I read this book back in high school and I’ve got to say that John Steinbeck is a damn good author. With such an interesting story line, it is hard to forget this book!
The story parallels the biblical one of Cain and Abel and describes both the love and animosity between two brothers who grew up to be two very different men. It traces their journey from birth to adulthood and the events that changed their lives forever.
I don’t want to reveal too much of the story but I will say that I found the parallelism very interesting. Being familiar with the bible and the many stories and accounts it has, I was quickly able to see the similarities between the characters in this book and Cain and Abel from the bible. This may put readers who are not familiar with the Bible at a disadvantage but one can still appreciate the skillful mastery of language that the author uses to set the stage. Although there are times when the story is too drawn out, it is still able to capture the reader’s attention. However, this is not a light read and I wouldn’t recommend it to someone looking for a fun and quick book. If you are in the mood for some deep thinking, give this book a try and really try to delve into the message behind the story. I promise that if you do, you will not be disappointed!
