Hello friends! 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. I needed a bit of a get away to think my thoughts. Maybe my brain works best from under a sun burnt scalp. That’s probably it.
I’ve also been reading a lot of non-Internet words on this little getaway. Books… those are non-Internet words. They’re pretty cool.
East of Eden is my very favorite book of all time. It’s John Steinbeck at his absolute everything. 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. Something that I had skipped in my regular life of haphazard efficiency. The dedication alone stopped me dead in my tracks. The dedication alone is a compilation of words more beautiful that I’ve ever written in my whole life. Just the dedication! How’s that for something?
Steinbeck dedicated East of Eden to his dear friend and editor Pascal ‘Pat’ Covici. This:
Dear Pat,
You came upon me carving some kind of little figure out of wood and you said, “Why don’t you make something for me?”
I asked you what you wanted, and you said, “A box.”
“What for?”
“To put things in.”
“What kind of things?”
“Whatever you have,” you said.
Well, here’s 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. I instantly feel like I need to do more beautiful ad poetic things with my life. More sunset appreciation, restful pondering, and maybe more poetic musings with a pen and bar napkin. Something, right?
Here’s to our Spring and our Steinbeck.
Ps. The dork in me in now reading Steinbeck and Covici: The Story of a Friendship. Just let it happen.
Kristina
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!
joyce
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!
Barbara
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!
Stephanie
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!
Lisa
I love that you love East of Eden!!! Its such an epic story of life.
Gloria
Imagine being loved in that way. . . .
Aimee C
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.
Karly K
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!
Andrea D
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).
sarah
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!
Paula
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.
Moss
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.
Rebekah {aCricketSang}
East of Eden has been on my list of books to read for a while. Thanks for sharing this excerpt.
Mallory
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!
Karina
Hi Joy, I just got back from Costa Rica. Love that country. Where in cr are you?
This waterfall looks beautiful.