The Good Earth

The Good Earth (Oprah's Book Club) by Pearl S. Buck (2004)

Pearl Buck was an incredible writer. This was the first "adult" book my mom gave me. I was transported to the world of the Chinese peasant trying to survive a drought while living off of the land. Buck's prose spares no pain, deprivation nor joy of every experience this family endured. As an early adolescent in a first World country, The Good Earth opened my eyes and heart to how lucky we are. ( )

An incredible piece of work really and easy to see why it won a Pulitzer. I don't give five stars out every time, but this book deserves it. ( )

I think what I liked about this book was that it followed the ups and downs of Wang Lung, through the good and the bad. It also showed the good and bad parts of his character and faithfully records all of his decisions. I like how the style was ritualistic, and many details popped up over and over to highlight different events. And in the end it brings you back to the beginning, with a greater understanding of generational differences and the culture of pre-revolution rural China. ( )

Buck was the first woman to be awarded the Pulitzer prize for literature in 1938. Later, I will search if there are any biographies about her, as she seems to have been a very interesting person, vested in addressing civil and women’s rights.

I’m usually a bit suspect when I read book about a country written by non-native individuals because so much can be misconstrued or misunderstood. It helps that Ms. Buck spent a good portion of her childhood in China. Although I did cringe a little in some sections wondering what individuals of Chinese heritage think of her work, I soon immersed myself in the story of Wang Lung and O-Lan.

The writing style is simple (sometimes too simple and Bible-like), but it’s simplicity was a good counterbalance to the heaviness of some of the themes: devotion to family, responsibility, cultural changes, and the role of land as the anchor to steady a family and allow them to prosper. Wang Lung was convinced that “Land is one’s flesh and blood” and his connection to it was steadfast to the end, which makes the ending so heartbreaking to me.

I wanted to know so much more about O-Lan. I loved her. I was angry at Wang Lung at times. I mourned her.

Now I want to read the other two books in the trilogy: Sons and A House Divided.