely loofah'ed lips. |
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My heart told my head: This time, no. |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 6:10 pm |
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| These different forums have me more mixed up than the relationship between Adam and Charles Trask. |
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| marantzo |
| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 6:10 pm |
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Melody wrote: Marj, I seriously doubt Marantzo considers me either lovely or melodious, but as I shall not be losing any sleep over this notion, nor should you allow filth to collect on your lovely loofah'ed lips.
What brought that on? |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 6:25 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
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Location: Manhattan
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Can we at least begin by keeping this on topic? Even a pretense will do. Let's give Melody a chance to begin the discussion!
Later we can go nuts.  |
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| Melody |
| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 6:34 pm |
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Joined: 20 May 2004
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Location: TX
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Onward to East of Eden. I'm currently rereading it and have just completed Part One, which goes through Chapter 11, for those of you still playing catch-up. This is one of the most plot-driven novels I've ever read, so the reading proceeds much more smoothly from here on out.
Lots of introductions in the beginning, as is common with most epics. We know from the get-go there are two main families we'll be following, the Hamiltons and the Trasks.
Thinking about why Steinbeck started off with the Hamiltons, only to leave them high and dry and concentrate on the Trasks for several chapters afterwards, it occurred to me perhaps he felt he owed it to the Hamiltons since he reveals somewhere toward the end his mother is one of the Hamilton kids.
So EoE has all the trappings of a novel, but perhaps there are biographical elements as well, although the character "John Steinbeck" is barely mentioned. I haven't read enough about Steinbeck to know if this is his family story or not. Helluva family if it is! |
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My heart told my head: This time, no. |
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| mitty |
| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 7:01 pm |
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Joined: 02 Aug 2004
Posts: 1359
Location: Way Down Yonder.......
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In many ways I found the Hamilton clan much more interesting than Trask.
Samuel Hamilton was such a character. Romantic, wild, and loving family man all at the same time. Impractical to the nth degree. 
I enjoyed the way Steinbeck brought out the way Europeans thought of land, and the way early settlers took up so much land because of the feudal overtones of their homeland. |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 7:05 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
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"A fantasy and myth ... a strange and original work of art."
This is the quote from the NY Time's review. It made me curious. I wonder if everybody agree's with it?
I wonder ... is EoE a "fantasy" and a "myth"? Or is this just an interesting choice of words? |
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| Marj |
| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 7:27 pm |
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Joined: 21 May 2004
Posts: 10497
Location: Manhattan
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Mitty,
Sorry. I must have missed your post. As I am only a few hundred pages into the book, I suppose I haven't gotten to know the Hamilton's very well yet.
But I will. |
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