John Steinbeck wrote "East of Eden" for his sons. See the following quote for more details:

"I am choosing to write this book to my sons. They are little boys now and they will never know what they came from through me, unless I tell them. It is not written for them to read now but when they are grown and the pains and joys have tousled them a little. And if the book is addressed to them, it is for a good reason. I want them to know how it was, I want to tell them directly, and perhaps by speaking directly to them I shall speak directly to other people. ... They have no background in the world of literature, they don't know the great stories of the world as we do. And so I will tell them one of the greatest, perhaps the greatest story of all—the story of good and evil, of strength and weakness, of love and hate, of beauty and ugliness. I shall try to demonstrate to them how these doubles are inseparable—how neither can exist without the other and how out of their grouping creativeness is born. I shall tell them this story against the background of the county I grew up in and along the river I know and do not love very much. For I have discovered that there are other rivers. And this my boys will not know for a long time nor can they be told. ... And so I will start my book addressed to my boys. I think perhaps it is the only book I have ever written. I think there is only one book to a man. It is true that a man may change or be so warped that he becomes another man and has another book but I do not think that is so with me." — John Steinbeck, Journal of a Novel

I read "East of Eden" for a 12 week read-along I started on Bookcrossing.Com during the Fall of 2008.

The "East of Eden" Bookray will begin in January 2009!! The following list of Bookcrossers that have signed up for the "East of Eden" Bookray are as follows:

brianset
sweetybeans
EthlArnold
valerief
valpete
icanfly
CarrieLS
BecksterCa
Knikkki

I read this novel for a read-along during the Fall of 2008, Below are the 12 discussion threads for this novel, along with the read-along calendar and various links John Steinbeck & "East of Eden" links. If your interested in reading this novel and adding your own thoughts/comments, please feel free to do so in the various discussion threads below as it would interesting to read what you think about the various events and characters of the novel!

Happy reading!!

Discussion Thread 12 http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5901213/4
Discussion Thread 11 http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5885727/2
Discussion Thread 10 http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5869904/1
Discussion Thread 9 http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5840292/1
Discussion Thread 8 http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5822464/24
Discussion Thread 7 http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5804875/12
Discussion Thread 6 http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5790485/28
Discussion Thread 5 http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5774103/21
Discussion Thread 4 http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5757001/31
Discussion Thread 3 http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5739265/26
Discussion Thread 2 http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5720943/38
Discussion Thread 1 http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5704825/42
Read-Along Calendar & Steinbeck Links: http://www.bookcrossing.com/forum/6/5645553/58

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I sent out this novel via media mail today to the 1st participant for the "East of Eden" BookRay! Happy Reading!

got it today, will start it n a few days!

Done reading...now waiting on address from the next reader (should have already ask for that).
I realized after I started it that I have read it before, but I re-read it because I couldn't remember the end. Its a good book.

received in the mail

I just received this in the mail today and will begin working on it!

Best book I have read in a LONG time! As I mull over the story I may decide it is my favorite book. The quote on the first entry of this journal is a perfect way to describe the story - good and evil, beauty and ugliness, and how out of the struggle of the two something else is created. Beautiful writing and character development!!!

I'll be PMing valerief to send this along.

Got this in the mail mid-last week. I have one bookray ahead of this one. Looking forward to more Steinbeck - I read The Grapes of Wrath last year and really got into it.

This one had a lot of twists and turns as well. Steinbeck uses many familiar themes: sibling rivalry, duty and honor.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Off to valpete

11/14/2009 - apologies, I had this on a stack for the post office and just haven't made it there yet. This is going out today with a few others. Apologies for the delay.

I look forward to reading this. I, too, read the Grapes of Wrath last year. It'll take a while, as I have a few before it.

I didn't realize this was a Ray. I'm almost done reading it and have PMd the next person on the list. So very sorry for keeping this so long!

Well, I finally read it and loved it! I've contacted everyone on the list after me, and no one is interested any longer.

I'll find someone with it on their Wishlist and keep it moving. Thanks for including me in this Ray!

I did hear from CarrieLS and will be sending it along to her.

I have received this book. Sorry I didn't journal its arrival sooner. I need to finish up one book and will start reading this one in a few days. Book is here, safe and sound.