I suppose there’s a good reason that the ‘great books’ are called great. East of Eden was incredible.

And I feel that a man is a very important thing–maybe more important than a star. This is not theology. I have no bent towards gods. But I have a new love for that glittering instrument, the human soul. It is a lovely and unique thing in the universe. It is always attacked and never destroyed–because ‘Thou mayest.’

-John Steinbeck