East of Eden by John Steinbeck - Book Summary, Analysis, Review

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Күн бұрын

Welcome to the CodeX Cantina where our mission is to get more people talking about books! We look at one of the 20th century's masterpieces, "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck. Written from 1948-1952, this piece is an amazing novel. It's fluid, simple: yet complex and challenging at the same time. If you are looking for a great place to start reading classic literature, this might be the best place to start with classics. It tackles a core idea of what makes us good or evil? What is free will and do we recognize it or influence others in our choices?
John Steinbeck Playlist: • The Chrysanthemums by ...
Livestream Discussion with Lezlie: • East of Eden Livestream
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Affiliate Links for Books or Stories Mentioned in this Video:
East of Eden: amzn.to/3CpqO42
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
0:00 Spoiler Free
7:12 Plot Summary
10:48 Spoiler Chat
32:25 Wrap Up and Ratings
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@TheCodeXCantina 2 жыл бұрын

John Steinbeck Playlist: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/fq2brM6Qt9m5iIE.html Support Us: www.patreon.com/thecodexcantina TABLE OF CONTENTS 0:00 Spoiler Free 7:12 Plot Summary 10:48 Spoiler Chat 32:25 Wrap Up and Ratings

@Starscreamlive 2 жыл бұрын

16 verses barely tells us anything, yet at the same time perfectly sums up the entirety of the human condition. East of Eden is such an AMAZING novel that I never would have gotten around to if you didn't host the read-along. Thanks!

@TheCodeXCantina 2 жыл бұрын

So glad we could experience it too! What an amazing book! I had a feeling it would be great but since no one else seemed to really talk about it it was low on the priority list. Now I know I need to talk about it more for others :D

@katiewilliams5674 Жыл бұрын

Just finished reading East of Eden and was so happy to watch your video. My friends had a son and used Timshel as his middle name. Thank you for the discussion! I especially appreciated the thoughts on how the Hamiltons added so much humanity and deepened the story’s look into the Trasks.

@TheCodeXCantina Жыл бұрын

Ooooo, that’s so interesting about your friend! Glad you enjoyed the discussion 👍

@RedZAgs193 2 жыл бұрын

The fall of the Hamilton family is quite sad in the story as well. Here was Sam holding the world and his family together and by the end they were all over California no longer together or really close. I thought there was kind of a second death to Samuel's spirit when Tom rode back to the ranch after his sisters death. It felt fatal coming to the end of the novel and that was the last of the Hamilton family in the story other than Will who was a capitalist, completely opposite to Sam's legacy.

@TheCodeXCantina 2 жыл бұрын

Sad indeed!

@StriketheSunMD 2 жыл бұрын

My favorite novel of his. First book to really mess me up. Every time I've read it, Lee has been my favorite character, as he's obviously the heart of the story, but Cathy is my other favorite character. I've always been sympathetic to her, despite being a total monster. I've always thought that she's probably twisted in the head, but there are expectations on her(as well as that creep teacher) as a young girl/woman that she doesn't want, and this pushes her to test boundaries. She's also tempted people, but a lot of people choose poorly when it comes to her. She chooses a life of evil, except maybe at the end...Each time I've read it, I've flipped on whether she meant to cause one more source of pain with her final actions with the money, or was it meant as a genuine act for redemption?

@TheCodeXCantina 2 жыл бұрын

It's a masterpiece! I'm finding I'm more open to Cathy than most. Glad to see I'm not alone on that!

@lenoraeverett9200 Жыл бұрын

I wondered about Cathy's motivation at the end, too! Steinbeck probably wanted us to wonder.

@katrinaschreiber5613 Жыл бұрын

Was so excited to see Jennifer Lawrence as Cathy in the movie, but I think it didn’t come to fruition? It’s listed on google with no details.

@aroundtheweird 2 жыл бұрын

I absolutely LOVE this book, and I enjoyed hearing your thoughts in this video. I've always thought that the character of Cathy Ames was a representation of John's ex-wife. Through this character, John was trying to understand WHY she would do the things she did. Even though Cathy does bad things, Steinbeck clearly notes that she is kind of lost in the world. And perhaps that ties back in to choice. Lots to think about.

@TheCodeXCantina 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, sir! It's been a very Steinbeck channel the last two weeks :D

@MsReadsAlot 2 жыл бұрын

This is my favorite Steinbeck novel! It may be time for a re-read! Nice discussion!

@TheCodeXCantina 2 жыл бұрын

It's incredible! It's my new favorite now too!

@jamesstout6280 2 жыл бұрын

Great chat! I can't agree more that this story opened up the concept of 'What is Free Will' when applied to the Book of Genesis. I hadn't considered the distribution of wealth commentary but that makes sense as it's in so many of his works. Keep it up, gents.

