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.
Love Steinbeck (with a passion) and love ‘East of Eden’. Check out ‘Journal of a Novel’, which details his experience writing EofE if you haven’t already.
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added to my list!
Joy- this was beautiful. I can’t believe I have never read this book, but i plan to change that immediately. I’m a long time reader that doesn’t comment often, just wanted to say I have loved your blog over the years and so appreciate your words. I kept meaning to comment on your Africa posts, but never did. Thank you for inspiring, but also for sharing your thoughts and experiences. Hope you have an exhilarating time in Costa Rica (buy lots o’ coffee!) and can’t wait to hear more about your new adventures in New Orleans!
East of Eden is one of my all time favourite books too!! It always seems Of Mice and Men or Grapes of Wrath get the most attention, but I think EE deserves just as much recognition. After I read EE, I tried to read all of Steinbeck’s novels, including his short stories.. that guy was brilliant!
That’s my very favourite book of all time, too. Seeing someone read a book you love is like a book recommending a person to you.
I took your advice from a few months ago to read Wally Lamb’s ‘I Know This Much Is True.’ Just like with East of Eden, I’m a different person now I’ve read it.
Let’s talk about books more :).
love your blog Joy! i’ll have to look into your book recommendations. if you are thinking of new recipes though and taking suggestions from readers, i’m trying to find a recipe for green tea cupcakes! you make the best things and i know you would be able to make something amazing!
Have you ever read Travels with Charley? It’s creative non-fiction, and it’s Steinbeck and his poodle driving cross-country in a camper when he’s 60+. Definitely my favorite of what I’ve read by him.
It’s funny, I love to read, but I never read the classics!! At least since high school, when it was a requirement, I haven’t! I have to get up on those! I’ll have to check out ‘East of Eden’! I’m glad you liked the book so much! I love people who also love books :)
And costa rica….lucky you! I hope you’re having a great time!
Joy! I am half way through East of Eden right now and I am LOVING it! I read Grapes of Wrath last year, and it was great, but monotonous at times, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I would say East of Eden is so much better!
During young adulthood I read every Steinbeck book and had such a crush on his writing and style. I loved the descriptions of many of the areas of California I had visited. Now I want to read the book Steinbeck and Covici…thanks for the introduction.
Enjoy your vacation.
Karen
i’ve always wanted to read this! need to do so asap :)
xo, cheyenne
You should visit the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, CA–an entire museum dedicated to his life and works. Be sure to visit The Steinbeck House, the home where he grew up, down the street. And Cannery Row in nearby Monterrey, CA. I did this a few years ago and as a huge lover of all things Steinbeck, it was one of my most memorable trips.
I love Costa Rica, beautiful place to be inspired. Can’t wait for your spring and summer surprises. I just got back from Hawaii and it really helped pump me up for things to come. Shake and bake.
Have fun in Costa Rica! sunburnt scalp and all…
I haven’t had a chance to read this myself, but I hear it’s beautiful. Reading that dedication alone makes me want to lose myself in it. I’m glad you’re having a wonderful time on vaca! Enjoy!
xoxo
Taylor
Funny you mentioned this because I’m reading it now. Savoring it actually. It’s lush storytelling at its finest…Wish I were in Costa Rica reading it right now.
I geeked out when I read this post! I finally read East of Eden a few years ago after lamenting that I had read nothing by Steinbeck and feeling like the worst “book nerd” ever. I was so struck by the dedication too! It remains one of the most wonderful things I’ve ever read, and just stops me dead in my tracks. I love that it did the same to you!
hi! im from costa rica and i read youir blog daily. Happy to hear when someone comes here! i hope you loved your stay. love steinbeck too! :)
OMG – Montezuma Falls right? Right? I lived there for a year with my husband, 2 year old and baby. My daughter was born there (not in the falls, obviously I’m not a hippy, but you know in Costa Rica.) I made some of the best memories of my life in that place. I hope you had an amazing time!
Wow. I haven’t read this book yet but after reading that dedication, I’ll have to put it on my list. Thank you for sharing this!
I’ve had East of Eden on my “to read” book pile in my bedroom for a while. It has just moved to the top of the list. Thanks!
East of Eden is one of my all-time faves, too. Everything about that book is so beautiful and every time I read it (which has been multiple times now) I discover something new about the story or the characters or just how I feel afterwards. Such a inspirational work and a beautiful dedication. Thanks for sharing and reminding me how much I love that book!
I love that you love East of Eden!!! Its such an epic story of life.
Imagine being loved in that way. . . .
