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The Good Earth
 

The Good Earth

by Pearl S. Buck

ENDURING LITERATURE ILLUMINATED
BY PRACTICAL SCHOLARSHIP
A poignant tale about the life and labors of a Chinese farmer during the sweeping reign of the country¹s last emperor.
EACH ENRICHED CLASSIC EDITION INCLUDES:
• A concise introduction that gives readers important background information
• A chronology of the author's life and work
• A timeline of... (read more)

Top tags: china,  classic,  fiction,  historical fiction,  literature (all tags)

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Other Reviews

Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
Ladyslott
  • Rated 4 stars

“I read this book many years ago, probably for school. I really liked it then, so when it was chosen as an Oprah book and I saw it in the store I picked it up to glance through it. Imagine my surprise when I was drawn in from the first page and so I bought the book. It was a nice surprise to reread this classic book and enjoy it as much as I did.

The story of Wang Lung, a poor farmer, and his wife O-lan is set in the time of the last Emperor and moves up to the start of the People's...”

Ladyslott’s full review »
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Didn’t Like It

P. K.
  • Rated 1 stars

“I hated this book. It shouldn't even be a classic. I mean, I love how the woman writes. But 385 pages....it was just too much of nothing.”

P. K.’s full review »
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Community:
  • Rated 4.082768 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 4.307693 stars
  

Newest Comments

  • Wookeeduck

    wookeeduck said:

    “I feel absolutely no need to submit my qualifications, as either writer or reader, before expressing my immense satisfaction in reading this book. I actually went to an appointment with a copy of "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" and my doctor wholeheartedly recommended "The Good Earth." I'm glad she did. At moments I hated Wang Lung, but then I would suddenly love him again as he redeemed himself. I worried for the family and mourned when O-lan, the character I felt was the most powerful, finally died. The symbolism (the train or the pamphlets that illustrated a crucified Christ and frightened Wang Lung) which hinted of the influence of western culture upon the east was subtle enough to be a graceful component while still successfully making a valid and important contribution to the overall story. I especially love the continuous reference to the earth and it's relevance, or lack thereof, to the characters within the story. The earth itself seems to be a character in its own right that forms the story and gives us that constant point of reference as the symbol and mainstay of the entire book.”

    posted Friday, June 27 2008
  • typedeck911

    typedeck911 said:

    “a well written book. only a writer can understand, what skill it takes to weave a story like this. bravo book. i had a really bad misconception that women cant write well. the myth was broken after this book.”

    posted Monday, May 12 2008 ( | view 1 reply )
  • abrar M

    abrar m said:

    “i read the book many years ago and i read it again recently..still so alive, moving and enchanting..”

    posted Friday, March 28 2008
  • karen v

    karen v said:

    “There are so many scenes from this book that will stay with me for life! Great book.”

    posted Sunday, January 13 2008
  • Rebel26

    rebel26 said:

    “This book always shows up on those lists of classic books, but I never really felt the need to read it. Then I saw an old copy at my mom's house and picked it up. It is such a beautifully written story! I just loved it. Buck's writing style is simple but descriptive. The story takes us through the cycles of birth and death, feast and famine, poverty and riches. It's just amazing, we see all of the beauty and horror of the human condition in one man & his family. Well worth the read.”

    posted Thursday, January 3 2008
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