Hello friends! ย I’ve been in Costa Rica this week getting a sunburn on my scalp, eating ceviche like it’s going out of style, learning how to surf, and mostly thinking thoughts about what I’m going to cook for you this Spring and into our future. ย I needed a bit of a get away to think my thoughts. ย Maybe my brain works best from under a sun burnt scalp. ย That’s probably it.
I’ve also been reading a lot of non-Internet words on this little getaway. ย Books… those are non-Internet words. ย They’re pretty cool.
East of Eden is my very favorite book of all time. ย It’s John Steinbeck at his absolute everything. ย It’s epic and heartbreaking and if you haven’t had your heart destroyed by this book then I would recommend that you add this work of art to your Spring reading list.
I took some time to read the dedication to East of Eden this week. ย Something that I had skipped in my regular life of haphazard efficiency. ย The dedication alone stopped me dead in my tracks. ย The dedication alone is a compilation of words more beautiful that I’ve ever written in my whole life. ย Just the dedication! ย How’s that for something?
Steinbeck dedicated East of Eden to his dear friend and editor Pascal ‘Pat’ Covici. ย This:
Dear Pat,
You came upon me carving some kind of little figure out of wood and you said, โWhy donโt you make something for me?โ
I asked you what you wanted, and you said, โA box.โ
โWhat for?โ
โTo put things in.โ
โWhat kind of things?โ
โWhatever you have,โ you said.
Well, hereโs your box. Nearly everything I have is in it, and it is not full. Pain and excitement are in it, and feeling good or bad and evil thoughts and good thoughts- the pleasure of design and some despair and the indescribable joy of creation.
And on top of these are all the gratitude and love I have for you.
And still the box is not full.
JOHN
Steinbeck typed up East of Eden, literally carved a beautiful box for it, and delivered the box and manuscript along with this letter to his friend Pat. ย I instantly feel like I need to do more beautiful ad poetic things with my life. ย More sunset appreciation, restful pondering, and maybe more poetic musings with a pen and bar napkin. ย Something, right?
Here’s to our Spring and our Steinbeck.
Ps. ย The dork in me in now readingย Steinbeck and Covici: The Story of a Friendship. ย Just let it happen.
62 Responses
This is one of my favorite books of all time too. I own a copy and it sits on my shelf.
I love East of Eden–it’s beautiful. Also, is that waterfall near Mt Arenal? I know the country is full of them, but it looks similar to a place I visited a couple years ago. Hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip!
Grapes of Wrath has been one of my favorite novels for ages. Steinbeck is the pinnacle of the craft. I haven’t read East of Eden yet, but it’s been on my list for years. Maybe I’ll bump it to the top soon.
Reading all these comments, you’ve inspired a slew of people to give East of Eden a chance and that brings me so much joy. It is my favorite book, hands down, no contest. It took me forever to get through because I found myself rereading lines, paragraphs, and entire chapters because they were so unbelievably wonderful. I haven’t read it in a number of years (gotta make room for other books) but I do read Travels with Charley every summer, and highly recommend it to you this summer. Thank you for the humor, goodness, and honesty that you bring to your blog, it is refreshing these days to hear a voice that isn’t full of sarcasm or ego.
East of Eden is my all-time favorite book. It was so good that I didn’t want it to end and actually teared up when I finished reading it. I think of it as a delicious candy for the eyes instead of the waist.
That dedication from East of Eden was the reading my husband and I had at our wedding five months ago, I’ve loved it ever since I read it years ago tacked up on a friend’s bulletin board, before I even knew where it came from. It seemed the appropriate sentiment for the occasion.
wow! that’s just lovely!
I never liked Steinbeck, but I lived for several years near Cannery Row and the Salinas Valley. So I read East of Eden. It’s like Wuthering Heights, The Brothers Karamazov, and Absolom, Absolom all rolled up and unfurled again as something wonderful and new. I loved it.
But did you know a new movie is being made? Jennifer Lawrence is playing the villainy villain Cathy. Brace yourself. I’m feeling optimistic.
Great book! I just finished reading The Book Lovers Guide to New Orleans. It is a great read and full of information about book stores, cafes, and tour in NOLA. We moved down here a few years ago. My husband works in the city but we live on the North shore. Love spending our weekends exploring the city. So much wonderful history.
Joy – your trip sounds awesome! I know I always love getting the chance to get away and clear my head, too (in fact, I just blogged about it, too! http://www.annewynters.com) You’ll have to let us know how the book on Steinbeck and Covici’s friendship is – I think I know what’s next to request from the library! Enjoy Costa Rica!
“the indescribable joy of creation” – this one nugget is something I will cherish today. Friends can build each other up and push each other to greater work. Thanks for sharing the dedication between a writer and his editor; it’s a good reminder of the collaborative nature of creation.
You always have a way of making me want to live more meaningfully and a little slower. Thanks for that.