East of Eden is one of my top ten books of all time. I love that you said you had your heart broken by it, I feel the same way. It is so good and moving and that dedication was amazing. I want to read it again now that you reminded me how much I love it.
I’m not sure which I enjoy more – reading the novel or then reading tons of nonfiction on the author’s life/biography/memoirs! Currently reading Mrs. Kennedy & Me, by Clint Hill (the secret service guy assigned to the First Lady) https://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Kennedy-Me-Clint-Hill/dp/1451648464
Hope you have a fun & rejuvenating vacation for the rest of your time in Costa Rica!
I love this book! And thank you for sharing this today – I’m in tears, so apparently it’s what I needed to hear (read).
I’m currently reading East of Eden and am totally enamored with it. How serendipitous to see this on your blog while I’m daydreaming about leaving work to finish the chapter I’m in the middle of!
I never enjoyed Steinbeck when we were forced to read it in high school, but I read East of Eden with a friend the summer after I graduated college, with weekly calls to discuss and AIM chats (yes, we had no Google chat then, remember?) to exclaim when something particularly noteworthy happened. It’s the kind of book that reaches into your chest, grabs your heart, and pokes at it. And the film doesn’t even come close to doing it justice.
Love that novel. Might be dumbing it down here a bit, but I’ve always thought the adaptation with James Dean was so good too.
East of Eden has been on my list of books to read for a while. Thanks for sharing this excerpt.
Steinbeck is my absolute favorite. Hands down. I will read and reread his writings for the rest of my life. And, seriously, aren’t scalp burns just the worst…it might be worse than the tops of our feet. Aloe aloe aloe!
Hi Joy, I just got back from Costa Rica. Love that country. Where in cr are you?
This waterfall looks beautiful.
An avid reader all my life, I’ve read nearly everything on those ‘100 books you must read’ lists and much, much more. But I’ve always struggled to get off the ground with Steinbeck. Thanks for sharing this Joy – it’s given me a starting point.
I’ve never read Steinbeck before, but if the rest of his writing is as lovely as that dedication, I want to read it. East of Eden is now in my Goodreads “to-read” list. Thanks for sharing it.
I love, love, love this. I haven’t read East of Eden. But now I’m going to buy it and reward myself with it once this semester is over. Only two weeks! I know I have to wait to crack it open because otherwise I’ll get no school work done.
Gosh, it’s wonderful!
OK, East of Eden is on my list now!
I haven’t read much lately but you have definitely inspired me to pick up East of Eden again. I can’t wait! John Steinbeck just slays me.
That dedication is beautiful!
My absolute favourite, too. My copy is full of highlighter and dog ears.
I’ve had East of Eden on my bookshelf for ages…I’ve read more or less everything by Steinbeck but was always hesitant to read EoA since I’d seen the movie so many times that I would only try to compare the two (it is, after all, one of my favorites – who doesn’t love James Dean?). Recently, however, right about the time I started reading your blog, I picked it up. I’ve been devouring it ever since…this is a different ballpark altogether! Also, you cannot imagine how many yummy cakes and cookies you can make in the time it takes to read the 600 pages of East of Eden :) (I write this with a cup of strong coffee and a brown butter chocolate chip cookie in my hand)
joy,
i often forget that you are a reader and an english dork and, most of all, a real person, just like me. i like getting these reminders. i am a 22 year old english dork and foodie living on the opposite side of the world to you and i want to thank you for your corner of the internet. for your cookies and cakes and pies and salads, but also for your thoughts and words and book recommendations. thanks, basically, for being the person you are, and for letting us in.
erin
Joy,
I’ve yet to read East of Eden. I do remember having to read The Red Pony by Steinbeck in 5th grade. It quickly made me fall in love with reading, despite the ways it broke my heart right in half. Somehow reading Steinbeck’s dedication here on your blog made me ‘hear it’ in your voice and that was both refreshing and inspiring. Hopefully that isn’t too weird… Although if there are two things I certainly am, weird and sincere are certainly it. :) Thanks for this post; I am looking forward to picking up this book soon.
Hi Joy! I LOVE East of Eden. It is my number 2 favorite book! (#1 is Heart of Darkness). I actually just finished re-reading East of Eden about two weeks ago and every time I read it I notice something new, and think, gosh this is so good!
Inspiring!
YES YES YES to East of Eden. That book is so beautifully written, it’s almost hard to get through because you don’t want it to end! Gah, I need to re-read it. So glad I found a soul sista who feels the same way about that book because most people think I am nuts for loving it!
Costa Rica? Is that in New Orleans?
I miss you, time to cook!!
So happy for you that you were able to get away after you move! Enjoy every last drop of your trip!