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I know I've been remiss with my reading. East has left me in thrall, and starting to read again was difficult. I'm also investing in my other hobbies and seeing so many friends. I'm content, too. This morning, though, I did spend some time with this curious little book by Ms Kikuko. It's cozy, random, niche and everything that I like about Japanese novels. I guess u could say with a book like this I'm Lonely No More!

Spoilers:
We return to the German knife, Cal's frustration. Steinbeck trusts the reader understands how Cal will kill his brother. He never explains it, he doesn't have to. Cathy has her own world where she wants to be little and disappear. Goodbye. I never thought a book could do everything, but now I experience an action sequence where a cop guns down a running fugitive who just grave robbed a tyrannic villain.

Spoilers:
Deliberately stalling to finish EoE. I know it's coming, I'll miss it dearly. I concluded that with Adam going back to the Army Draft Board, knowing that Aaron (Bible) doesn't make it to the Promised Land, that both Aron and Cal want the ranch, this is what's going to happen. Timshel. Only one of them may overcome sin. Aron will be drafted and die in the war. Cal makes it to the Promised Ranch, marries Abra

I'm fortunate to read this book. I spent a summer weekend reading EoE. I'm alive and well, and healthy and safe. It's not often that I stop and really see how fortunate I am. This book encourages me to think this way. It encourages me not to be self-centered, not to take people for granted. It's books like these that are special, that leave you with something, a gift for you to use. I'm anticipating my grief here.

Spoilers:
The 3rd part ended on such a sad chapter. We lost two Hamiltons in a few pages. Their European dream was so sweet, too real. It's so sad to think of losing your sibling. And so graphic too, the descriptions. This chapter hurt me. As if John Steinbeck cut me or punched me in the stomach. I feel for Tom and for Dessie. White doves forebode. Will is a business man, he has no heart. And she wanted a purple egg.

Major Spoiler ahead:

Cal, Aron, and Abra.
Not only our unconscious does this, but apparently time/history, too. Freud would say wiederholungszwang. I just hope this generation can work-through.
Charles' last laugh, as he gives half his fortune, which came to the exact same amount old Cyrus left the boys, to Cathy got me speechless.
Make me laugh more than the chapter on the complications of owning a Ford, please

Three men, but it's really only two, get to figurin' about the translation of a specific sentence on mankind conquering of sin; and whether that's a shall or a may. Sam hands Adam, not a loaded gun, but a choice. The twins are named, Cal and Aron, will we witness repetition of tragedy? The hares! John Steinbeck is speaking, we know, but he's also mentioned by name, therefore I'm happy. I will mourn Samuel H deeply.

I have to tell you about the poetry in these bloody, venomous pages. They were found, in these chapters, in Samuel's plea for Adam to continue on living. Go through the motions, he said, act out being alive, like a play. And after a while, a long while, it will be true.
On account of the characters I have left I won't write all words, but on yet another poisonous chapter, the opening lines on Method left me in awe.

Spoilers ⚠️

Snake bites the hand of a good man. What a mythical character Cathy is. The light hurts her eyes, she said? Adam is rapt. I wonder what Charles is up to and if the twins are his. Lee is fascinating, but the symbolism around him makes me wonder if he's on the good side. You know, the braid being a snake and all. Thank God for Liza Hamilton? Joe is a vibe. And what do you know, William James is referenced.

Spoilers ahead
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Alright, Lee is a character. I just know his arc is going to be fire. Sam Ham is a loveable man. And I laughed out loud at Olive in the air. What a story!
Still loving to hate Cathy, the fiery devil. And Adam Trask is a rich man who does not build with his hands, but with money.
Steinbeck dissing cats is so funny, cause you know he a dog person from Travels with Charlie. The man clearly picked sides

Okay. I'm into it now. Terrific villain Cathy has me on edge. Something out of No Country for Old Men. But of course it's better, because it's something out of a Steinbeck book.

Hug me brotha!

The letter gave me chills, I feel like someday I'll have a nightmare where the house I am has eyes and there's a wooden chair rocking. Also, the guilt in that letter. And the want to travel the world instead of staying in that farm, looking for a wife.
Cyrus, it turns out, is not a (total) lunatic. And, I'm very sad Alice is gone. I guess it's like the Green brother says, everything is tuberculosis.

Oh wow, this feels like a completely different book at this point. Still good, but subplots galore.

I'm sorry to my followers if these progress updates are annoying. I find myself compelled to do them though. I finished book two. On to the next and final one. Sunja-ya, I hope all will be well.