One of the surprise hits of the summer is John Steinbeck's East of Eden. Popular when first published, this fifty-year-old novel's sudden resurgence is due to talk show host Oprah Winfrey making it the selection that revived her celebrated book club. As stated by Oprah, "East of Eden might be the best novel I have ever read. It's the perfect book for the summer. I guarantee it... You will not be able to turn the pages fast enough."

Published in 1952, East of Eden is an American classic. Many readers will also be familiar with the movie adaptation that starred film legend James Dean. The story is set in 1917 against the backdrop of California's Salinas Valley, and tells the story of Adam Trask and his two sons, Caleb and Aron and the Cain and Able struggle between them as they vie for their father's love. The characters, as is always true in a Steinbeck novel, are complex and realistic. The story has themes of sibling rivalry, guilt, betrayal and loss, while the characters pursue the American dream of getting ahead and raising a family, making it as relevant today as any of Steinbeck's novels.

Join everyone else who is rediscovering or reading this book for the first time this summer, and read East of Eden.

East of Eden can be found on the second floor of the Library at Call# PS 3537.T3234 E3 1981. The Library also has the following books by Steinbeck: The Grapes of Wrath (Call# PS3537.T3234 G8 1939) and Of Mice and Men(Call# PS3537.T3234 O3 1938).

The Library also has two excellent biographies on John Steinbeck: John Steinbeck: a Biography by Jay Parini (Call# PS3537.T3234 Z7854 1995) and The True Adventures of John Steinbeck, Writer (PS3537.T3234 Z616 1984) by Jackson Benson. In addition, the Library has several collections of critical essays that explore his work. Some of the more recent ones include Beyond Boundaries: Rereading John Steinbeck (Call# PS3537.T3234 Z619 2002) edited by Susan Shillinglaw and Kevin Hearle, John Steinbeck's Nonfiction Revisited (Call# PS3537.T3234 Z652 1996) by Warren French and Robert Demott's Steinbeck's Typewriter: Essays on His Art (Call# PS3537.T3234 Z627 1996). Also of interest is Steinbeck's own Journal of a Novel. The East of Eden Letters. (Call# PS3537.T3234 E385 1969).

There are a great many web sites devoted to the writings of John Steinbeck. One of the best is the Center for Steinbeck Studies. Put out by San Jose University and authorized by the Steinbeck estate, it offers a comprehensive guide for readers, teachers and scholars of John Steinbeck's writings. The url for the center is http://www.sjsu.edu/steinbeck/.

This Monthly Book Spotlight was written by Jonathan Coe.