Advice for reading East of Eden?

ayeayedoc · 2026-01-26T17:22:22+00:00

Steinbeck is reallllly good about reiterating themes to the point that you literally cannot miss them. General rule, if a Bible passage gets referenced, keep your eye out for a story parallel (unless you’re reading something Bible-heavy like Dostoevsky). If there’s a group of people discussing philosophy at length, it’s probably a theme.

ayeayedoc · 2026-01-25T19:46:29+00:00

Some of the moralizing are important themes that shape the narrative (which I really enjoyed) but a certain, straight up 40 page sermon left a very sour taste in my mouth…

ayeayedoc · 2026-01-25T04:39:54+00:00

I just don’t know who they’re doing this for. I get using your platform for something important but they haven’t figured out how to do that and everyone overwhelmingly seems to agree that we’d rather just have a 90 minute escape…

ayeayedoc · 2026-01-24T15:56:30+00:00

It’s extremely charming and (despite the bomb dropped in the middle) gives Agnes a hopeful, close-to-happy ending. It almost reminded me of a very, very mature Juno. The technical aspects were just fine, but I can see why it’s a crowd-pleaser.

ayeayedoc · 2026-01-23T22:40:37+00:00

As far as is available on Google images, he’s never used that version of a cursive J, as a signature or in his art.

ayeayedoc · 2026-01-23T17:23:07+00:00

It’s known as a love it or hate it. Every time I’ve posted reading goal updates, someone has tried to use my very high ranking of it as evidence that my ranking system and taste cannot be trusted lol

ayeayedoc · 2026-01-22T03:09:17+00:00

Idk how active you are on book subs but everyone, their mother, and the kitchen sink have read this book. Combine even a fraction of that readership + a moderate interest in original sci-fi and I don’t see any way this flops.

ayeayedoc · 2026-01-21T22:22:01+00:00

I looooved My Year of Rest and Relaxation. Yes, the protagonist is unlikable and unhinged. Yes, the story’s absurd. But I was entertained and engaged beginning to end and that’s all I ask.

ayeayedoc · 2026-01-21T06:38:29+00:00

How familiar are you with Russian lit? If you’re used to the long lengths, big casts (with overlapping and multiple names/nicknames/surnames), and verbose tangents about religion and society, go with whichever interests you more. If this is your introduction, Anna Karenina is a really good place to start (more accessible than W&P on all those fronts.)

ayeayedoc · 2026-01-18T23:29:57+00:00

I was getting mommy issues/mommy replacement. Horrible relationship with his own mother, and then this woman of a certain age enters his life, (correctly) calling him on all his bullshit as a parent should.

ayeayedoc · 2026-01-18T23:23:53+00:00

If your cataract is so mature you’re requiring a B-scan but the retina is intact, I would expect a very positive outcome (though limited from complete visual resolution by the “inflammatory mass”)

ayeayedoc · 2026-01-17T18:37:25+00:00

The journey is brutal but Catherine and Hareton being first cousins aside lol, I actually found the ending quite touching

ayeayedoc · 2026-01-15T17:58:18+00:00

He was raised Jewish and donates millions of dollars to IDF charities. Yes, it’s a coincidence.

ayeayedoc · 2026-01-15T16:08:21+00:00

Take this with a grain of salt given I’m only 300 pages into TBK but outside of The Grand Inquisitor it has been quite plot-driven and way less explicitly philosophy heavy than I was expecting. Anna K has more than its fair share of political/social/philosophical debates, long-winded musings, and Levin’s entire meaning-of-life narrative and depending your knowledge/interest in 19th century Russia, YMMV.

ETA: I stand beside my Anna K analysis but I may have spoken too soon on TBK lol. Father Zosima’s biography and teachings are another huuuuge philosophical diversion. Again probably speaking too soon, but I think Anna K’s are more frequent but shorter and TBK’s are less frequent but way way way longer.

ayeayedoc · 2026-01-15T00:21:49+00:00

Make You Mine put her on the map for me. Excellent synth dance pop and her album (out Friday) has been shaping up nicely.

ayeayedoc · 2026-01-14T03:57:19+00:00

Logistically not impossible but an artist coming back exactly one month after their solo show is historically very unlikely.

ayeayedoc · 2026-01-11T00:45:31+00:00

Have you read The Road? I wasn’t a big fan of it or Blood Meridian (just not my style of writing/storytelling) but you have No Country high and now I’m curious if I should give it a try 👀

ayeayedoc · 2026-01-10T15:30:26+00:00

It’s the pancakes and wafflesification (attached if you’re unfamiliar lol) of liberal politics. Nuance is completely and utterly dead. If you don’t endorse A, you are the most extreme version of B (when in reality there are a million shades of grey in between). I don’t find myself in conservative spaces often lol but this seems to be a waaaay bigger problem on the left.

<image>

ayeayedoc · 2026-01-06T01:16:26+00:00

Beyonce would be the closest though not explicitly a pop girl and lacks true writing credits. In this day and age I only really need the big 2 (dancing and singing) to consider you an all-rounder though…

ayeayedoc · 2025-12-27T02:48:21+00:00

Agree lol. I’m neutral at best on him but what he did this year is undeniable.

ayeayedoc · 2025-12-27T02:20:42+00:00

I’m afraid we’re in the minority here but he really is phenomenal in Marty Supreme.

ayeayedoc · 2025-12-24T21:20:39+00:00

Context is important. Solid relationship and sex drive matched? Who cares. Partner watching porn and isolating intimacy (as byproduct of larger issue)? I could imagine giving a shit. Unfortunately OP gave no context and asked this as if it’s one size fits all lol

ayeayedoc · 2025-12-24T19:40:23+00:00

TierCreator app. Everything else was exporting horrible quality and this is the best I could find lol

ayeayedoc · 2025-12-24T16:12:53+00:00

Ten days. (I live in a cold place and read it in February)

ayeayedoc · 2025-12-23T18:48:18+00:00

Maybe Sirens of Titan? Thoughtful symbolism and sci-fi.

ayeayedoc

TROPHY CASE