The Good Earth - A Challenge
Have you ever read a book, realized it is one of the best books you have ever read and want to shout about it to everyone and anyone and force everyone to read it just so they can agree with you that it is truly an amazing work?
That is how I feel about The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. I cannot believe I never read this novel - it won the freaking Puliter and the author was the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize for literature. How did I miss such a work until I was in my 37th year? What drivel have I been reading for 20 years that I somehow missed this? When you consider my grandmother was a high school English teacher who only kept the classics around the house, my mother was limited to books selected from an approved reading list, and I wanted nothing more than my grandmother's begrudging approval as a teenager (because she clearly favored my brother and NOBODY favored him over me, you know?), you would have thought I would have read this long before now.
I was at Border's 10 days ago, buying a Melissa & Doug puzzle for my son (the best puzzles for children, btw) and a new Scooby-Doo book, when I saw a rack of classics in the transition from the children's section to the adult fiction section. This one was screaming at me for some reason. I can bypass Ernest Hemingway - not a big fan - can surpass Steinbeck - read everything - but this one was there, at just below eye level, in a nice version, and it needed a home.
It is now my challenge to find someone out there to read this based on my recommendation. It is an easy read, it is an interesting story, it is sparely written, but it is deceptive in its simplicity. The story itself occurs in pre-revolutionary China, but it could be today. The lessons are universally applied.
Who will accept my challenge?
That is how I feel about The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. I cannot believe I never read this novel - it won the freaking Puliter and the author was the first American woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize for literature. How did I miss such a work until I was in my 37th year? What drivel have I been reading for 20 years that I somehow missed this? When you consider my grandmother was a high school English teacher who only kept the classics around the house, my mother was limited to books selected from an approved reading list, and I wanted nothing more than my grandmother's begrudging approval as a teenager (because she clearly favored my brother and NOBODY favored him over me, you know?), you would have thought I would have read this long before now.
I was at Border's 10 days ago, buying a Melissa & Doug puzzle for my son (the best puzzles for children, btw) and a new Scooby-Doo book, when I saw a rack of classics in the transition from the children's section to the adult fiction section. This one was screaming at me for some reason. I can bypass Ernest Hemingway - not a big fan - can surpass Steinbeck - read everything - but this one was there, at just below eye level, in a nice version, and it needed a home.
It is now my challenge to find someone out there to read this based on my recommendation. It is an easy read, it is an interesting story, it is sparely written, but it is deceptive in its simplicity. The story itself occurs in pre-revolutionary China, but it could be today. The lessons are universally applied.
Who will accept my challenge?
8 Comments:
I will! It is due back at my library today, hopefully it will be returned on time, then I can pick it up in the next day or two.
Luckily I stumbled into your blog today T, it's been a while. I'm always up for a challenge. :)
Megan
Megan!!! Thank you! It's great to see you!
Considering the last thing I read was "The Devil Wears Prada"...
I'll get it too. :)
i would love to read it.
A 1.5 mile rollerblade to the library (pushing a 33 pound toddler in a jog stroller) left me empty handed last night. Damn library patrons who don't return things on time!
Never mind the trip was all uphill ;) - it was 83 degrees with 700% humidity. I've since put a hold on The Good Earth and am waiting for the library to call.
Oh cool. I might have to check this out too.
I will let you know!
EJ
A wonderful, wonderful book. Worth buying because you'll want to read it again someday.
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