The Good Earth, Chapters 1-9
Hello everyone, and a happy Valentine’s Day to you all. It’s time to get started with Pearl S. Buck’s The Good Earth, and I can’t wait to read what you all have to say about it!
These early chapters were probably my favorite part of the book. They lay the groundwork for this time period in China and the characters Wang Lung and O-lan. I’ve always been fascinated with books that allow me to sink into a time period or specific geographic region, and obviously this book offers both. I like historical fiction that meticulously outlines the daily minutiae of life. Thinking back to my childhood, the first book to allow me this opportunity was Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House in the Big Woods. I don’t come across them often–maybe I’m just not reading the right historical fiction–but The Good Earth is the first book in a long while that made me feel as if I were living right alongside the characters.
Speaking of the characters, I think they are marvelously fleshed out. Wang Lung’s drive to work the land and succeed, come hell or high water, is intense and wrenching. O-lan’s hard work and endurance is astounding and sort of heartbreaking since she doesn’t get the type of attention we, as readers, probably feel she deserves for her hard work.
In recent weeks, as you all have started reading, I’ve heard from several people that this book could “Rip your heart out!” and I can’t argue with that sentiment. But why and how does it rip our hearts out?
Some questions for you all to think and chat about:
- What expectations did you bring to the book if you’re reading it for the first time?
- What do you think of the characters and their respective plights?
- What details of daily life in China have delighted, sickened, or surprised you?
- What does Wang Lung’s proclamation of “At least I have the land–I have the land” foreshadow and is it a promising mantra?
While you all peruse those questions and toss out your initial thoughts, I hope you’re enjoying the next leg of the book! See you back here for discussion of Chapters 10-19 on the 21st!
Heather 6:04 pm on February 14, 2011 Permalink |
Well. I brought a lot of expectations to the book, the first of which was that I would probably love it. You haven’t been wrong yet Andi! As for the characters, wow! These characters are some of the most well written, well thought out, and delightfully conflicted I have ever encountered. Wang Lung….his life was a roller-coaster and it was some ride. There were times I loved him, times I wanted to strangle him, and times I just shook myself in bewilderment at him! And O-Lan. Poor, poor O-Lan. I just wanted to hug her. She needed to be loved better than she was.
The way women were treated in China definitely sickened me. O-Lan was a slave, and even after Wang Lung took her, her life barely improved. I mean, leaving her bed after giving birth to join him in the fields? And he not saying a word to her about it? Yeah, I wanted to smack him upside the head a few times!
The way the Chinese treated their elderly was surprising. The fact that Wang Lung’s father would eat before anyone, even a breastfeeding mother, was unbelievable. I think the elderly should be treated with respect but I also know if my grandchildren were starving, I would give them my food.
“At least I have the land-I have the land” was very prophetic! Wang Lung will do anything for his land and to get more. And yes, it’s promising.
Andi 12:45 pm on February 15, 2011 Permalink |
I’m glad you liked it, Heather! My record continues! LOL
I definitely wanted to smack Wang Lung upside the head as well. My heart broke for O-Lan over and over again, but then again, I tried to remove myself somewhat from my contemporary mindset and not put my expectations of the treatment of women onto these characters. I never said I was very successful at that, though!
I was also constantly agog at the grandfather. He just seemed like such a miserable little thing, and personally I would have a hard time eating before a breastfeeding mother or my grandkids. The cultural differences are so pronounced, again, it’s hard to step out of our contemporary mindset.
Patti Smith 6:24 pm on February 14, 2011 Permalink |
I really didn’t have any expectations for the book…I’ve, of course, heard of it many times through the years but never really knew past the general synopsis what the book was all about. I also am addicted to the characters even this early in our reading. The father is the one I wanted to smack in the head more times than anyone else…and that horrible uncle!!
O-lan is a character like none other that I can think of. What a tough cookie…isn’t that an understatement?? I don’t harbor much resentment toward Wang Lung because his behavior is what is expected from a man of his age and his place in society. Actually the survival of his family depends on that he acts as he is supposed to…talk about complicated. Even if he wanted to change things, it would be impossible to the detriment of all who live under his roof. I do think he feels for O-Lan and I hope that is something that will grow as we continue to read.
I did realize to some extent how repressed women were in Chinese society but to hear it spoken as in normal conversation and accepted as “the way things are” breaks my heart. To me, when the fourth child is born is absolutely the scene that gives us an insight into how ingrained that repression was….makes me shiver to even think of it now.
Ok, please don’t think I am a goofy Southerner…but that whole “At least I have the land – I have the land” sounds sooooo much like Scarlett O’Hara…if Wang Lung had sold the land, the others could take away anything he had bought…but they couldn’t take the land. I hope this foreshadows prosperity for Wang Lung and O-Lan sometime in the future.
I’m loving this book
:)
Andi 12:48 pm on February 15, 2011 Permalink |
Patti, thanks for joining us! That uncle is a piece.of.work. Uggg!!! I can’t say he grows up much either, but I won’t give any more than that away. lol
O-Lan is definitely a tough cookie, and I found her the most sympathetic character in the whole darn thing (maybe aside from the innocent children). I think you make a good point about Wang Lung’s place in society — the family wouldn’t survive in that culture and that time period if he didn’t act just as we’ve seen thus far. It’s a hard mindset to get into. It was definitely enlightening for me as a reader.
And Heather and I are both southerners, and I’m sure we both screamed “SCARLETT!!!” in our heads at the last line about the land.
Glad you love it! I’m looking forward to discussing more with you.