Rating: 
Summary: A VERY GOOD NOVEL!
Review: It is an amazing novel! You people have to read this
Rating: 
Summary: BORING, AND UNORIGINAL
Review: I HAD TO READ THIS BOOK IN 9TH GRADE-LAST YEAR! IT WAS AWFUL! IT WAS LIKE JUST READING A BUNCH OF WORDS WRITEN DOWN. I MADE NO SENSE, AND HAD NO POINT...PICK A DIFFERENT BOOK, AND SAVE YOURSELVES
Rating: 
Summary: My thoughts!
Review: Hi, I am 13 years old and only began reading this book because my mother told me it was the best book she ever read. At first only read it when I had to but as I turned the pages the story of Wang Lung and his epic tail of life in China during the 1920's ingulped me to the point where I couldn't put it down! It takes alot to get me intrested in a book and with The Good Earth being a historical book I was not ready to spend 3 months reading it. But as soon as I started reading it was a disapointment when I had to go back to the library and get a new book. The only thing I could find wrong with the book was the way it would drag on for a while and have no climax what so ever nad then the next moment it seems as though you never want the book to end because it is SO good. So my opinion is read it (even though it might take some time)and see what you think of it!
Rating:
Summary: The Epic Tale of Wang Lung
Review: I picked this book up over the summer, not having heard anything about it. From the very beginning, I was intrigued. It has poignant themes, vivid imagery, and an entertaining plot. Whether reading for pleasure or for critical analysis, you won't be disappointed. This is an amazing novel- don't let the simplicity fool you.
Rating:
Summary: After 15 years, it's even better
Review: Kicking and screaming, I read this book as a sophomore in high school. Although my teacher never knew this, I actually enjoyed it--and I didn't read much at all. For some reason, 15 years later, I bought the book and was under its spell immediately. It's a fairly long story, but I didn't put it down until I finished it. It was even better than the first time. My life experience gave me a better understanding of the story and my continued schooling helped me comprehend the high-quality writing which Pearl S. Buck exhibits. I can't wait to read it again, in the future, and gain even more enjoyment.
Rating:
Summary: The Good Earth: Lives filled with tragedies and triumphs
Review: Buck takes the reader back in time to another country where she traces the life of a peasant farmer named Wang Lung. The scene is the northern part of China during the nineteenth century; emperors have lived in the Forbidden City for centuries and have ruled over an agrarian society that has existed longer than the dynasties. The book opens with the wedding day of Wang Lung. From the beginning, the reader is introduced to the various Confucian customs that have kept the country stable for over a millennium. Buck, however, also examines the deleterious effects of Confucianism in the form of government corruption, the enslavement of women, and in the form of the exploitation of peasants by and the decadence of the powerful landed-gentry families. This novel rightly deserves its name as Wang Lung's livelihood and that of many of his countrymen depend on agriculture. Up to Wang Lung's time the Chinese civilization rested on the backs and shoulders of farmers, who provided the basic necessity for life. Small, farming families like that of Wang Lung's have lived and cultivated their lands for generations. Their lives are simple, with practicality being their primary concern; although Wang Lung hopes his wife-to-be isn't physically deformed, he wants a woman who can work in the fields, cook, and rear children. The women of the cities are not for him because he is a lowly farmer and because they live a luxurious life. The title of the novel also refers to O-lan. Although O-lan rarely speaks, is formerly a lowly kitchen maid of a wealthy landed family, and is unattractive, she remains loyal to her husband and sacrifices for her family during times of hardship and prosperity. From her former life, she is knowledgeable about the habits of the wealthy and can easily indulge herself during the latter times. However, it is Wang Lung who succumbs to the desires that afflict the wealthy, whilst O-lan remains faithful to the simple lifestyle of a farmer. It is hard to denounce Wang Lung. He is the product of his environment. He remains faithful to the Confucian ethic despite being exploited by relatives. He doesn't regard O-lan highly as a woman or as a person but he doesn't abuse her either. He shows sympathy to his children by allowing his sons to acquire a Confucian education in the hope that they may someday obtain a government position. And when he becomes a wealthy landowner, he yields to temptations of the flesh and of material wealth. However, no matter how far he strays, Wang Lung does not forget that his life and that of his family are ultimately rooted in the productiveness of his fields. The Good Earth is a masterpiece. Covering a period between the partition of China by the West and the republican era, Buck weaves into her novel China's political and social upheavals and how these dramatic changes aid and hinder the life of Wang Lung, culminating in her foreshadowing of the demise of the Lung estate.
Rating: 
Summary: An average classic
Review: The good Earth analyzes the Chinese way of living in pre-revolutionary times. Wang Lung and his family have to go through a lot in raising their children and plowing the land for food. I found this book a tad boring at times, because it does not seem suspenseful and intersting enough to keep reading on and on.
Rating:
Summary: A True Classic
Review: Buck really captures the essence of Chinese culture and life in pre-revolutionary China in her astounding novel, "The Good Earth". Appropriate for most ages, this is a timeless classic that will be enjoyed for years to come.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Book For All Ages
Review: I thought this book was going to be unentertaing and boring, but I couldn't seem to put it down. My favorite part of the book was when Wang Lung and his family had gone south to the city to find food and money. When they came back to their land, they had become richer, and Wang Lung bought more land instead of material goods. Along the way he got more and more greedy. He took Olan's two pearls, the only thing that she held dear to herself. He never gave Olan the respect she deserved. Even on her death bed. This book taught me that we should always be grateful for what we have and to follow our dreams no matter how hard we have to try. Things will always look better in the end. I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a new perspective on life.
Rating:
Summary: This book goes way back for me!
Review: I read this book in 1960 when I was a Senior in High School. The book was assigned to me by my English teacher & when I heard the title, I thought no way am I going to read this book! My first thought was to skim the book for names of characters & places, and then fudge my way through the exam. Well, I started to get the scenario for the book as I was skimming & believe it or not, I read the entire book! It was the most interesting book I have ever read & I read a lot these days. The author has a way of getting your attention & keeping it the whole way through. I learned a lot about the Chinese people & their customs & way of life. A good read!
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