East of Eden

A tale of two brothers plays out as they question what it means to be good and what is free will.

The heart of this book is truly within the juxtaposition of the inherent goodness and inherent evil of people, and what it truly means to have free will. The characters are all deeply flawed, but seek to navigate the world around them in a way that gives meaning to who they are. This book evokes such deep thought and empathy, that I have yet to stop thinking about it. I loved the use of Steinbeck's language and allusion. Each reference, simile, metaphor is purposeful as he paints a vivid picture of two families in the Salinas Valley. 

It is so easy to be immersed into the world Steinbeck is describing and even harder to pull away from the characters that bring this story to life.  

Fans of the classics would enjoy this book.