@TheCodeXCantina 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

@Gedeezy Жыл бұрын

Excellent discussion. Thank you for your insight.

@TheCodeXCantina Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the kind words

@rrpal10 2 жыл бұрын

Lovely book and a great discussion here. Thank you

@TheCodeXCantina 2 жыл бұрын

My pleasure!

@BaldBookTuber Жыл бұрын

Just finished this up and thought it was amazing. It was my first Steinbeck, and certainly won’t be the last. Really enjoyed this discussion!

@TheCodeXCantina Жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! I hope you enjoy next read!

@lenoraeverett9200 Жыл бұрын

Excellent discussion on my favorite book!

@TheCodeXCantina Жыл бұрын

❤️

@gy2gy246 Ай бұрын

I recommend the 1981 TV version of the book, which follows the book very closely. It's available on DVD.

@danecobain 2 жыл бұрын

This one's been on my TBR for a while!

@TheCodeXCantina 2 жыл бұрын

Saving the best for last!

@danecobain 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheCodeXCantina I don't know, there's a lot of Steinbeck :D

@julielazaroff4796 Жыл бұрын

Cal struggled with his impulse to be mean. He didn’t have self control.

@bighardbooks770 2 жыл бұрын

I very much enjoyed the live stream w Lezlie a week ago. This is such a great American novel. WTG. Madam I'm Adam = palindrome!

@TheCodeXCantina 2 жыл бұрын

Ha, nice palindrome

@bighardbooks770 2 жыл бұрын

@@TheCodeXCantina Star Comedy By Democrats

@gy2gy246 Ай бұрын

Cathy is the serpent, and this is the first summary where I've seen it mentioned. She kills herself when she realizes there's something missing in herself, maybe compassion or love or empathy.

@johnlonergan7106 Жыл бұрын

Such a beautiful book. I agree with you guys, 10/10. Im glad I read it for the first time in my thirties...won't be the last either.

@TheCodeXCantina Жыл бұрын

What Steinbeck should we read next?

@johnlonergan7106 Жыл бұрын

@@TheCodeXCantina I'm on Ulysses now so that could be awhile 😊

@TheCodeXCantina Жыл бұрын

@@johnlonergan7106 😂 That’s next years challenge for us

@johnlonergan7106 Жыл бұрын

@@TheCodeXCantina I'll be sure to check in and hear your thoughts.

@BookishTexan 2 жыл бұрын

This is the book that is going to make me love Steinbeck right? I am planning on reading this in December, so I may not finish this video, but will hang it for a while to get a taste of what to expect.

@StriketheSunMD 2 жыл бұрын

If this one doesn't, none of them will.

@TheCodeXCantina 2 жыл бұрын

Going to have to echo Lucas here. It's his masterpiece and knocked my socks off.

@taylor5065 2 жыл бұрын

How did it go!

@mares3841 10 ай бұрын

so sad that he was "cancelled" by his community to the point where they withheld his war rations when they decided to be pissed about how he portrayed them in Grapes of Wrath

@moviepopsup 11 ай бұрын

Does timshel in the book mean " if you want you can do it?"

@gy2gy246 Ай бұрын

Almost. It means you have free will.

@julielazaroff4796 Жыл бұрын

Will Hamilton helps Cal with the investment.

@levityoflonging22 Жыл бұрын

His reasoning is interesting too. Will feels like the black sheep of his family. He knows he is no one's favorite. He recognizes himself in Cal and wants to help him gain that approval they both wish for.

@iwritechecksatthegrocerystore Жыл бұрын

This might sound weird. Maybe even uneducated. I’ve read Steinbeck before, but this novel affected me at 40 in the same way that Cannery Row affected me at 18. Man that guy could fucking write.

@TheCodeXCantina Жыл бұрын

He’s amazing!

@attention5638 2 жыл бұрын

...And then Cathy Ames shows up. We all know a Cathy. And, a nascar turn into capitalism! If you are going to cover Steinbeck! Haha great discussion, as always!

@TheCodeXCantina 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Pae! Hope you are doing well! Looking forward to your Stranger talk :D

@rebeccaglaze6679 2 жыл бұрын

This book is an amazing study about narcissists. Charles, his father, and Cathy are all narcissists with Cathy being the most dangerous kind. A malignant covert narcissists, in my opinion

@TheCodeXCantina 2 жыл бұрын

I’d watch a whole video dedicated to it for sure!

@brianhaas1154 Жыл бұрын

Kate/Cathy was easily the best character. Every chapter in which she was featured was "unputdownable." She made no apologies for what she eas- an evil monster of a person.

@TheCodeXCantina Жыл бұрын

Indeed

@julielazaroff4796 Жыл бұрын

Tom Hamilton, presumably John Steinbeck’s uncle, is never fully actualized and he burned his poems before he died. The self critic judges the person as good or evil.