elena’s Reviews > East of Eden > Status Update

"But the Hebrew word, the word timshel— 'Thou mayest'— that gives a choice. It might be the most important word in the world. That says the way is open. That throws it right back on a man. For if 'Thou mayest'—it is also true that Thou mayest not.'"

I cannot put into words how much I am adoring this book.

"Maybe we all have in us a secret pond where evil and ugly things germinate and grow strong. (...) Might it not be that in the dark pools of some men the evil grows strong enough to wriggle over the fence and swim free? Would not such a man be our monster, and are we not related to him in our hidden water? It would be absurd if we did not understand both angels and devils, since we invented them."

i really need to start making more progress with this one cause i'm absolutely adoring it!!