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bahoulie's review against another edition
4.0
This book lead to a really interesting discussion in book group. Really kept us going strong for almost 2 hours.
The writing is not elegant, but as history and social commentary it really was interesting.
The writing is not elegant, but as history and social commentary it really was interesting.
teresa_r's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
susangiardina's review against another edition
4.0
Not one of Pearl S. Buck's better known books, but a very good one. As usual, her eloquence in description is beautiful, and her story of Peony, a bondsmaid (slave) to a wealthy family in China is very interesting. That the family is Jewish gives it a different perspective from her other books, as they live a life with their traditions firmly planted in Judaism and Chinese culture. Peony loves her young Jewish master as a brother, and as they grow up together, her love becomes more serious. How that plays out is the core of the story, and it takes many twists.
What was interesting to learn was that China was always very open to the Jews, and they were very welcome there, unlike in so many places the Jews went in their diaspora. The Chinese respected their traditions and appreciated the Jews' willingness to deal fairly and kindly with the Chinese.
However, Jews didn't flourish there. Ironically, this was because they and the Chinese got on so well. The Jews intermarried with the Chinese very readily after the first generation or two, and after a few generations more, were almost fully assimilated.
A good book for anyone interested in historical romances, especially Buck fans.
What was interesting to learn was that China was always very open to the Jews, and they were very welcome there, unlike in so many places the Jews went in their diaspora. The Chinese respected their traditions and appreciated the Jews' willingness to deal fairly and kindly with the Chinese.
However, Jews didn't flourish there. Ironically, this was because they and the Chinese got on so well. The Jews intermarried with the Chinese very readily after the first generation or two, and after a few generations more, were almost fully assimilated.
A good book for anyone interested in historical romances, especially Buck fans.
sleightoffeet's review against another edition
3.0
I feel like I'm chasing the dragon after reading [b:The Good Earth|1078|The Good Earth (House of Earth, #1)|Pearl S. Buck|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1312497600l/1078._SY75_.jpg|2346070], and subsequently reading her other books. None of them quite live up to that first one I read. With Peony, though, I truly have mixed feelings.
The book is not only about life in China, but about the Jewish people who lived there. Unlike many countries in the world, instead of persecution, the Chinese were kind which enabled assimilation. You can see that from the opening scene (which bothered me a bit) where they were having a Seder while being served by people that they owned. Obviously that was a time where this was done, but it doesn't make it better when you are celebrating escaping the bonds of slavery.
The story itself was a beautiful one: the unrequited love of a bondmaid and a merchant. There were parts that I had problems with and I don't know if it is because the writer was the daughter of Christian missionaries, whether my Jewish heritage makes me touchy, or whether it was the time that Buck was writing in. Despite this, I did love the story.
I didn't feel that I really got to know the characters as well as the other books of her's I've read. Even Peony, who we are supposed to know better than anyone, was still a bit of a mystery to me.
I'm glad I read it though. Because most of Buck's books contain a historical context that is factual while the story itself is fiction, I was able to learn about the Jews who lived in China. Before reading this, I had no idea about it and about how welcoming the Chinese were and how long those clans remained there. There was also a lot of historical context written at the end which I found interesting as well.
The book is not only about life in China, but about the Jewish people who lived there. Unlike many countries in the world, instead of persecution, the Chinese were kind which enabled assimilation. You can see that from the opening scene (which bothered me a bit) where they were having a Seder while being served by people that they owned. Obviously that was a time where this was done, but it doesn't make it better when you are celebrating escaping the bonds of slavery.
The story itself was a beautiful one: the unrequited love of a bondmaid and a merchant. There were parts that I had problems with and I don't know if it is because the writer was the daughter of Christian missionaries, whether my Jewish heritage makes me touchy, or whether it was the time that Buck was writing in. Despite this, I did love the story.
I didn't feel that I really got to know the characters as well as the other books of her's I've read. Even Peony, who we are supposed to know better than anyone, was still a bit of a mystery to me.
I'm glad I read it though. Because most of Buck's books contain a historical context that is factual while the story itself is fiction, I was able to learn about the Jews who lived in China. Before reading this, I had no idea about it and about how welcoming the Chinese were and how long those clans remained there. There was also a lot of historical context written at the end which I found interesting as well.
lanid's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
- 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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Antisemitism, and Death of parent
Minor: Racism, Xenophobia, Grief, and Religious bigotry
mochirae's review against another edition
3.0
___________________________________________________
Rating: ★★★☆☆
“Let woman out of the home, let man into it, should be the aim of education. The home needs man, and the world outside needs woman.”
