East of Eden and CandideIn the midst of 80s nostalgia and remembering the greatness of this decade, I don't want readers to think that "the children of '80s," are unaware of the great classic literature and current events today. I recently read two incredibly amazing books. Also, I noticed some interesting parallels. The first is East of Eden by John Steinbeck. This novel is an incredibly grand recreation of the Book of Genesis. Salinas County is described as a place of incredible purity and innocence, where people have simple values ​​and work hard to uphold them. In contrast, there is Monterrey, a seedy, dirty but attractive city, full of brothels, bars, factories and ports. A kind of twisted fate once linked Mr. Trask to Kate, the union of good and evil. As a result, she gives birth to twins, Aaron and Caleb. Both Mr. Trask and Aaron embody all that is good, while Kate and Cal embody all that is evil. Cal often goes to Monterrey and, after discovering that his mother is still alive and in charge of the most prestigious brothel in the city, he searches for her. After being repeatedly underestimated and rejected by his father, Cal decides that the ultimate revenge will be to bring his brother Aaron to meet his mother. Was he right? After hearing the news, Mr. Trask has a stroke and Cal feels incredibly guilty. The last chapters of this book make up the most intense writing or probably even the most intense experiences I have ever had. Lee, the family's faithful servant, repeatedly notes a passage in the Bible that makes it clear that every individual, regardless of past experiences or traumas, has a choice in life. The fact that humans have the ability to always make this crucial choice and use superior logic is what sets us apart from other species. Even though Mr. Trask is practically a vegetable and on the brink of death, Lee begs him to show some sign of having forgiven his son Cal, otherwise the cycle will not be broken. Cal will continue to be a resentful thief who feels unloved and has no direction. This simple idea extends across an infinite number of pages. I have never read so fast and understood so much in my entire life, not that my life is that long yet.