A review by halkid2
Peony by Pearl S. Buck
4.0
3.5 stars is probably more accurate a rating. Pearl S. Buck has a lovely way of conveying Chinese sensibility in her writing. So, this is a pleasure to read. From a plot standpoint however, I found the resolution of the plot a bit clunky.
PEONY is fundamentally a romance focused on the first born son of a wealthy merchant and a bondmaid in his parent's employ and as such, it is a story of classes in China. But I became much more fascinated with the parallel story of a waning population of Jews in one city in China, as they struggle between maintaining their religious traditions and the pressure for assimilation. (The book ends with a chapter by a scholar summarizing the history of Jews in China, which began in the 600s. Who knew?)
PEONY takes place in the late 1800s or early 1900s - so there's an opportunity to learn about Chinese life at that time -- like how trade was conducted, how marriages were arranged, how large households operated, and the ways in which families functioned together. All in all, it's an interesting exploration of the culture of China.
PEONY is fundamentally a romance focused on the first born son of a wealthy merchant and a bondmaid in his parent's employ and as such, it is a story of classes in China. But I became much more fascinated with the parallel story of a waning population of Jews in one city in China, as they struggle between maintaining their religious traditions and the pressure for assimilation. (The book ends with a chapter by a scholar summarizing the history of Jews in China, which began in the 600s. Who knew?)
PEONY takes place in the late 1800s or early 1900s - so there's an opportunity to learn about Chinese life at that time -- like how trade was conducted, how marriages were arranged, how large households operated, and the ways in which families functioned together. All in all, it's an interesting exploration of the culture of China.