Describe Books To Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters
| Original Title: | Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters |
| ISBN: | 0141186348 (ISBN13: 9780141186344) |
| Edition Language: | English |
John Steinbeck
Paperback | Pages: 186 pages Rating: 4.1 | 1175 Users | 150 Reviews
Narrative Toward Books Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters
John Steinbeck often used letters to friends to get his writing juices flowing, and during the writing of East of Eden, wrote every day to Pascal Covici, his editor and friend. Most entries are written prior and post to the work of the day, ranging from tidbits from his life, commentary on how the novel is going and what he is trying to do, and a revealing obsession with newly sharpened pencils.This is for people interested in the writing process or people who have enjoyed East of Eden; I'm not sure I'd pick it up otherwise!
ETA: I saved these two little quotes
“A great and beautiful storm today - such lightning and rain - and this always stimulates me like a drug. I must have great violence in me because I react to violence in nature with great joy.” (7/17/51)
“My sweet Elaine sat many hours with me last night while I put out a thundering silence.” (8/1/51)
Present Containing Books Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters
| Title | : | Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters |
| Author | : | John Steinbeck |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Deluxe Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 186 pages |
| Published | : | July 5th 2001 by Penguin Classics (first published 1969) |
| Categories | : | Nonfiction. Language. Writing. Biography. Classics. Autobiography. Memoir |
Rating Containing Books Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters
Ratings: 4.1 From 1175 Users | 150 ReviewsEvaluation Containing Books Journal of a Novel: The East of Eden Letters
Frankie gave me a first edition copy of this amazing book for my 30th bday. I never even knew it existed, but from the inside flap I have learned that Steinbeck, while writing East of Eden, kept a side by side journal - which often would warm-up his writing in the morning before starting in on the manuscript. They are the "East of Eden Letters" written to his publisher and long-time friend Pascal Covici. The first entry is terribly fascinating and has been so helpful and inspiring to me as aOn every working day between 29 January and 1 November 1951, John Steinbeck wrote a letter to his close friend and editor at Viking Press, Pat Covici, before he began his work for the day on the manuscript of East of Eden. The letters were written on the left-hand pages of the large notebook in which Steinbeck wrote - by hand, in pencil - the novel which meant most to him. Steinbeck told Covici that writing the letters was his way of "getting [his] mental arm in shape to pitch a good game".
Im an unabashed fan of both Steinbeck and his most ambitious work, East of Eden, so perhaps it comes as no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of his working papers and journals during E. of Es composition. The man writes with such humble authority. Its really quite astounding, and in the margins, one receives a wonderful sample of Steinbecks notes on how to write.
"...I want to write this one as though it were my last book." (quoted from page 8, February 12.) From January 29-November 1, 1951 John Steinbeck documented the writing of East of Eden in notebooks, entries addressed to "Pat" (Pascal Covici, his friend and editor at Viking Press.) I took my time reading these letters every night just before going to sleep. East of Eden is one of my all time favorite books and it was such a treat to read these passages documenting the time he spent writing it.
As a fan of East of Eden and the work of John Steinbeck in general, I loved this book. There is so much insight into what I consider the most brilliant work of fiction ever crafted. With all the cuts that were made to the final product of East of Eden, it's sometimes difficult to tell whether Steinbeck was really dabbling in Postmodernism or not. Journal of Novel makes it clear that he was. And for that, I love this man.For the writer, there are some wonderful bits of advice in Journal, but it's
Steinbeck wrote the journal on the left-hand pages of a notebook and the novel (East of Eden) on the right-hand pages. The journal, written as a letter to his editor, was his warm-up for the day. He was a huge procrastinator. For example, he wrote in pencil (crazy!) and he was completely anal-retentive about his pencils. They had to be a certain kind, he spent time sharpening them at the beginning of the day so he wouldn't have to stop while writing, gave them to his kids when they got too
This is John Steinbecks journal while he wrote East of Eden. This taught me to try a Warm-up exercise before writing, the way Steinbeck did through his letters to a friend of his who passed away. Getting the hands to writing and the brain switched on probably made for better writing on his behalf. This also taught me that I should be disciplined in my writing, to write every day, even if nothing useful or good comes out of it, because even if Im writing, Im doing something good for myself and my
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