Customer Reviews (9)

Tedious second book in trilogy
Book jacket says that this work, a follow on the moving and thoughtful The Good Earth, is written as a chinese novel, with its structure and approach.I found it very tedious, with constant repetition of events of daily lives, (how many feasts can one describe in a single book?).I think this is perhapsmore of a scholars book now, i.e. one used to illustrate the chinese novel than one which holds interest, or illuminates human nature. Characters are quite formulaic and stylized.

A Slower Read Than The Good Earth
Having thoroughly enjoyed The Good Earth, I was really looking forward to this sequel.This sequel traces the lives of Wang Lung's three sons.With all due respect to Ms. Buck, however, I found this book to be a disappointment.The characters here are not as vividly portrayed or interesting as the ones in The Good Earth -- the characters here appear more one-dimensional and less likeable, and it was hard to sympathize with their plight.The writing style seems to differ from that in The Good Earth as well.While the style in The Good Earth was vivid, colorful, poignant and moving, the writing style in this book appeared verbose and awkward.Some of the sections of the book were plain boring and difficult to read through.Overall, love the setting, general story and Pearl S. Buck, but be warned that this book is not exactly like The Good Earth in terms of style and character development.

Good Sequel, but I like The Good Earth best
After devouring "The Good Earth," I was dying to read more and see where Pearl Buck would go next with this dynamic family.I found that "Sons" was a good read, but a little slower and not as exciting and thrilling.But true to the original, right as I starting losing just a little bit of interest she would introduce a new twist or turn which made me always come back for more.She is an amazing writer and her insights into the culture are always fascinating.If you really liked The Good Earth, Sons will probably be a fun, quick read, but I don't feel that it is as vital of a work as The Good Earth.

Is Wang Lung Spinning in His Grave?
SONS is the sequel to the famous (and thanks to Oprah - newly popular) THE GOOD EARTH. The story begins just where the previous book left off, with Wang Lung a dying old man, hoping his sons will handle his legacy wisely. Of course, they do not.

The oldest son, Wang The Landlord, turns into fat, greedy man who sells off much of the land to pursue hedonistic pleasures. Wang the Merchant, the second son, sticks more to the letter of his father's wishes, but is an opportunistic skinflint who loves silver above all else. These two think always of their position in society and how to advance it, and care more about how they appear in others' eyes than the actual substance of their lives. Their children are spoiled and worthless, just as Wang Lung saw the old lord Hwang's sons become in THE GOOD EARTH. The reader gets the feeling Wang Lung would be disgusted.

The majority of the novel follows the wild, rebellious third son, who becomes known as Wang the Tiger. He ran away from home as a teenager to be a soldier, and this book finds him a young man planning to escape his master and establish his own dynasty in the north. With his trusted companions, Wang the Tiger fights his way to becoming the controlling warlord of a region in the north, and he finally falls in love with a fierce robber girl. (These scenes painted vivid pictures in my mind reminiscent of the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.) Much to his bewilderment, the years go by and his life does not work out as he plans. He ends up with a son he does not understand, just as his father did not understand him.

Pearl S. Buck's plodding, biblical phrasing is not so easy for the modern reader, and I confess that while it was a good story, every page seemed like two or three, and I found myself groaning aloud "Isn't it over YET?"

Exciting story!
This second volume to the "House of Earth Trilogy" takes off right where "The Good Earth" ends. I was fortunate enough to find a copy with all three books in one so for me there was no space between the two. Written in the same style of the first novel, this story begins with the lives of three sons of Wang Lung: Wang the eldest (Landlord), Wang the second (Merchant) and particularly, Wang the third (The Tiger). By far the most important and interesting character in this book is Wang the Tiger, who became a powerful war lord. Much was written about his life and how he longed to live the life of a soldier, having nothing but disdain for the farmer's life his father wanted for him. It's an interesting irony, how none of the sons respected what Wang Lung, their father, had left for them. The eldest only interested in the façade of the rich life, the second only interested in money, and of course, the Tiger, whose main purpose was to be a strong and powerful leader.

It's an exciting and sad novel. Reading the evolution of the Tiger's rise to power made the Merchant's and Landlord's lives pale in comparison. Wang the Tiger was a most fascinating character, always obsessed with control not only of others, but of his own inner feelings. It was as if he was driven to be more than human...strong and willful, void of any weakness, void of any softness of heart, setting impossible standards for himself.

Once his son was born, he transferred all of his focus from warring, to raising his son as a warrior like himself. His love for his son, like his love for power, was unwavering, unbending, and suffocating. For example, this was evident in the times when the Tiger noticed that his little boy was so grave and quiet for one so young. Also, though his son did whatever he was told to do, he lacked any spirit or enjoyment in his tasks. Unfortunately, every time the Tiger saw this, he had a moment of clarity, but was quick to ignore or bury it, and thus never really attained the wisdom to forsee what would become of his only precious son.

This was a wonderful and exciting novel to read, very different and lively feeling to that of "The Good Earth." Yet it's absolutely necessary to read it as part of the trilogy. Once you finish, you'll be anxious to know what becomes of the Tiger's son, and how the coming revolution will change their relationship. ... Read more

Book Description

A House Divided, the third volume of thetrilogy that began with The Good Earth andSons, is a powerful portrayal of China in the midst ofrevolution. Wang Yuan is caught between the opposing ideas of differentgenerations. After 6 years abroad, Yuan returns to China in the middle of apeasant uprising. His counsin is a captain in the revolutionary army, hissister has scandalized the family by her premarital pregnancy, and hiswarlord father continues to cling to his traditional ideals. It is throughYuan's efforts that a kind of peace is restored to the family.

Customer Reviews (9)

Least favorite of the trilogoy
The final book in the House of Earth trilogy was my least favorite and most disconnected of the three.She jumps into the third generation and third book with not a whole lot of background or character development (except for Yuan), so I cared the least about the characters, their situations and trials.The story was interesting, but I found that I could not relate as well to the characters or understand their plight.But I think she did a marvelous job at showing the differences between the generations and how exposure to new ideas, cultures and technology can quickly change the traditions of a culture; sometimes the change is good and beneficial, sometimes it's detrimental.I also like how she juxtiposed Yuan, who tries to hold on to his tradition and country and resists change, to other family members who embraced the change with all their hearts.I think that The Good Earth is a brillant read, but if you missed the next two in the trilogy it wouldn't be a tragedy.

Caught Between Two Worlds
A HOUSE DIVIDED is the final book of Pearl S. Buck's trilogy about the family of Wang Lung, the protagonist of THE GOOD EARTH. This book finds his grandson, Wang Yuan, son of the warlord Wang the Tiger, graduating from the war college at the beginning of the first Chinese Cultural Revolution. Yuan, a serious, thoughtful, but willful boy does not want to follow in his father's footsteps, but instead feels an affinity with the earth and growing things as his grandfather Wang Lung did.

