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The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

20 years ago

I just finished The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck and thoroughly enjoyed it. I was swept away by the character descriptions and the lives of Wang Lung and O-lan.

I didn't know that it was the first in a trilogy and wonder if anyone would care to comment on the remaining two books... Sons and A House Divided?

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Comments (7)

cindydavid4
20 years ago
I read that book in jr hi and was entralled with all things Chinese for a long time after that. Read it many more times in HS. Wasn't till I had to read it for a Lit class in college that I started discovering what an ass Wang Lung was. Also by that time I knew more about the history so could put more pieces together that I didn't have. But I still have good memories of reading it.

I didn't realize there were sequels! I dunno - this book was so good that I'd hesitate on them. Sorta like my experience with How Green Was My Valley, another HS fav. Trying the sequel almost ruined the original for me. But I would be interested to hear what others thought of them.
bookmom41
20 years ago
I've read a number of Buck books and count "The Good Earth" as one of my all-time favorites. Not only I have read it several times over the years, it was one of my bookclub's choices for which I led the discussion. Your post triggered a dim memory of my knowing about the sequels but I've not read them either. I think Cindy has a point-how good could they possibly be compared to the original? "Lonesome Dove" blew me away and I was so disappointed in its follow-up book. I would like hearing from someone who did read the sequels, too, and in the meantime, I think I'll order them through the library and get started myself.
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tangerine_z6
Original Author
20 years ago
Well, at first I also thought that Wang Lung was an unspeakable sort, but when I considered the time and culture that he lived in I felt less critical. Oh, how my heart went out to O-lan though, giving birth alone each time and returning immediately to the fields and also devaluing herself and her worth to the very end.

One of the reasons I asked about the sequels is that I've never heard of them and so wondered if they were a wonderful continuation of this epic or not.
cindydavid4
20 years ago
tangerine, you are right about the time and culture, but even still, it took me a little to realize it didn't matter, he was still an ass! Oh, I cried when he made Olan give him those two pearls, oh....
rule34
20 years ago
The sequels are every bit as good as the original. I've been reading them at least twice a year since I was eleven (I have all three books in a single volume--very old edition but you can find it at abebooks.com).
tangerine_z6
Original Author
20 years ago
Thanks rule34. I will request them at the library.
tangerine_z6
Original Author
19 years ago
I am (finally) on to reading Sons and liking it every bit as much as I did The Good Earth. It begins with the death and funeral of Wang Lung. Pear Blossom has quietly taken over care of the fool, the evil-doing Lotus is back, and I am just beginning to read of the three sons and their wives. I can not articulate what it is that I like so about these books, but if you feel the same way, try Sons.

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