Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters by John Steinbeck

[Milo MInderbinder]

A book about writing a book? The thought of this even as a big fan of JS gave me flashes of the writer being a teeny bit self indulgent. After I was a couple of pages into this collection of letters my first ill-informed opinion was obliterated.

 

This is a collection of letters that Steinbeck wrote to his editor and friend Pascal Covici (aka Pat in the text). Many of us will have colleagues to chat to and converse with everyday. This is not so for a writer so for JS his journal was his water cooler chat/cigarette break in which he got to let off steam and ruminate on all kinds of topics.

 

The journal begins in January 1951 when he started writing EOE and ends in November of the same year when he had finished his first draft. From the get go JS set out to write his ultimate book (which many would say he achieved with EOE, as would your humble reviewer). He saw East of Eden as his heavily autobiographical legacy to his two sons in which he wanted to show them the thorough evil of people, the pure goodness of people, and the wonders of nature.

 

This is a wonderful easy read but one not lacking in depth in which a man bears his soul and his insecurities. The writer who at the age of forty nine had begun to enjoy being a father and a husband but even as a world famous novelist still had the universal hopes and fears that all of us go through in life. His musings contain his usual satirical wit and excellent style and as a reader it was clear to me that Steinbeck and his long-standing editor had over the years galvanised a very sturdy personal relationship where they and their families had become very close, and in which insulting each other and cruel mockery were key to the relationships survival.

 

The prospective reader would do well to read EOE before this Journal because as well as the whacking great plot spoilers, the writer’s tribulations over various plot changes and structure make this such an interesting read for anybody who has read and loved the novel. As well as notes on the book the writer also waxes lyrical on that years baseball world series, the unavailability of decent pencils (hard to believe in our digital times but he wrote the entire first draft of EOE longhand), the current political situation in the United States, parenthood, and last but not least his passion for carpentry and buying tools.

 

To conclude, a great insight into the creative process that formed a great book by a great writer. 10/10

Edited February 12, 2012 by Milo MInderbinder

[julie]

Hi Milo

My goodness,what a wonderful review you gave . I love John Steinbeck .Have you read his travel book when he took his poodle Charley on a jaunt around our country ? I liked that book too, because it showed a more personal and everyday type of what he was like .

A wonderful writer .East of Eden was a BEAUTIFUL story . I never knew he wrote it as a legacy to his sons . Sadly I know very little of Steinbeck's personal life, other than he commited suicide . Could you tell me if this was his last book before that happened, or what order his books were in ,which ne being his last ?

Also, were his sons grown or almost grown when he wrote this ? I was wondering if they reminded him so much of the characters in the book ,or if he just wanted to show them what could happen to characters like that ?

Thank you for the wonderful review .

[Milo MInderbinder]

Thanks for the kind words Julie. I'm glad you liked the review. In answer to a couple of your questions: East of Eden came out in the early 1950's and wasn't Steinbecks last book. As far as I know he wrote into the mid-1960's and the wonderful 'Travels With Charley' that you mention was published in the early 60's so EOE wasn't any final life testament. As for the suicide, I think you may be mistaking JS for another writer because I think he died from natural causes (could you be thinking of Ernest Hemingway?) From the book it seems to me that his sons were quite young boys, he alludes to the eldest having some problems I.e. growing pains in the journal so I would put him to be an early teen. The characters were not based on the personalities of his own sons, but other characters in the book were based on family members of Steinbecks, and my favorite character Sam Hamilton was based on Steinbecks father. As for your comment about East of Eden being a beautiful strory I wholeheartedly agree with you..

 

Are you a fan of other Steinbeck novels?

Edited February 15, 2012 by Milo MInderbinder

[julie]

Hi Milo

Yep, you're right about his death. I don't know why I was thinking it was him who committed suicide . Must have gotten him mixed up with another writer ?

East of Eden was my favorite of his, but have also read Of Mice & Men ,Travels With Charley,and Grapes of Wrath .

The travel book was probably my favorite of the last 3 . I found it interesting about how our country was back then compared to now. I always like reading travel books,anyhow,so it was very good .

Of Mice & Men was a little too tragic for my tastes ,short,and just really sad .

Grapes of Wrath was very good,but also extremely difficult to read ,probably due to the times it talked about and how awful life must have been for so many people during those years . I thought the writing was wonderful and the story was well told, but the ending was one of the oddest I think I've ever read . It just ended strangely .Kinda like Steinbeck's pencil broke in the last chapter,so he left it like it was . I'm sure that's what his intentions were, to leave you dangling like that .

Those are the only ones I've read . Thanks for clearing up his death. Not sure why I was thinking it was him who killed himself with a gun .

[Milo MInderbinder]

The ending to Grapes of Wrath is a strange one, but it has stayed with me over the years and has made more sense over time as I have grown up. Even as a fan of GOW I admit the Oakie-Hokie vernacular that it is written in does make the reader work.

 

With Mice and Men I personally saw that story as a celebration of strong friendship. It was sad but I thought it a great lesson in short story telling.

 

Maybe you could give Cannery Row or Tortilla Flat a try Julie. They are both much lighter reads than the books you have mentioned. The latter I found hilarious and it contains as many vindications for getting drunk on red wine as I have ever read in one book.

Edited February 15, 2012 by Milo MInderbinder

[julie]

Thanks for the recommendations, Milo . I'll have to give them a try one of these days .

[muggle not]

Tortilla Flat, Cannery Row, and even Sweet Thursday are wonderful reads. Yes, they are light reads but there is great depth in the books. Even today when you visit the area of California where East of Eden and the 3 forementioned books took place you can envision what it was like many years ago. The Cannery today has many great restaurants to choose from. I visited the area 10+ years ago when we raced at Laguna Seca (btw, we finished 13th in a field of 43 drivers from the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand

 

Back on subject, I strongly recommend Tortilla Flat, Cannery Row and Sweet Thursday (in that order). Of course though, I recommend all of Steinbeck's work as he is by far my favorite author.

[julie]

Thanks , Muggle, for reminding me of these other Steinbecks. Too many books, not enough time ! I should start writing down books when someone mentions them,so I don't forget later ! For some odd reason, I am usually drawn to the really thick,sad books. I somehow feel that they teach me more about Life ,or maybe toss in a bit of wisdom that I may need in the future .