Yuan defies his father and runs away to live in his grandfather's old mud farmhouse. This begins a chain of events which take Yuan across the world. He ends up in the coastal city where his half-sister and her mother live, as well as his uncle, Wang the Landlord, along with his spoiled family. Yuan gets exposed to, but never really embraces, the westernized party lifestyle of his half-sister and the revolutionary activities of his cousins Sheng and Meng.

After Yuan is arrested as a revolutionary, his family ransoms him and sends him to study in America, where he spends six years attaining an advanced degree in horticulture. Being a foreigner in a strange land causes Yuan to examine all his feelings, beliefs and prejudices. He is doubly introspective when he returns to China and sees his country anew through foreign eyes. Yuan is caught in a trap by his education, neither belonging wholly to either the old China or the new, his heart as divided as his family - half live in the modern coastal city and half live back in the country.

I thought this was the best of the trilogy because Yuan's introspection makes him the most well-developed and conflicted character in this multi-generational tale. However, Buck's plodding, biblical style is not for everyone and I will admit that every page seemed like as two or three (or more!) It took me several weeks to complete this novel.

a house divided
It looks like it has some really old stuff in it that's why i think that i will like it.

An insightful adventure...
I would say that this book could certainly stand alone simply because there was so much happening in this turbulent setting of the revolution. In many ways "A House Divided" was my favorite of the "House of Earth" trilogy, (still, The Good Earth was beautiful!) because it was an adventure that spanned the globe. Yet there was no lack in telling how the main character evolved emotionally and intellectually from the first page to the last.

Many times throughout the book, Pearl Buck successfully showed how Yuan's world was filled with black and white; no grey. For example, a person was expected to be 100% revolutionary, or a 100% traditionalist. Or one had to be 100% Chinese, or 100% foreign. Yuan was a very conflicted man from the start and struggled with these issues pretty much until the end. To me that was the most intriguing part.

I was fascinated with Yuan's six-year stay in America. He experienced racism first-hand, the confusion of living in another country, trying to assimilate, seeing and appreciating the beauty of the country and the friendliness and openness of some of its people, the freedom to pursue one's happiness and potential, but clearly his own traditions and culture prevented him from fully accepting the foreigners into his heart.

I think the author gave some real insight into the minds of people living during the revolution. Many people, like Yuan's cousin, Meng, were fevently passionate about it. It was clear that it took a certain kind of person, with a linear, unwavering focus in order to hasten a violent change. In this case, that meant one had to be filled with anger and hatred.

Also through Yuan, we were exposed to the hypocrisy of the revolution as well. While the ideology spoke for the common people, the revolutionists were frustrated and repulsed by the common people's ways of life, such as they were for centuries. Eventually, many gave up on the older generation, and focused on the youth of the poor, because they were more easily influenced. Of course, it touched on the fact that no one was permitted to question this new state. Those who followed the cause were expected to accept it blindly.

In keeping with his torn mental state, Yuan's hesitation to decide where he stood in terms of the cause was understandable. His experience gave him first-hand knowledge of how frustrating it was to live under the old filial rules, yet he'd also witnessed the softer moments with his father, and others who represented the old world. He at least was mature enough to realize that people were deeply complicated, which made it impossible for him to truly believe that "rich people are evil, poor people are good." At the same time, as much as he loved the land, and found peace of mind working among the common people, he was at times, disgusted by their surroundings, their "odor" permeating his space no matter where he went.

Pearl Buck eloquently described the same black and white issues of the heart in Yuan. Time and time again, he wished to be emotionally open, yet didn't dare. Yuan was repulsed by the display of free behavior of the new generation of China and the young Americans. Again, his reaction to the American women who danced with his cousin Sheng was an interesting glimpse into his perception of himself. Although Yuan hated the white women who ignored or rejected Sheng because he was Chinese, he had no respect for the white women who did dance with Sheng. And he felt ashamed for Sheng for "lowering his standards" to such women.

Yes, perhaps the end was unrealistic, but as a hopeless romantic American, I can appreciate it. However, one can see the huge circle this book fills out with the trilogy. Yuan is ultimately the one who understands and respects his grandfather's efforts with the land, back in the first novel. Yuan is the one who finally repairs the ties to his father and ends the cycle of broken relationships. The trilogy ends as his father, the Tiger, spends his final days in the earthen house where he was born.

When I read certain books, I sometimes imagine what they would be like on film, and I think it would be fantastic to see it done with the entire "House of Earth" trilogy. But then again, is it even possible to make a film that would do this epic justice?

Relevant Today
This third book in The Good Earth series was somewhat a slower read the the previous two.However, the story was wonderful, and despite the ending, which some might find unrealistic, I enjoyed it.I was so pleased that Yuan found happiness, acceptance and love.

I found the themes of the book relevant today in that our culture, ideas, lifestyles, and the influence and relationships with our children, effect their lives and influence future choices.

Yaun was deeply loved by the Tiger, however, was not free to grow into an individual.This somewhat stunted Yuan emotionally, and he found himself in constant conflict over the ideas of his father and the new China.His time in America began to mature Yuan.It allowed him to return home to begin his journey into manhood and make choices about his future.However, although he now had choices, he was still duty bound to his family by a debt incurred by the Tiger.

The book was wonderful and I am sorry to see the Good Earth series end. ... Read more

Book Description

After her husband takes a concubine, Madame Liang sets outon her own, starting an upscale restaurant and sending her daughters toAmerica to be educated. At the restaurant, the leaders of the People'sRepublic wine and dine and Madame Liang must keep a low profile for herdaughters' sake.

Customer Reviews (9)

Mother's World-Daughers World
I really enjoyed this book as Ms. Buck was able to take the reader inside a family caught in a changing world during the Chinese revolution and show how the characters each acted and reacted according to the information they had and what they believed or wanted to believe about that information. Madam Liang, who is coming to terms with disillusionment about the revolution and her past part in it, and her daughters, who had been sent to America for education and protection and their return to China with patriotic and idealistic expectations, are classic generational viewpoint studies. The shocking ending to the story was unexpected and expected all at once. The basic story is still relevant today.

A family divided by the Cultural Revolution
"The Three Daughters of Madame Liang" was Pearl S. Buck's last major novel and it holds its own with the best of her work.In Madame Liang, Buck has created a fascinating character, a woman who is very much her own person.After doing the very un-Chinese thing of leaving her husband when he takes a concubine, which he claims is his right because his wife has produced no son, Madame Liang determines to make her own way in the world and opens a gourmet restaurant that caters to the high and mighty of the People's Republic (even good Communists appreciate good food).She has not only survived, but thrived, by keeping a low profile and providing her customers with the best.But she has sent her three daughters, Grace, Mercy and Joy, to America to be educated; and now, after many years separation, Grace has been called home by her government to serve the new society.

