Chapters 41 - 55

601 pages - I'm finished!

I have to say that I really enjoyed "East of Eden".  I know I was iffy at first, because I don't usually read books that have alot of death, misery and sorrow, and not as much joy in them.  This has been a great adventure and I can't wait for next month!

After I got done reading Chapter 25, when Lee and Adam and Samuel were discussing the sixteen versus in the Bible of the story of Cain and Able,

this is what hit me:

"The American Standard translation orders men to triumph over sin, and you can call sin ignorance. The King James translation makes a promise in ‘Thou shalt,’ meaning that men will surely triumph over sin. 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.’ Don’t you see?”"(pg.301)

What a powerful statement!  I've known that I have the choice to conquer sin or have it conquer me, but it was a great reminder.  It helped me to see it in a different light. (And to read in it a non-church book!)

Love it!