east of eden

When I was growing up, my mom had a two-volume edition of East of Eden by John Steinbeck. I saw it on her bookshelf for years, and I remember thinking someday I should read it. I never did. When she passed away, we cleaned out her house and her books disappeared somewhere in the confusion. I remember wishing I had grabbed a few of those books, including East of Eden, but I missed the chance. The chance came back to me with a recent gift card. I picked up a copy of East of Eden and finally read it, quickly reminding me of why I love Steinbeck's work. Over the years, I taught The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, and The Pearl many times. Now I can add East of Eden to the list of Steinbeck books I have truly enjoyed.