Madame Liang has her own opinions about the new society which she has prudently kept to herself.But Grace, back home in China, throws herself into her work as a doctor and embraces everything blindly, including a young physician named Liu Pang, who parrots everything he has read in Mao's Little Red Book.Mercy, the second sister, is a musician, whose talents are not in demand in the People's Republic; but she misses her home and induces her new husband, a rocket scientist, to return to their country.For Grace, the return home is the fulfillment of herself; for Mercy and her husband, it is a disaster.Meanwhile, the third sister, Joy, a painter, having found romance and happiness with a fellow artist who has left China for good and never intends to return, remains in America to make her life with him.

Madame Liang watches the growing tension and hostility dividing the two older sisters with alarm and resignation.She can't live her daughters' lives for them; all she can do is keep on living her own life.But her own life can't survive the insanity of the Cultural Revolution; the very success of her restaurant means she's an enemy of the working classes.The Cultural Revolution sweeps everything away in its path; including Madame Liang.

Buck writes with a flow that keeps her book moving effortlessly along like an unbroken skein of thread (one gets thoroughly caught up in the narrative before realizing that there are no chapters; the book moves from one scene to the next till the final page), covering some six or seven years from the end of the 50's to 1966.Through it all, Madame Liang's continually expressed faith in her country and people suggest that, whatever her own fate, China and its people will survive in spite of themselves.Although the book is ostensibly about her three daughters, it's really the story of a remarkable woman, and through her, the story of China in transition.

Nice intro to the Chinese perspective of the New Government
I thought this novel was a wonderful introduction to the mindset of the Chinese people, both those living in China, and those living in America, towards the new government. It was an enlightening story because as an American, we view it simply as a government as one that took away everyone's freedoms, which it did. Yet, of course, it's not that simple. The story is about that deeply-rooted devotion to one's mother country, no matter what changes it goes through. It also reveals what led to the change of government, and what problems arised and what new changes occurred afterward. Through Madame Liang, representing the older revolutionary generation, the story showed how the revolution failed, and she saw how certain mistakes in history were made. Through her daughters, it showed the hope in which the younger generation had for the new China, and their attempts to restore a strong nation within the new framework. Also revealed was the the repression of emotions, through Grace, the eldest daughter, her hopeless lusting after Liu Peng, yet knowing that his mind was narrow and brainwashed in the Communist school of thought. Of course, the repression of individual thought was evident with John Sung, the scientist who refused to create weapons to be used against Americans. The stories surrounding Mercy and Joy, Madame Liang's two other daughters, was interesting in that they both struggled with their loyalties to China, but love, in Joy's case, kept her in America, while experience in the new China, forced Mercy to escape. There were a lot of interesting themes throughout the story, the theme of love in light of this new way of life, the theme of pride in one's own race and country. The style in which the story was told was very different from that of "The Good Earth." Here it was a much more fast-moving narrative, and a great modern story.

I couldn't put this book down, but there's just one thing that bothered me, and that was the ending, which seemed so abrupt. All of a sudden certain events happened which bluntly put the entire story to an end. Certainly these events were convincing, yet it still left me completely shocked and almost disappointed once the novel was finished. That's the only reason why I gave it four stars.

A Moving, Deeply Personal Account of the Cultural Revolution
I have read more than a dozen novels by the extraordinary Pearl S. Buck, and this is one of my all time favorites. Buck's lucid writing, and deep understanding of complex cultural issues makes this a gem. Set against the back-drop of the Chinese cultural Revolution, THE THREE DAUGHTERS OF MADAME LIANG charts the deeply personal journey and loss of one Chinese family. There is a sophistication to Buck's writing that is not always immediately apparent, but once you become used to her voice, the deceptively simple prose gives way to deeply moving insights. This is a glowing, powerful novel about a family and a country at a crossroads. Don't miss it!

Riveting Story; Cold War Patriotism
Pearl Buck did a masterful job of exploring the consequences of the Chinese communist revolution.Each of Madame Liang's daughters, Grace, Mercy, and Joy, come to terms with it in their own way.The essence of the book, however, is the realization that, whether a person is attracted to communism or repelled by it, his actions are usually dictated by his own personal interest.In that sense, the book is a satiric ridicule of the communist ideal. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Quick: name the only two female American novelists ever to win the Nobel Prize. Most literati can get Toni Morrison; many fewer remember that Pearl Buck won the world's most prestigious literary prize in 1938, largely on the strength of her celebrated first book, The Good Earth. Peter Conn's painstaking biography explores Buck, the famous author, crusader for women's rights, philanthropist, adviser to Presidents, expert on the Far East, and editor of Asia magazine. Pearl Buck, the woman, wife, and mother is a bit more difficult to discern. Even her most intimate relations, including her children, seemed to find her a distant figure. Pearl Buck is overdue for a critical reappraisal in the United States--perhaps this book will help launch it.Book Description
Pearl S. Buck was one of the most renowned, interesting, and controversial figures ever to influence American and Chinese cultural and literary history--and yet she remains one of the least studied, honored, or remembered. In this richly illustrated and meticulously crafted narrative, Conn recounts Buck's life in absorbing detail, tracing the parallel course of American and Chinese history. This "cultural biography" thus offers a dual portrait: of Buck, a figure greater than history cares to remember, and of the era she helped to shape. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

AMAZINGLY well written.
If you like biographies and are a sophisticated reader, this book is spot on. Every sentance was a work of art. As a woman writer - the story of Pearl Buck was particularly fascinating and inspiring.

Stunned by Conn's acrimony
I've just finished reading this compelling biography about one of my favorite authors. I can't it rank five stars, even though I'd like to, because I'm STUNNED by Conn's acrimonious protrayal of Christianity and Protestant missionaries in China. He's totally accepted Pearl's often limited and onesided perceptions, and then gone even further off track. Of course, what both of them say is true to a minute degree, but there's so very much more to the whole picture that they omit. I feel qualified to make this observation since I'm writing a trilogy of novels inspired by my family's century of close ties with China. The first book, based on my grandparents who moved to China in 1892, is entitled Hungry River: A Yangtze Novel, which is now available on Amazon. My father was born in China in 1904, as was I in 1942. I have a son born in Taiwan in 1968. My family rejoices in our international Christian heritage, which joins that of thousands of Chinese. I wonder if Conn is aware that today there may be as many as 80 million Christians in China in spite of decades of horrific persecution? That one statistic alone should be enough to balance his frighteningly negative analysis. In conclusion, I do agree with Conn's evaluation of the place Pearl's writings should have in American and world literature. I hope his biography will help her once more achieve her rightful literary stature. At the same time, I do regret deeply his evaluation does not bring fair balance to her extreme views of Christianity and Protestant missionaries among the Chinese in China. I hope he reads Hungry River!

