I can not believe that I have never read this book, until now. I have seen parts of the movie , but only enough to know that James Dean plays Cal (I think). Although it took me forever to read (I was moving while reading it and got caught up in the move instead of the book)I enjoyed this book whole heartedly. Steinbeck's use of descriptions and insightful "asides" is what lead me to enjoy it as much as I did.

The characterisation in this book is awesome, I actually felt for many of the characters. Cal's turmoil over being evil, Abra's realization that Aron didn't love the real Abra but his picture of her. These are things that struck home with me for one reason or another. Steinbeck's revealing his theory of what makes evil, evil and monsters, was quite accurate in my opinion. There are so many quoteable passages in this book also , and things that make you stop and actually think about what was being written. Amazing read I will be picking up more Steinbeck, and sooner rather than later.