Just thought Id throw this out there, I really enjoyed this book and have read it twice a few years apart. Its a very moving story of a poor Chinese farmer who through hard work becomes the richest man in the village. The money corrupts him to an extent but he still holds some values, most notably that there is value in the land, and even without money to buy food, at least you always have the land. For me it was one of the books the prompted me to leave North America for a simpler way of life. Im sorry my explanation and review are very poor but a quick look for a pro review may find you reading this book, and thats all I was hoping for from this thread. Anyone else read it? Enjoyed it? Not enjoyed it? Im curious to hear as it was an inspirational book for me.
I will check it out. I have read "East of Eden" (an ok book IMO) and "The Pearl" which I think is one of the best short novels ever written and also, of course, "Of Mice and Men," a classic. Have you read "The Pearl"
I own all three books but havent got around to reading them yet. I love steinbeck though, I just re read grapes of wrath, have read in dubious battle a few times, cannery row, all gold.
I read The Good Earth a few months back. I had interest in reading it after seeing a clip of Buck being interviewed by Mike Wallace in what must have been the 50s. She was very well-spoken; concentrating on fielding questions mostly having to do with feminism she was unflappable in the face of his at times incredulous looks. I wasn't particularly entralled with the book however. I think the reasons for this are 1) I didn't care for any of the characters and 2) I didn't dislike any of them to the point of wanting to see their demise. I think what it was was that I didn't see any characters the equal of Ms Buck herself. Still, I've read a large number of books that I've liked less than I do this one. A quibble I have with your description of the book is that I don't see how holding the idea of value being in the land is itself a virtue. 'Land' is of course a major element in the book - even to where so-and-so is to be buried - but as for virtues the main character possesses I'll nominate his concern for his mentally afflicted child. Land is security and speculation; care for an unproductive member (female at that) while in a very materialistic and sexist society is a value held. However, I may actually see your point about there being a value (as opposed to simply, value) in land - - nobody grows their own food anymore. That's a generalization of course, but for generalizations it's a pretty accurate one. (This of course may not be your point at all.) ;-) How long ago did you leave? How different has the reality been from your perception of how a simpler way of living might be?
Yeah it's a wonderful book. The way Buck writes is tactile in the best way, you can literally feel the dirt running through a farmer's rough old hand. I didn't think the overarching message of the book was profoundly stated, but the way the characters interact and her general manner of writing were enough to make it a good read.
Thats what I meant was there is a value in land. Its amazing to have your own piece of dirt you can plant whatever you want theres a secure feeling, every time I look Im not only happy with the aesthetics of the land Im happy I wont be hungry in the near future. Theres something primal about it. I left in 2008, but Ive run out of money several times and have gone to other countries for 3-5 months at a time to work. The biggest misconception I had was that I could live here without the need for much income. While that can be true if your ambition is to only live, survive, subside......establishing an infrastructure to live in the manor you want is very costly, clearing land, building outbuildings. Its very satisfying work though.