An Excellent Portrayal of an Extraordinary Woman
Peter Conn's sweeping biography of Pearl Buck is as fascinating and provocative as Ms. Buck herself. I have been an admirer of Buck's writing for years, however I never knew the true depth of her character and achievements until I read Conn's book. Not only was the Nobel Prize winner an excellent writer and champion of Chinese causes, but she was a staunch supporter of civil and women's rights, a tireless fundraiser, and an advocate for inter-racial/international adoption. She was a fearless and often controversial speaker on behalf of the under-represented and oppressed, and made a great impact on public opinion towards racial and gender equality. Conn covers all of these diverse aspects of Pearl Buck beautifully. His book is very well researched, well organized, and well written. He presents all sides of his subject - good and bad - in an unflinching and intelligent manner. He discusses the circumstances under which Buck wrote her greatest books, her first 40 years in China, and her experiences as a prominent global literary figure. I couldn't put the book down - it was wonderful to discover that the writer whose books I have cherished for so many years had lead such a compelling and multi-faceted life. There is much more to Pearl Buck than even her impressive body of literary work suggests - and Peter Conn has done a tremendous job of revealing the many sides of this remarkable woman.

Incredible story - highly recommended
I think that Peter Conn's book is an incredible achievement. It is apparent that he has taken great pains to sort through a massive quantity of letters, published writings, and FBI files about the writer and humanitarian Pearl Buck.

Thankfully, this is NOT the sort of dirty-laundry biography, so popular now, which serves only to tear down its subject. Conn is factual and honest to the memory of a great woman, who accomplished much in her lifetime.

The book follows Pearl Buck from her missionary origin through her unexpected literary success, into her high-profile career as a spokesperson for Chinese/Eastern issues and the founding of the Welcome House (an adoption agency) and the Pearl S. Buck Foundation.

This biography inspired me to read through more Buck's novels. She was so prolific!I strongly recommend _Good Earth_ and _Sons_, as well as _Kinfolk_, and especially _The Mother_.

Conn's biography points out the factors that have led to her omission from the literary canon. Primarily, she was writing about the experience of women during a time when women's issues were dismissed as frivolous and un-literary. Also, she worked at such a great pace, that her writing is uneven, and not all of it of the great quality that earned her the Nobel prize.

I think that Peter Conn's book will remain a splendid resource about Pearl S. Buck for years to come! Good reading!

Pearl Buck was magnificent; Peter Conn's book is NOT.
This book, although entitled, "Pearl S. Buck: A Cultural Biography," only skims over her life in the barest manner. There is very little of her life in this tiresome book. She was a remarkable woman with much talent; the author takes great license in criticizing her work.I wanted to learn about her - not what the author thinks of her writing.If I hadn't been such a fan of hers, I would have tossed this book after the first hundred pages. ... Read more

Book Description

The story of Tzu Hsi is the story of the last Empress inChina. In the novel Nobel Prize winner Pearl S. Buck recreates the life ofone of the most intriguing rulers during a time of intense turbulence.

Customer Reviews (19)

Very interesting read
Perhaps not one of Pearl Buck's best known novels, Imperial Woman is still fascinating.It gives the reader a glimpse of the Manchu period of Chinese history.

The last Empress
Following the death of the consort of the Emperor of China, the young daughters of the minor aristocracy are sent to the palace to be chosen as concubines for him and are selected by the Empress Mother. He is a weak and dissolute young man, weakened by opium addiction and the sexual gratification of all of his senses since childhood. Sakota is chosen as his consort as the former consort was her elder sister and Tzu Hsi is chosen as second wife, but for a clever, ambitious woman such as she, this situation lasts for only a short time. After presenting him with a fine, healthy son, who was probably fathered by Tzu Hsi's former betrothed, Jung Lu, now Captain of the Guards in the Imperial City, Tzu Hsi gradually takes control of the country, determined that the new, western ways should never intrude, and rules China from the 1860's until her death in 1908. It's a marvellous read about a fascinating period of history.

Great NOVEL, but has huge historical errors!
This is the first book I read about Tzu Hsi, and I found it totally engrossing.After reading a number of other, more recent biographical works on her reign, it is sad to see how so many very false assumptions about her (upon which Pearl Buck bases many of the key assumptions of this novel) have created a very distorted view of her as an individual, a leader, and particulalry as a woman.

Pearl S. Buck writes in her Foreward "I have tried to portray Tzu Hsi as accurately as possible from available resources...." and this, unfortunately, is the book's biggest flaw.The scholarship was often totally false and grossly distorted, and so western writers perpetuated many false assumptions about her.

Read Sterling Seagrave's Dragon Lady if you want a more accurate portrayal of her.

A very interesting novel
A novel about a very interesting transitory part of the Chinese history. Afascinating main character, a rich story with a lot of things going on throughout the book. Very absorbing, highly recommended.

One of those novels that remains in your mind forever...
Powerful prose & imagery from a writer who learned to write, it is said, from the Bible. It reads much like the story of Esther from the old Testament. Pearl Buck's characterizations are built up layer by careful layer with simple words and in spare phrases. This is a lovely book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A wonderful, classic retelling
Pearl Buck's Story Bible is in the same league with Jesse Lyman Hurlbut's and Elsie Egermeier's books (Bible stories rewritten with children in mind.) Of the three, Buck's was written most recently. Buck's rendition of the Bible stories is intelligent, detailed, and reverent. One father of four told me this was the best book he's ever read!

Parents should purchase at least one Bible story book for their family library, and this is an excellent choice.

The "plain language" Bible
For someone who has tried to read the Bible several times but been unsuccessful at keeping it up due to the conplexity of the language used, this book was golden.In it, Pearl S Buck retells the bible stories in an interesting and informative way.I have read the book through over several days and could not wait until evening when I would have time to get back to the stories.I was also able to retain the stories and their meanings.It would be a great for primer for pre-teen kids and, of course, adults. ... Read more

Book Description

To the Chinese the dragon is not an evil creature, but is agod and the friend of men who worship him. He "holds in his powerprosperity and peace." Ruling the waters and the winds, he sends the goodrain, is hence the symbol of fecundity. In the Hsia dynasty two dragonsfought a great duel until both disappeared, leaving only a fertile foamfrom which were born the descendants of the Hsia. Thus, the dragons came tobe looked upon as the ancestors of a race of heroes.

This is the story of China at War.

