timshel

The very first thing I'm going to do after I'm done with this semester?

Reread my favorite book - East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

It's a hefty one. Weighs a lot. Very intimidating.

It usually wouldn't be the type of book I go for.

When I read because I want to and not because I'm told to, I like reading simple and pretty words.

But someone recommended this book to me, and I went out on a limb and gave it a shot.

Never have I ever read a more beautiful story.

When people ask me what my favorite book is, and I tell them, they then want to know what it is about.

I kind of have a hard time explaining it, though. There are so many elements and components to this book that it's hard to find the right words to sum it all up.

I guess my favorite thing about it, and what you could say it is mostly focused on, is the aspect that every single one of us has to face the battle between good and evil, and we have the power to choose which side we want to be associated with.

"Lee’s hand shook as he filled the delicate cups. He drank his down in one gulp. “Don’t you see?” he cried. “The American Standard translation orders men to triumph over sin, and you can call sin ignorance. The King James translation makes a promise in ‘Thou shalt,’ meaning that men will surely triumph over sin. But the Hebrew word, the word timshel—‘Thou mayest’— that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open. That throws it right back on a man. For if ‘Thou mayest’—it is also true that ‘Thou mayest not.’ Don’t you see?”"

Ahh. Such beautiful words. I can't even begin to describe the good that this book does to my soul.

I used to know this book inside and out. I was in my Junior year of high school and almost done with East of Eden when we were assigned a critical reading project. I don't remember specifics but it was something like, write a ten page paper and have 8 sources and this amount of quotes and footnotes and more of that ridiculous nonsense. When our teacher handed out the list of books we could choose from, I felt like the luckiest girl in world. East of Eden was on that list and I quickly called dibs on it. I ended up getting an A on that assignment, and I often referenced East of Eden in many papers that followed - including my AP Literature Exam which I received college credit for.

It's been almost two years since the last time I read it front to back.

I miss it.

I need it.

Is it summer yet?

There's also a movie out. Or maybe there are a couple of versions? I'm not quite sure. But the one I want to get around to watching is the James Dean one.

I know, I know.

Be still my heart he's so pretty.