The Good Earth

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful aspect of Chinese culture
Review: Even though I read The Good Earth as a freshman in high school, I found all the descriptions of not only the culture of Old China, but also of the pride of a man and the selflessness of his wife amazing and accurate. Pearl S. Buck uses beautiful language throughout the novel in her portrayals of one man's love for his land. Being an avid reader of historical fiction, I loved the book.

Rating:
Summary: A classic that withstands time.
Review: I have always been encouraged to read "The Good Earth" For some reason I did not read it until my late twenties. I will admit that at first I thought it was a slow read. I kept pushing myself to read on and not give up on this book. I am glad I continued. Some people may believe that this book is old-fashioned and will bore them to tears. They are completely wrong. "The Good Earth" is a timeless piece of fine literature.

Rating:
Summary: Idealization
Review: Explain this sympathetic portrayal of the Chinese workers paradise to the people of Tibet, and the administration of medical experiments on human guniea pigs, ect.

Rating:
Summary: One of the classics of the twentieth century.
Review: This novel won the 1932 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction. Pearl Buck also was awarded the 1938 Nobel Prize for Literature. "The Good Earth" is actually the first part of a trilogy, the other two books being "Sons" (published in 1932) and "A House Divided" (1935). Those later two books apparently were not as popular as "The Good Earth." In a way it is surprising that this novel won a Pulitzer Prize. In the early days of the Prize, the award was supposed to go to the best novel that characterized aspects of American family life. Here is a novel about a Chinese peasant, Wang Lung, and his wife O-lan who was once a kitchen slave! I would bet that the Pulitzer Prize voters generated some degree of controversy when the awards were first announced. At the beginning of the novel, the poor Wang Lung travels to a matchmaker to get a wife, hoping that she isn't ugly and will work hard. O-lan is selected and the two of them travel back to his farm. They both work hard but are forced to leave their land due to a famine. Winding up in a city, they soon have to beg for scraps and Wang Lung quickly finds how much he misses working his own land. There is a revolt and Wang Lung and O-lan are able to get money to return to farming. Through their hard work, they become wealthy but Wang Lung begins to loose touch with the earth that has made him wealthy. His children also fail to recognize the worth of the soil and even plan to sell it by the end of the novel. The novel is filled with the concept of how much we owe the Earth; how much strength we draw from it. When we separate ourselves from the Earth or, better yet, from Nature, we begin to loose the vigor that is in our own lives. Wang Lung's own children appear to loose that vigor since they don't draw upon the earth's strength. My young friend and Godson was recently required to read this book for sixth grade. And, he did it! I'm amazed! I had to read it in high school! And, I find that I enjoyed it more now in my later years than when I was a teenager. I'll bet that is going to be true for most of the novels I read when I was young.

Rating:
Summary: A Well Deserving Pulitzer Prize Winner
Review: I first read this book when I was in 6th Grade... and I've re-read it at least 7 times since. It's an extremely well written book by a sensitive and capable author. I noticed that many reviewers commented that this book is 'boring', 'terrible', etc. Maybe they (mostly Westerners, I see) do not understand/feel the need to understand the book. It is an honest portrayal of what life was in China for the peasants during the turbulent period after the defeat of the Manchus. Sure, the storyline is harsh and depressing, but life was generally like that in China during that time. Men value their land and first-born sons more than anything. Women worked with their husband on the land, gave birth and are very submissive to their husband.. even when the husband (after achieving prosperity) decide to take a 2nd wife. Life was LIKE THAT. The author who had lived in China most of her life, painted a honest picture... nothing is hidden/glossed over. The words she used are beautiful, very descriptive and meaningful. For all the above reasons and more, this book deservingly won the Pulitzer Prize. This book should be made compulsory reading in every classroom (yes, even in the Western society, although the story is set in China). A black-and-white movie was made in the '30s based on this book. It wasn't a good production - strangely, most of the (Chinese) characters were portrayed by Caucasians, and the movie only encompass the 1st half of the book. I would like to end by saying that this is one of the Best Books Written This Century and should be read and savioured by all.

Rating:
Summary: a classic
Review: this is the first piece of "literature" i remember reading -- in 8th grade. it has stayed with me for over 20 years and like the reader above, think it is a book one should come back to. i only hope most of the reviews printed here were from young readers who are barely past R.L. Stine and the Babysitter's Club and have not yet tasted what a great book is all about: staying power.

Rating:
Summary: It waas so boring I haven't read it yet
Review: My teacher gave me this book. I want to give it back. The text is boring. Unessesary descriptions. This book is a waste of time. All those pages and nothing interesting.

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Summary: Sometimes we are rich and can't see it until it is to late.
Review: I have read this book four times. I try to read it about every two or three years. I found it to be very deep, and one that would, and should give one some reason to give thought about what life is about. I will hopefully be able to read this book several times before I leave this earth. I would and do recommend this book to everyone who likes meaningful reading.

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Summary: I very well enjoy it because of the very boring text.
Review: There is only one word to describe this book, "terrible!!!" I wish I can go back in time and diminish all the words written in this absolutely dull book.

Rating:
Summary: This book is waste of your time
Review: This book was about a self centered man, living with his children and wife. He only loved her when the hard times kicked in. Then when he had his other pleasures he treaated her like dirt.Trust me, you should never read this book if you get to choose a book to read (unlike myself). It truly is a waste of your time! Infact I'm not really sure why I'm wasting my precious time typing about this book that really does belong in the trash can, like one of the writers wrote at the top of this web page.