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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.
hedyharper's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Slavery, Terminal illness, Dementia, Grief, Cannibalism, Pregnancy, War, and Classism
juniperd's review against another edition
2.0
okay, so probably people who love this book are gonna hate on me for the 2-star rating. i am sorry about that. i did really want to like this book because, PEARL BUCK. but i don't know...i just didn't dig it that much. it was fine. i am glad i have now read it. but what this book did do, which i appreciate very much, was to make me want to learn more about buck and seek out nonfiction about the time she writes about in china.
with the good earth, i just couldn't get into the flow of buck's writing. i found it stilted and choppy. i wanted to feel some ache from the sadnesses or annoyance over the shenanigans in the tale but i didn't feel anything while reading. maybe i am broken? heh. (i doubt it. i tend to feel all the feelings.) but the fact the novel caused no reaction in me is telling. and it bummed me out. my reaction to the lack of reaction was the most emotion evoked from the read. oops!
with the good earth, i just couldn't get into the flow of buck's writing. i found it stilted and choppy. i wanted to feel some ache from the sadnesses or annoyance over the shenanigans in the tale but i didn't feel anything while reading. maybe i am broken? heh. (i doubt it. i tend to feel all the feelings.) but the fact the novel caused no reaction in me is telling. and it bummed me out. my reaction to the lack of reaction was the most emotion evoked from the read. oops!
cricca's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
tsutherland's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't think I would like this book, but I ended up really liking it. I think the story is timeless and could apply in China, America, Africa, Europe...the story of the struggle to rise above your circumstances and to make a better life for your children is impressive. Plus getting your annoying family members addicted to opium...
andyblv's review against another edition
4.0
I don’t know what to make of this book. Is it a pastoral ode to agrarian society? A morality tale on the perils of becoming what you always despised? A dramatization of early 20th century China, with its upheavals and flood and drought cycles? It’s all of things and more. I can see why it won the Pulitzer. It is beautiful and lyrical, but also deeply troubling. Like a good book should be.
bella613's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
This seems like a book I would like but I found myself waiting for the audiobook to just be done. I was immensely relieved when it was over.
Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if the main character wasn't such a terrible person.
I was pretty tired listening to this and maybe if I had tried reading the physical book I would have been more into it. It's like slice-of-life except the slice is actually the entire thing. And the life in question is one of a guy who sees women as less than human and does stuff like drugging his entire family so they'll bother him less.
I was VERY concerned that they were gonna eat a baby at one point but thankfully that did not happen.
Maybe I would have enjoyed it more if the main character wasn't such a terrible person.
I was pretty tired listening to this and maybe if I had tried reading the physical book I would have been more into it. It's like slice-of-life except the slice is actually the entire thing. And the life in question is one of a guy who sees women as less than human and does stuff like drugging his entire family so they'll bother him less.
I was VERY concerned that they were gonna eat a baby at one point but thankfully that did not happen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Trafficking, Murder, War, and Classism
Moderate: Child death and Death of parent