East of Eden Audiobook By John Steinbeck cover art

East of Eden

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East of Eden

By: John Steinbeck
Narrated by: Richard Poe
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Oprah Book Club, Winner

This sprawling and often brutal novel, set in the rich farmlands of California's Salinas Valley, follows the intertwined destinies of two families - the Trasks and the Hamiltons - whose generations helplessly reenact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel.

©1952 John Steinbeck; Renewed 1980 Elaine Steinbeck, Thom Steinbeck, and John Steinbeck IV (P)2011 Penguin Audio Classics Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Sagas Heartfelt Inspiring

Critic reviews

"A novel planned on the grandest possible scale...One of those occasions when a writer has aimed high and then summoned every ounce of energy, talent, seriousness, and passion of which he was capable.... It is an entirely interesting and impressive book." (The New York Herald Tribune)

"A fantasia and myth...a strange and original work of art." (The New York Times Book Review)

"A moving, crying pageant with wilderness strengths." (Carl Sandburg)

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Multi-generational Saga • Complex Characters • Biblical Allegory • Philosophical Depth • Emotional Impact • Perfect Tone

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What about Richard Poe’s performance did you like?

Richard Poe did a great job. Very professional and pleasant all around. He really brought the book to life and his voice suited the material very nicely.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Well, one sitting would be a bit much, but, yes, I was always eager to listen too more.

Any additional comments?

Glad I was finally able to experience this classic. I've been enjoying Steinbeck lately. I'm new to Audible, and this is the type of book that I'm most interested in: classics with great narration.

Very compelling book and great narration

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I love Steinbeck but this is not one of my favorites. The prose were wonderful and there is marvelous imagery and strongly developed characters, yet I found something missing. Most of Steinbeck novels have a structure and flow quite different from most modern American novels. This is strongest in his short story collections and The Grapes of Wrath and To a God Unknown, but is also true of the Cannery Row novels. These all have a bit of a mystical flow and lack formulaic structures. East of Eden, in a few places, becomes slightly preachy and is slightly more formulaic than the best of Steinbeck. It is nevertheless very good and quite well worth reading. I really enjoyed the narration which was clear and had subtleties that enhanced the experience. I give this four stars only relative to the greatest of novels, which one might expect from Steinbeck.

Good, but not my Favorite Steinbeck

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The book was perfect - wise beyond all expectations, a book to live your life and understand the world by, and yet a total page-turner. The suspense kept me listening for seven hours at a stretch. The performance was perfect - full of humanity, gravitas and a true understanding of the words. I recommend every word.

The best book I've ever read

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I almost put this down in the first 10 minutes. Glad I soldiered on. New fav.

Amazing book if you can get past the racial slurs.

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This is a luxurious read. Take it slow and let Steinbeck's mastery revitalize your mind. Anything I say will likely be perceived as absurd because I loved this book so much. Steinbeck is more than an author. This book is more philosophy than mere fiction. One might even classify it as allegorical in its exploration of deeply human and universal themes.

Everyone who reads this will likely get something wildly different out of it but one thing I think can be felt by all; this book epitomizes American literature. In fact, in the final chapters, Lee and Caleb discuss what it means to be American and it's brilliant. Not in the patriotic sense but in the core character of American rebellion and ingenuity and our sense of moral rightness (as held at the turn of the century). While much has changed in modern society, the values and evils and joys of American life are still prominent today.

One last note. I lived in Monterey, California, which sits just west of Salinas, where the bulk of this tale takes place. Steinbeck captures the charm and character of the setting so perfectly. He does so with a loving fondness that made me ache to spend more time in that wonderful county.

An American Allegory, If It's Anything!

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, Of Course. This book is a classic. The story is beautiful. I have seen the movie on TV, but the audible version is exceptional due to the superb narration.

What other book might you compare East of Eden to and why?

The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens. Not because the stories are even close, but because the story brings you from tears to laughter and back again, over and over again. Also, it is hard to put the book down even though you wish the story to go on and on and you hate to see it end.

Which character – as performed by Richard Poe – was your favorite?

Lee- of course. The accent was beautiful with just enough Chinese accent to make Lee believable and his character loveable.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The times in the Trask home when Lee told Abra that he wished she were his daughter. This scene was so moving because Lee had always spoke of himself as a servant and did not require anything for himself even though his wisdom was basically what kept the story moving along.

Any additional comments?

There is nothing to add to any review of this book. It has been around for such a long time and I hope that the next generation can appreciate it as much as mine has.

Superb!!

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This was a wonderful story. I listen while I work and enjoyed the book very much. Steinbeck makes you feel so attached to the characters and their stories.

Love Steinbeck, as always

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I thought this book was good, the story was thought provoking and I liked the symbolism. However it was a bit long and uneventful at times.

The book end quickly and that was disspointing after such a long intro and middle. The last part of the book seems to lack any time perameters and detail. It fell apart for me.

Glad I read it, but Im not sure I could say I loved it.

Good but not Great!

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I am so sorry to reach the end of this epic story. I read it 20 years ago and loved listening to it again. Steinbeck is a joy to read and Richard Poe’s clear strong voice perfect in the telling.

Wonderful

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Well written, not my favorite Steinbeck, so I struggled to finish as I grew weary of the saga.

A saga

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