W hen did Christopher Abbott first read John Steinbeck? Well, the actor knows what he’s supposed to say.

Abbott remembers being assigned East of Eden during high school, where many readers first discover the great American writer’s work. He just… never did the assignment. “I wasn’t a good student by any stretch of the imagination,” Abbott tells Rolling Stone.

SACHA LECCA

It took a cross-country trip with musician friends — driving their tour van and slinging a few T-shirts — for Abbott to pick up a Steinbeck book of his volition. He started with Travels With Charley, a nod to life on the road, but eventually found his way to East of Eden , which he now considers one of his favorite novels. Now, the actor has returned to Steinbeck’s epic tale of generational trauma, betrayal, and forgiveness. Abbott stars as Adam Trask in Netflix ’s eight-episode adaptation, created by Zoe Kazan and released earlier this month.…