Customer Reviews (8)

Even Better than Good Earth!
It had been years since I first read the Good Earth in high school and with a strong interest in the Asian culture having adopted three children from ChinaI was prompted to buy a new copy and re-read it. It was a good book but then someone suggested Dragon Seed. While Good Earth was certainly a great book the Dragon Seed was even better! I would put it at the top of the list of books I have read and certainly a must read for those interested in Chinese culture. This one will be read by my children and I am looking forward to reading the rest of Pearl S. Buck's books. Simply and amazing and talented story teller.

Better Than GoodEarth
Although Good Earth is a celebrated novel, as it should be, I believe Dragon Seed is a book as worthy and even more in many ways as it involves generation differences and war. Amazon offers many Pearl Buck books that can't be found anywhere else.These books have opened a whole new world for me. I love the old time Chinese culture and Dragon Seed is so full of the many aspects, phrases, and customs so unlike today - in our Western World.Each character is so carefully constructed with soul depth, despite the fact that most could not read or write and lived a simple life.The Gods seem to come to life and the tragedy the people suffer so real and frightening during the revolution.The simplistic lifestyle is as well depicted as that in Good Earth.This book is a must for all Old Chinese Culture lovers.So exciting to cuddle up and read good literature.

Unforgettable
I have read many books in my time but the two books that stand out for me are Dragon Seed by Pearl S. Buck and This Perfect Day by Irn Levin.Although The Good Earth is a fine book by any standard, Dragon Seed brought the characters to life for me.I have re-read these two books so many times that they have become a little "raggy" with time.Each time I read them I find something new, some new slant on what the authors were saying.The movie that was made from the book Dragon Seed could have been done better and although I like Katherine Hepburn, the part she played should have been played by an oriental.But, the book will live on and will continue to make itself felt for many years to come.Someday, I hope to find someone who will put these two books on a tape for those who have vision difficulty.I have not found them available for the visually impaired thus far.I feel that this is keeping a large section of the population from enjoying these books and I do hope that this will be corrected in the near future.

novel of a lifetime
I always preferred reading magazines rather than novels because i thought novels were boring and reading them was a waste of time. After reading Dragon seed my perception about novels took a shift in the positive dierction. No other authorcan bring out the subtle aspects of life in times of difficulty as pearl buck has did. I read this novel as a thirteen year old but i still remeber every part of it(i am 22 now). Such is the impression this novel has created. one can read a lot of books on philosophy and humanity but still miss out on some key aspects. i promise u will have the feeling of having read a thousand books on the human nature in this one novel. The novel ends with a positive note and a glimmer of hope which will make every reader search for the silver lining even during the most turbulent times.

AN EARTH-SHAKING NOVEL; PEARL BUCK AT HER FINEST
I thought I would never read a novel as outstanding as The Good Earth.And then I read Dragon Seed!Thus far, this is the greatest book I have ever read!There are truly no adjectives to satisfactorily describe the depth and poignancy of this novel.My heart filled with sorrow as I turned the pages of this mesmerizing story of the Chinese peasants' condition during World II.I would go back to re-read a paragraph every now and then in order to let the words seep into my very soul.I could not comprehend this unspeakable man's inhumanity to man, but there it was, as only Pearl Buck could write about it.Not to read this book at least once is not to have lived.I will carry the drama and heartbreak of Dragon Seed with me for the rest of my life.Dragon Seed is not just a novel; it is an experience of the heart and soul!It should be a must for everyone who truly loves great literature, and it should be required reading for every public high school student in this country. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

common theme in pearl s buck's stories
i loved this book as a teenager, seeking my own identity as an asian american woman in the heartland.the wife's attempts to win over her husband, and his consideration of her sacrifices(eg releasing her bound feet)were powerful symbols of growing love, compassion and marital relationships.however, i have noticed a strong theme in pearl buck's stories about the chinese/asian man yearning for, and idolizing a white woman.the asian women in these stories were often regulated to superstitious, old-fashioned stereotypes, either doll-like submissive maids or man-eating seductresses.the later type usually so because they were afraid of asian men's questionnable masculinity.that said, the white women in these books were usually very beautiful, pure, rational and were placed on a pedestal to their adoring asian lovers.pearl buck could tell very poignant and universal stories about women and love, but much of it was also detailed through prejudiced, and stereotyping western eyes.

Great Book!
I highly recommend this book! I've always loved Pearl S. Buck, since reading The Good Earth, and now I've got back into reading her other novels. This one is a good illustration of the struggle between old and new ways, Chinese vs. Western.

5 Stars But Not My Favorite
Of course it deserves five stars because of the great author, knowledge of Chinese Culture, good characters and wonderful story. It involves the delicate balance between the old Chinese customs of ancient medicine vs science, the choosing of ones own mate vs the old custom of parents making the choice.In this case, the family is not peasant but prominent, but the culture just as interesting.There is no action in this book but more of a love story.No peasants trying to survive in poverty but a cast of the entitled and a struggle of wills.

A Beautiful Work, Understand Old vs. New Chinese Thinking
Loved this book. It had been recommended many other places for an American man who had fallen in love with a Chinese woman. It added great insight to my knowledge of her culture and especially her parents generation. Made me feel very hopeful about the unison of East and West.

A Beautiful Effort!
It's Pearl S. Buck's first novel, and you can easily see that she was headed for a long, illustrious career as a writer.An American author who spent the majority of her life living in China, therefore writing about what she knows best in a totally unique fashion - a lover of the Eastern, Chinese culture, but at the same time still possessing the Western ideas of romantic love, marriage, etc...This is what this little story is about - a young woman falling in love and struggling for her own freedom, her own individuality (something that most of us take for granted living in today's Western society).

This is a wonderful little jewel of a book and I highly recommend it.If you enjoyed the 'The Good Earth' (one of my all-time favorites) then you will definitely enjoy this story.Ms. Buck writes with such effortless fluidity and charm.She keeps her prose simple yet elegant at the same time.The story also is quite educational in regards to Chinese culture.I can't believe that it has been 18 years between the time I've read 'The Good Earth' and 'East Wind: West Wind' (the only two Buck novels I've read).I can guaranty that I won't make that mistake again.After reading this story, I am very motivated to read something else by her.

WHAT A FANTASTIC STORYTELLER BUCK IS!!! ... Read more

Book Description

News reaches the couple [Maharana Prince Jagat and hiswife, Moti] that their only son, Jai, has been killed by the Chinese in aborder skirmish, an inconsolable Moti sends Jagat out to bring the boy'sspirit home. On the journey, the prince becomes involved with a beautifuland mysterious young American woman. Thus begins the fatal attractionbetween Eastern and Western ways, one bound by rigid custom, the othertemptingly ripe with freethinking....Her simple yet evocative language,well-developed characters, and timeless plot make Mandala a fascinatingaddition to the fiction shelf.