___________________________________________________
Peony is a fascinating look on the Jews of Kaifeng who first settled in China in the Middle Ages. This book takes place in the 1850s as we follow Peony, a Chinese servant in the House of Ezra, who experiences the decline of the Jew community and the clash with the Chinese culture.
Plot: Pearl S. Buck writes in a very simplistic and candid style so i found the book very easy to read. I was effortlessly transported to the scenarios she described and it was an absolute pleasure to experience it.
On a plot standpoint however, i was slightly disappointed. Peony is advertised as being a forbidden romance novel but that is clearly not what it is. I dived into it thinking i was reading an epic love story, but the romantic plot was only introduced in the last 30 pages of the book.
I ended up not DNFing it because of how interested i was in the struggles the Jews faced when trying to maintain their religious traditions against the pressure to assimilate.
Characters: I adore Peony and she was the only character with whom i felt a connection with. Throughout the book we can clearly see her growth, both physically and mentally. It was a pleasure to see her little self navigate life to try and find her place in a house that stopped feeling like her own.
Ending: I found the ending a bit clunky. While the beginning of the book was very slow paced, the ending felt a bit rushed.
Final thoughts: Peony is definitely a very enjoyable novel if the reader dives into it with the idea that it’s an historical fiction book and not a romance one. Nevertheless, i sincerely enjoyed it and found a great deal to ponder about while reading it.
___________________________________________________
Rating: ★★★☆☆
“Let woman out of the home, let man into it, should be the aim of education. The home needs man, and the world outside needs woman.”
___________________________________________________
Peony is a fascinating look on the Jews of Kaifeng who first settled in China in the Middle Ages. This book takes place in the 1850s as we follow Peony, a Chinese servant in the House of Ezra, who experiences the decline of the Jew community and the clash with the Chinese culture.
Plot: Pearl S. Buck writes in a very simplistic and candid style so i found the book very easy to read. I was effortlessly transported to the scenarios she described and it was an absolute pleasure to experience it.
On a plot standpoint however, i was slightly disappointed. Peony is advertised as being a forbidden romance novel but that is clearly not what it is. I dived into it thinking i was reading an epic love story, but the romantic plot was only introduced in the last 30 pages of the book.
I ended up not DNFing it because of how interested i was in the struggles the Jews faced when trying to maintain their religious traditions against the pressure to assimilate.
Characters: I adore Peony and she was the only character with whom i felt a connection with. Throughout the book we can clearly see her growth, both physically and mentally. It was a pleasure to see her little self navigate life to try and find her place in a house that stopped feeling like her own.
Ending: I found the ending a bit clunky. While the beginning of the book was very slow paced, the ending felt a bit rushed.
Final thoughts: Peony is definitely a very enjoyable novel if the reader dives into it with the idea that it’s an historical fiction book and not a romance one. Nevertheless, i sincerely enjoyed it and found a great deal to ponder about while reading it.
___________________________________________________
imyerhero's review against another edition
3.0
Having read “The Good Earth” as my first foray into Buck’s novels, everything else by her has had a tough climb to reach the pinnacle I’ve put “Earth” on. This book does a very good job, but still doesn’t topple “Earth.” I liked Peony and David as characters, but I never really could find myself enjoying the story. I wanted to know what happened next, but I wasn’t compelled to keep on reading it. Halfway through the book, it seemed like the story lost steam and veered off into a completely different direction than it originally intended…leaving me wondering what the heck was going on.
octygon's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Interesting book, but sad in many ways. It was hard to like it too much as the characters were not always appealing. The main character, Peony, is incredibly manipulative. Also the tone of the author shows the age of the book--I felt there was a lot of stereotypical language in Buck's depiction of the Jewish characters, which is harring in today's times. It was very interesting to learn about the Jewish population who had lived in China for so long--something I had never heard about before. The book implies that the assimilation of the Jews into Chinese society, with the loss of their customs and their religion was inevitable. From the tone of the book, I get the feeling Buck wasn't sure whether she thought this a good thing or tragic one.
akayeh's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing book! It's a simple story to follow, told in a soft, quiet way about a young Chinese girl who is a bondservant (slightly higher than slave) and grows up serving a Jewish family living in Old China. It follows both her and the young man of the family who is her age; at first she is to be only his playmate until she is old enough for simple tasks. They are raised as almost siblings, and she eventually helps set up his marriage and many other things to keep the house running. It also shows the interactions between the small community of Chinese Jews--whether among themselves or with their native Chinese neighbors. There is birth, death, love, anger, and a whole lot of drama! Oh, and one very interesting sword.... Don't miss Peony!