First and foremost, many thanks to Mary for hosting us in her lovely back yard, under the world's best tree. It was a perfect setting and luckily perfect weather for an appropriately distanced meeting. We had to speak up but that proved no issue as we had plenty to say about this classic novel by a Nobel Laureate.
Way back in the day, we read another of Pearl S. Buck's works, The Imperial Woman. Reading that book, I was taken aback by the medieval level of the culture and the absolute abyss between the empress and the empire she ruled. The Good Earth underscored the poverty and isolation of the Chinese rural population, so cut off that there was little distinction between the war of revolution and that of common warlords. The result was a pretty harrowing life, at least for some of the characters, as in the women.
The story was so very readable, it kept me going even though some of the plot twists were pretty far-fetched. The arc of the rich, idle family tossing away its assets and the poor farmer, rising to riches on the land who rises to riches was compelling if a bit predictable, particularly in the ending that implies the hard-won good earth so prized by Wang Lung, our protagonist, would soon be sold.
The plight of the women in this novel was pitiful. Wang Lung somehow acquires a wife, a so-called slave who is wise and effective in a way he can only imagine. With her hard work in the fields, even to the minute of giving birth, he is able to scratch just a bit more than a living out of the earth. He even has the audacity to scold her for being pregnant when the harvest was poor. She makes his ambitions possible in every way and he rewards her by taking her beloved pearls and giving them to his mistress. Ugh.
These heartbreaking scenes of privation and loss were tolerable because of the distant, almost biblical tone that Buck takes with the story. While the characters endure unimaginable circumstances, we are able to read from afar, with emotion certainly, but also a remove that allows us to consider and reflect. This is Buck's gift.
It was a surprise to me that this is the first of a trilogy. Given the fame of the this book, and the anonymity of the following two volumes, I am not putting them on my library hold list.
And so on to our next great read which was suggested by Barbara, after a friend of hers sent her the novel. Already a great start! The book is One Fine Day by Mollie Panter-Downes. Barbara raved about it which is good enough for me. It is not that easy to find so check Amazon and Barnes and Noble. I should have my copy read by the end of next week so can pass it on.
Our next meeting is September 15 at 6:30. Did someone volunteer to host? I don't remember, so sorry! Also, if people would feel more comfortable with an online meeting, just weigh in, we want everyone to be comfortable. Mary absolutely nailed a socially distant, outdoor event that felt completely safe but that doesn't mean every meeting has to be in person.
Hope to see you all soon!