Customer Reviews (5)

Intricate and compelling
I have loved Pearl S. Buck since I was a teenager - some time now.This novel has a straightforward simplicity that characterizes Buck's other works.Yet, the plot belies the human complexities that run deeply underneath.The reader will continue turning pages not for the fast pace, but to discover what choices each character will make as he or she faces the pull of "sympathy". Who knows why we are inexplicably drawn toward certain people or places?And Buck challenges us to stop worrying about social conventions and what we are "supposed" to do to follow our hearts' true calling.

Indian setting is different, but...
I had to work my way through a good many pages to get my bearings in India, after reading her Chinese novels, but once I did, I was captivated!It awakened my interest in India and the strains along the Indo-Chinese border, all woven into a fascinating story.Another of Pearl Buck's books that I just could not put down!

Timeless love story with hints of reincarnation
Having never been to India, I cannot judge this book on its cultural authenticity.The India that Buck portrays here is a country in transition (right after her independence), as are the characters within the book itself.Buck's gentle, touching explorations of arranged marriages versus "falling in love" could probably be applied to any traditional culture that is confronted with modernism.Can romantic love alone overcome differences of culture, caste, social and economic status?

Perhaps because the book was published in 1970, it deals with the sexual themes modestly and gracefully, without degenerating into gratuitous porn like so many of today's novels.It is enough to know that the characters sleep together, we do not need the details.More important is Jagat's discovery that "love" and "sexual intercourse" are not the same thing.In the case of the relationship between Moti and Father Paul, there is no physical sex at all -- just a deep, platonic love bordering on the mystical. And although Bert and Veera are deeply attracted to each other, neither could live "happily ever after" in the other's world.These are timeless themes, regardless of the setting.

There are hints of reincarnation in the book, too, suggesting thatperhaps the lovers had known each other in another life and found each other again in this one.Reincarnation becomes more obvious toward the end of the book, after Jagat's son, Jai, is killed in battle.His mother is convinced that he still lives -- and perhaps he does, in the body of a 9-month-old child who reaches for a mummified tiger's paw that used to belong to Jai.Was he Jai returned?You decide.

BAD PORTRAYAL
As an Indian, I strongly feel that Pearl Buck has not done a good job of portraying a real Indian character. Her descriptive writing is great, however the characters she has, such as Jagat, are not portrayed as a proper Indian. Pearl Buck might have tried to intertwine East and West together in this book, but in the attempt, she strechted the "trueness" of the character, resulting in the characters to sound fake. For a traveller who has never gone to India or travelled in it, it will reveal the beauty of this country. However, if this book is to be read to know about the Indian culture, this is clearly not the book to read.

Breathtaking!
Mandala gives a fascinating view into the class structure of Indian society.Buck paints a wonderful portrait of the traditions, geography and people of India.The plot centers around Jagat, an aristocratic marriedman who unwillingly begins to fall in love with a younger American woman. By the end of the novel, the reader is engrossed by both the spiritualityof the characters and the country. ... Read more

Book Description
Ms. Buck tells us that East and West can meet on the ground ofaffectionate understanding and that human similarities can prevail over thegulf between cultures....She has something to say and she says it withlucid ease....If she has a mission she can also tell a story. She writesconsistently and successfully to be read; she writes consistently; and shewrites successfully. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Probably my favorite
This could well be my favorite of Pearl Buck's books...right up there with PEONY.One thing I liked was that there was no war in it,just family relations.Oh, there was mention of communism rising, but that was incidental.

Richly textured bi-cultural family fabric
This is Pearl S. Buck at her most bewitching. At first she draws figures as clear as those in a coloring book. But soon, no one is quite who they seemed at first. The wise father is a bit cowardly and impure. The pesty little sister has great emphathy. The unsophisticated mother displays immense insight, and so on. Through their travails in New York, and in their ancestral village near Peking, the 4 Liang children and their parents will stay in your mind as fully-fleshed characters you were happy to know, and learned something in the process.

Four American-born Chinese children come of age
This story covers the coming-of-age of four American-raised Chinese young people in the early 1900's. James, a talented young surgeon, decides to devote his life to serving the poor in China, and his siblings follow him. His teacher-sister Mary is equally devoted, but their younger brother Peteris disillusioned by the China he sees & listens sympathetically to thegrowing communist party.The youngest sister, Louise, has become verywesternized & can imagine no home for herself but America.The storypaints an interesting picture of how these brothers & sisters struggleto find their own identity in a world that is no longer simple. ... Read more

Book Description
Young Peony is sold into a rich Chinese household as abondmaid -- an awkward role in which she is more a servant, but less adaughter. As she grows into a lovely, provocative young woman, Peony fallsin love with the family's only son. However, tradition forbids them to wed.How she resolves her love for him and her devotion to her adoptive familyunfolds in this profound tale, based on true events in China over a centuryago. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Lovely, Haunting...
This is a wonderful story with well-drawn characters the reader can empathize with.When reading, you feel as if you have been picked up and plopped down in China, in the middle of this Chinese/Jewish household. I wanted it to go on forever.This book is profoundly sad and profoundly joyful at the same time, while also being interesting and informative.I was never before aware of Jews in China and now have a jumping-off point from which to do some research.Fascinating!The only thing I was slightly disappointed with was how quickly the end of the story came; near the finish of the book, the years pass too fast and everything is wound up.Mrs. Buck does not give us a "Hollywood" ending, however.She was a tremendously gifted storyteller, and I so look forward to reading her other works.

Love and Duty Meet
I loved this story about a servant girl in a wealthy household and her selfless love and service. But, this is not a sugar-sweet story. Pearl Buck is an author who is able to take you to a time and place and make you feel the characters are real people. The twists and turns keep this book interesting This is my favorite of her novels.

Beautiful
You just can't go wrong with Pearl S. Buck, she writes so beautifully. The Chinese culture is so interesting and beautiful itself that her books are a joy.

what a pleasant surprise
I accidentally found "Peony" while I was trying to find a book that would teach me how to grow peonies.The title, the topic and Buck's reputation helped me decide to read it.I am so glad that I did.

Other reviewers have told of the understated, beautiful use of language.They have spoken of the interesting juxtaposition of the Jewish and Chinese cultures, the gentleness of the story, and Buck's decision not to satisfy our need for a Hollywood ending.

