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READ IT (AGAIN): Pairing Steinbeck’s East Of Eden With A Stiff Sipper At “The Acorn”

east-of-eden

by George Giannakos and Robyn Yager | Slowing down a little and breaking out a good book is never a bad idea. But what to read? You could walk into any bookstore and roll the dice on a recent release, but here’s another option: pick up a book that you last put down 5, 10, or 20 years ago. For the next book in Scout’s Read It (Again) series, we’ve picked Pulitzer Prize-winning author John Steinbeck’s 1952 novel, East of Eden.

Why You Should Read It Again: It is Steinbeck’s ode to the Salinas Valley, also known as the “salad bowl of the world”. He wrote the book to describe the agriculturally rich region (think broccoli, celery, spinach, cauliflower, tomatoes, strawberries) to his two young sons while adding his own life experiences to the tale. Considered Steinbeck’s greatest work, East of Eden was inspired by the fourth chapter of Genesis; aka the story of Cain and Abel. In the thick of this sticky summer heat, I can’t think of a better time to read about lush California valleys and the complicated relationship between the Trask and Hamilton family.

Pair it With: Something fresh with a kick, like the Mirror Lake cocktail at The Acorn on Main. Made of ginger, bourbon, mint, lime, ginger beer and bitters, the drink is refreshing and satisfying, just like a Steinbeck story.