The Book Whisperer reading and watching East of Eden

East of Eden by John Steinbeck was not required reading for my high school or college Literature classes. Thank goodness! Most likely, I would have chosen the black and yellow CliffsNotes study guide over the 600+ page saga as a teenager. The Pulitzer Prize winning The Grapes of Wrath (1939) and Of Mice and Men (1937) were on those reading lists, and I remember enjoying both.

Steinbeck considered East of Eden to be his magnum opus and said, “I think everything else I have written has been, in a sense, practice for this.” Upon publication in 1952, it became an instant bestseller despite not being well received by the literary critics of the day. The book hit the number one spot on the New York Times Bestsellers list again when Oprah Winfrey chose the book for her book club in 2003.

In 1955, the novel was adapted, and Elia Kazan directed the film that introduced James Dean to the world. When Netflix began advertising for the East of Eden limited series produced by Kazan’s granddaughter, Eliza Kazan, and starring Florence Pugh, I decided to tackle the classic novel before watching the latest adaptation.

East of Eden is a family saga set in New England and the Salinas Valley in California. The novel follows two families – the Trasks and the Hamiltons- from the Civil War to the end of WWI, and the patriarch of the Hamilton family is based on Steinbeck’s own grandfather.

Steinbeck’s story was inspired by the Cain and Abel story from Genesis chapter four, and the title even references verse sixteen. “And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden.” (Genesis 4:16)

The 600+ page novel is divided into four parts and those divisions make it more manageable. After some internal debate, I decided to listen to the audiobook, and Richard Poe does an excellent job of narrating the story, all 25 hours and 19 minutes of it. After doing some online research, I learned Eliza Kazan’s Netflix adaptation of seven episodes matches well with the novel’s four parts.

Here is my recommendation for reading and watching East of Eden:

1. Read/Listen Part 1 (Chapters 1-11) and then watch Episodes 1 and 2.
2. Read/Listen Part 2 (Chapters 12-22) and then watch Episodes 3 and 4.
3. Read/Listen Part 3 (Chapters 23-33) and then watch Episode 5.
4. Read/Listen Part 4 (Chapters 34-55) and then watch Episode 6 and 7.

Consuming the story this way has been very enjoyable. I did not expect to love the novel as much as I have. Beware:  some of the characters are dark. Dark! Teenage Linda would not have appreciated the genius of this story as much as adult Linda, so I am very glad I waited.

• What audiobook I am listening to:  East of Eden by John Steinbeck and Queen of Lombard Street by Lisa Kleypas
• What podcast I am listening to:  Everything Happens with Kate Bowler
• What I am watching:  East of Eden (Netflix)

Linda Sullivan is an avid reader who writes The Book Whisperer for KnoxTNToday, sharing book reviews and recommendations. Have a book suggestion or want to talk books? Email her at thebookwhisperertn@gmail.com or follow her on Instagram @thebookwhisperertn.

Read more Book Whisperer reviews by Linda Sullivan and learn more about her in her author bio on her KnoxTNToday author page.

Find your next great read through the Knox County Online Library or your local independent bookstore.