All of these wonderful aspects allowed me to focus on other layers of the novel.The fact that the Jewish community in Kaifeng eventually allowed themselves to forget their own culture was fascinating.Their acceptance of and integration into the Chinese culture is portrayed as inexorable.Most slipped away easily; others faced the loss with overwhelming grief.Buck describes the Chinese characters in this book as being accepting of others while being a bit hedonistic themselves.They choose to seek pleasure and temporal fullfillment while the Jews focus on the horror of oppression, complex ritual and the absolute truth of their history and destiny.In other words, it seemed that the Jews were willing to give up their faith because it was difficult to maintain personally and for the community as a whole.

The final destruction of the core of the Jewish community is, ironically, a product of being a "chosen people."Kao Lien (a business associate of the Ezra family) tells David ben Ezra (Peony's young master) that the Jews, "were hated because they separated themselves from the rest of mankind.They called themselves chosen of God."This is David's first inkling that the world has alternate views of the Jewish people. This is a pivotable moment in the novel.This conversation gives David enough distance from his own culture to allow him to choose a Chinese wife and to move farther from the religion of his mother.Because he chooses not to become a leader of the Jews in his city, the Temple and the culture eventually fall into ruin.

More than most novels, this one is a rare combination of attributes.It is entertaining, informative, thought provoking and good literature.I will certainly read more of Buck's work and urge others to read this novel.

Peony
Peony is a book of great detail and drama. You could picture every scene and action that each character takes with the descriptive words written by Pearl S. Buck.
Peony has been a bondmaid in the House of Ezra all her life. She has played, talked, and spent all her time with David, Ezra and Madame Ezra's only son, since her childhood, and has grown to love him. But Peony's love is more than a sisterly love. Due to traditions it is forbidden for Peony and David to wed. Now during the years as a servant by David's side Peony must try to resolve her love for him.
Peony is a realistic fiction book that is full of tragedy and despair that keeps drawing you in with each chapter and page you turn.Based on true events that happened in China over a century ago Peony is a remarkable book that will teach you a lesson about courage and letting go of the one you love most. ... Read more

Book Description
Within this novel Ms. Buck paints the portrait of a poor womanliving in a remote village whose joys are few and hardships are many. Asthe ancient traditions, which she bases her philosophies upon, begin tocollide with the new ideals of the communist era, this peasant woman mustfind a balance between them and deal with the consequences. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

I Loved this Book and Highly Recommend it
For those who didn't like this book as much, I believe they missed something.I thought this was great writing and in many ways her best.The lack of The Mother's name is insignificant. You know when you're reading who is being referred to.The story is the important part.
This book involves much about honor and "saving face" and how important that was to the Chinese and in the peasants case, they had little else.When the mother starts her web of lies, to hide her shame, one lie leads to a bigger lie and before she knew it, she had spun some very sophisticated lies with props to go with them.As many believed, rich and poor, in that time and place, the sins made the Gods angry and the Gods got even.The mother believed it was her sins that caused her ultimate tragedies which were inflicted on those she loved most.
I was absolutely intrigued with this story and believe that a woman might appreciate and understand it more than a man.A woman's life was so much more meaningless than a mans and once her sons married, she suddenly became more insignificant with little say in anything and little to look forward to.A good read.

Skimworthy, perhaps, but Buck had the right of it.
Pearl S. Buck, The Mother (Pocket, 1934)

It is hard to know what to make of this early novel (her fourth) by Pearl S. Buck, who had won the Pulitzer Prize the year before for The Good Earth (her second) and would, in a few years, be a Nobel laureate. Hard because it is difficult to reconcile such a widely-acclaimed author with a novel such as this.

In her autobiography, Buck mentions that she almost destroyed the manuscript of The Mother, fearing it wasn't as good as her previously published novels. In this, she was correct. The Mother is not so much a novel as it as a combination of character study and morality play. Other reviewers have commented on the Biblical nature of the events herein, which is likely as apt a description as one is likely to find. The story revolves around, of course, a mother. She is never named, nor are any other members of her family (her husband's last name is mentioned once in the book's two hundred pages, but in such a way as to make it as forgettable as possible). One assumes this is an attempt to give the characters an "everyman" quality. The mother and her family have a hard life, and the mother's life gets harder as time goes on. The crux of the story happens about halfway through the novel, when she is forced to make a decision she ends up regretting for the rest of her life; she blames her hardships from there on out on that decision, forgetting that the hardships that came before put her in that position. (In other words, this is not a criticism of the novel so much as of the character; it is entirely possible Buck meant the character to be erroneous in her judgments, but that doesn't make it any less annoying.) In essence, the novel becomes the chronicles of the hardships of one person, a relentless, depressing catalog of failures unleavened by any successes whatsoever.

Other reviewers have also commented on the universality of the character. I pity them, and anyone else who overidentifies with the mother here. Anyone who has truly suffered this much hardship without the slightest glimmer of joy has been dealt the worst of lots in life, and need all the escapism they can get. It is probable, however, that the majority of readers do, at least, have a few moments of happiness, or at least contentment, now and again. They are rather more likely to question the tunnelvision of the character, and perhaps that of the author as well. Rightly so. * ½

A womans spirit!
For any woman who's feeling a bit put-upon, a bit hard done by, "The Woman" would soon shake her back into perspective.I know that this has ever been the lot of women in poor farming communities in third world countries, but it's frightening to realise just how little things have changed since these long past times of the beginning of the beginning of communism in China.We never learn the mothers name as she is simply that--the mother of the children of a poor farmer, a co-worker in the fields and the carer of his elderly mother. It's a hand to mouth existence with only the hope of enough food to sustain them on a daily basis and enough money from the crops that they can spare to be sold, to pay the rent of their fields. When her husband runs off in search of a more exciting life, the mother is left with the care of the family and is forced to work like a beast of burden in order to exist. Only her indomitable spirit sustains them ,even though her life is shattered by a series of events that would break a lesser woman.

The Mother is a literary canvas, painted by a gifted artist
In Pearl Buck's autobiography, "My Several Worlds," she reveals that she almost destroyed the manuscript of "The Mother", feeling that it was not worthy of publication. Had this happened, literature would have suffered a great loss. The characters that Ms. Buck created here - the tragically blind daughter, the grandmother who wears her own shroud in anticipation of death, and especially the mother - are exquisitely drawn and memorable.The suffering of the mother, whose life after the strange disappearance of her husband seems an endless series of heartbreaks, is almost unbearable for the reader.But ultimately the mother is comforted, as is every mother, by the birth of children and grandchildren.This is the story of a seemingly insignificant woman, worlds away from me, whose dreams and longings and difficulties are not so very different from my own. This book is definitely and very enthusiastically recommended.

