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skjaco's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
lexiannepersand's review against another edition
1.0
I blame this book, and the high school English teach who made me read it as a 15 year old, for why I borderline hated reading as a teenager
nancyadelman's review against another edition
5.0
This is the story of Wang Lung, a farmer in China. The story picks up on Wang's wedding day and follows him for most of his life, through his marriage to O-Lan, a former slave girl. O-Lan gives birth to their children and helps him in the farm fields with the crops. When a drought strikes his region, Wang and O-Lan are forced to make a difficult decision to leave their home in search of food and employment.
The story is told entirely from the POV of Wang Lung and is set around the end of the 1800's-early 1900's China. Wang is one complicated guy, even though he is a simple, illiterate farmer. He feels an affection for his wife but not a deep and abiding type of love. He has three sons and two daughters; one of his daughters is born with an intellectual disability and he loves her though he doesn't love his other daughter and actually calls her a slave when she is born. The author does a really superb job of describing things and letting the reader fill in the rest of the details. I was putting off reading this because I was afraid that it would be boring; I need not have worried, this is excellent, top-notch writing. I enjoyed this book.
The story is told entirely from the POV of Wang Lung and is set around the end of the 1800's-early 1900's China. Wang is one complicated guy, even though he is a simple, illiterate farmer. He feels an affection for his wife but not a deep and abiding type of love. He has three sons and two daughters; one of his daughters is born with an intellectual disability and he loves her though he doesn't love his other daughter and actually calls her a slave when she is born. The author does a really superb job of describing things and letting the reader fill in the rest of the details. I was putting off reading this because I was afraid that it would be boring; I need not have worried, this is excellent, top-notch writing. I enjoyed this book.
ldsbookgrl's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked this book and felt it was a good story to show what happens when we become prideful. Buck also did a good job showing the consequences of our actions whether good or bad.
debrabrinckley's review against another edition
4.0
My rating of this book is more a reflection of my admiration for the writing. Buck's style reminds me of Steinbeck, especially from The Grapes of Wrath. I love books that are heavy on character development and follow a story from birth to death. However, that being said, it was not a book that I would say I enjoyed. The protagonist was just not a character that I could like in any way. I understand it was written to reflect a culture and time period vastly different from my own, and I do respect that. Nevertheless, my dislike of the character made it a difficult book for me.
sudeshnabora's review against another edition
5.0
This book has a huge emotional connection with me. This is the first book , I read along with my mother, discussing its nuances and progressing as the character progresses.
Why is it beautiful?
Cause it is extremely simple to read. It does not bombard you with difficult sentence structure or very uncommon word.
The story seeps into your thought process.
It shows two sides of the same coin and it mesmerized me as a little girl.
Why is it beautiful?
Cause it is extremely simple to read. It does not bombard you with difficult sentence structure or very uncommon word.
The story seeps into your thought process.
It shows two sides of the same coin and it mesmerized me as a little girl.
dearbhlacorr's review against another edition
1.0
the only upside of this book is the thought that Wang Lung and his sons will be executed by the CCP tbh ☺️
viktorijavaic's review against another edition
5.0
Man buvo labai įdomu - šiaip nieko neišmanau apie kinų valstiečių gyvenimą 20 a. pradžioje, bet dabar neišmanau jau truuuputį mažiau.
Susidomėjimą kėlė:
- to meto ir amato kinų (knygoje - žemdirbių) kultūra;
- viską ir visus perskrodžianti bei susaistanti pagarba tradicijoms, papročiams;
- požiūris į moterį/mergaitę (ar labiau jo trūkumas) bei jos rolė šeimoje, bendruomenėje;
- šeimos ryšiai
- santykis su religija;
- senatvės atvaizdavimas su visais džiaugsmais ir vargais.
Susidomėjimą kėlė:
- to meto ir amato kinų (knygoje - žemdirbių) kultūra;
- viską ir visus perskrodžianti bei susaistanti pagarba tradicijoms, papročiams;
- požiūris į moterį/mergaitę (ar labiau jo trūkumas) bei jos rolė šeimoje, bendruomenėje;
- šeimos ryšiai
- santykis su religija;
- senatvės atvaizdavimas su visais džiaugsmais ir vargais.
carladash's review against another edition
4.0
I know there is some controversy about this book because it is about rural Chinese life in the 19th/20th century, but is not written by a Chinese person (though Buck grew up in China). I guess I can't really speak to the authenticity, but I also don't read fiction, even historical fiction, as if it is supposed to be a textbook. This story to me was about the life of a particular man. And though it was about a very specific place and time, there was so much in the story that felt universal to me: struggles of poverty and wealth, of moving up the social ladder, of wanting a better life for the next generation, of not understanding the next generation and the world they are growing up in, of duty, lust, greed, loss, grief, mortality. For realistic fiction, which is usually not my cup of tea, I just really enojyed this. I'm not sure I want to read the other two books in the trilogy. I'm not sure I can bear to move on from Wang Lung to the next generation!
librarydebluts's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
It’s been a long time since I read a book like this. The themes are timeless, and while this book contains pain and sadness, it’s a beautiful tale of the human spirit and experience.