ASubtle Look into Chinese Peasant Life at the Dawn of an Era
Pearl Buck's books of the 1930s and 1940s were among the first to introduce Americans to the Chinese way of life.In "The Mother," Ms. Buck takes an in-depth look into the life of a peasant woman who lives in a poor hamlet at the dawn of the communist era - when ancient and modern Chinese ideals collided.Her life is fraught with hardship, and her views are tainted by centuries-old patriarchal tradition.Her few joys are simple - a love of food and the longing for male grandchildren sustain her through days of drudgery.Her life is touched by the consequences of both "old" and "new" Chinese culture in ways I will not reveal here, as I don't want to ruin the story.

While the book's prose has, on occasion, been criticized for its archaic style, Buck merely presents her story in language that mirrors the peasant colloquial of the day.This use of language and Buck's wonderful descriptive abilities transport the reader to the nameless mother's home, and open a window into the thought processes that governed her daily travails and simple pleasures.Buck's gift for storytelling is once again in evidence in "The Mother," and her elegant writing style evokes vivid imagery.All of the book's characters remain nameless throughout the novel - an effective convention used by the author to emphasize the fact that this story could be applied to any of millions of "faceless" Chinese peasant families.It also references the way peasant women may have felt about themselves - faceless servants at the will of their husbands, families, and circumstance.There is a subtle political message within the story as well - it isn't difficult to discern how Ms. Buck felt about Communists and the role of the peasant class in Chinese society.

"The Mother" is an excellent story - this quick read will leave a lasting impression on you. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A PROFOUND STORY SIMPLY TOLD...
This is the Spanish text edition of a 1932 Pulitzer Prize winning novel that is still a standout today. Deceptive in its simplicity, it is a story built around a flawed human being and a teetering socio-economic system, as well as one that is layered with profound themes. The cadence of the author's writing is also of note, as it rhythmically lends itself to the telling of the story, giving it a very distinct voice. No doubt the author's writing style was influenced by her own immersion in Chinese culture, as she grew up and lived in China, the daughter of missionaries.

This is the story of the cyclical nature of life, of the passions and desires that motivate a human being, of good and evil, and of the desire to survive and thrive against great odds. It begins with the story of an illiterate, poor, peasant farmer, Wang Lung, who ventures from the rural countryside and goes to town to the great house of Hwang to obtain a bride from those among the rank of slave. There, he is given the slave O-lan as his bride.

Selfless, hardworking, and a bearer of sons, the plain-faced O-lan supports Wang Lung's veneration of the land and his desire to acquire more land. She stays with him through thick and thin, through famine and very lean times, working alongside him on the land, making great sacrifices, and raising his children. As a family, they weather the tumultuousness of pre-revolutionary China in the 1920s, only to find themselves the recipient of riches beyond their dreams. At the first opportunity, they buy land from the great house of Hwang, whose expenses appear to be exceeding their income.

With the passing of time, Wang Lung buys more and more land from the house of Hwang, until he owns it all, as his veneration of the land is always paramount. With O-lan at this side, his family continues to prosper. His life becomes more complicated, however, the richer he gets. Wang Lung then commits a life-changing act that pierces O-lan's heart in the most profoundly heartbreaking way.

As the years pass, his sons become educated and literate, and the family continues to prosper. With the great house of Hwang on the skids, an opportunity to buy their house, the very same house from where he had fetched O-lan many years ago, becomes available. Pressed upon to buy that house by his sons, who do not share Wang Lung's veneration for the land and rural life, he buys the house. The country mice now have become city mice.

This is a potent, thematically complex story, brimming with irony, yet simply told against a framework of mounting social change. It is a story that stands as a parable in many ways and is one that certainly should be read. It illustrates the timeless dichotomy between the young and the old, the old and the new, and the rich and the poor. It is no wonder that this beautifully written book won a Pulitzer Prize and is considered a classic masterpiece. Bravo!

muy fantastico
Este libro es muy fantastico, pero mi espanol es muy mal.Tambien mira a el libro "El Hombre mas Rico en Babylon".Adios, yo necesito estudiar espanol ahora... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

One of my favorite books of all time!!
This is astory about family, hardship, and the beauty/horror of China. It is moving, beautiful, and easy to read. Enjoy!!

very nice book...worth spend time to read
i've only read the first book of the trilogy..and i find it very interesting and true. because i am asian and this is the first time and first book that i've seen written by a non asian person who describe it sowell and so exact (not to be rude to the other author, but some of themdoes not really really understand our culture and some of their writingsare completly wrong) i am searching for the second and the third which i amhoping to read it ASAP..and i know that i would like it ... Read more

Book Description
This is a story of hope and reconciliation. It is about anAmerican father and his Eurasian son living in Korea. It is not withoutsome soul-searching and a great deal of understanding on the part of hisAmerican wife that they get together as a family.

The father is an aspiring politician in Philadelphia. Put in shock and amoral dilemma by the sudden knowledge of his son, conceived while a soldierstationed in Korea, the father weighs his political future against hisresponsibilities to himself and his wife. The situation is furthercomplicated by his childless marriage.

This is very modern in its treatment of a politician's seeminglyconflicting goals of public success and conscientious personal behavior.The story confronts the disparity of two cultures: east and west and twogenerations. It is a very timely book for all of those reasons, but thereward of reading this book is Pearl Buck's ability as a story teller.Marital love, parental love, alienation, adoption, and ambition are allwoven into this marvelous, poignant novel. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

I wish that she hadn't written this!
While a 24 year old soldier in Korea, Chris Winters, an educated and newly married man, moved in with a beautiful Korean girl and fathered a child.When his tour of duty finished, he simply returned home and didn't bother to think about his child, offering no form of support to mother or baby. Now that he's a successful budding politician running for the post of Governor, he's stunned when a letter arrives from his son, begging for help. His wife Laura flies to Korea and forms an attachment to the child, bringing him back to the US for a good education. During Chris's political campaign, he orders Laura not to mention the fact that she's a brilliant industrial chemist, but rather to dwell on the time before their marriage when she was a model as he says" people will feel threatened if they know you're smart!"
Although I am a devoted fan of Pearl Bucks Chinese books, this story made me so angry that I could barely finish it. It's probably a product of its time with its accepted patronising attitudes to women and womens roles in life and in society in general but I found it extremely uncomfortable to remember how we blindly accepted the put-downs and totally patronising attitudes of men.

It's like a beatiful stallion in the wind
This story is an intriguing story of a man who cheats on his wife and has an illegitimate child. His wife journeys to Asia to see his son. This story is as beautiful as a pearl(no pun intended) It describes the beauty of Asiaand America. I would rather cuddle up with this book than eat cheesecakeany day.

One of the best books I have ever read
This is Ms. Buck at her best.This is the story of a man's struggle to deal with his illegitimate son,a son he never knew existed, and this son's struggle to not only deal with his new family, but a whole new world. This story touches the reader in the very best way. ... Read more