The Good Earth

The Good Earth. Pearl S. Buck. Howard Publishing Co. 1931.418 pages. Audio library.

First line: It was Wang Lung's marriage day.

Plot: This tells the poignant tale of a Chinese farmer and his family in old agrarian China. The humble Wang Lung glories in the soil he works, nurturing the land as it nurtures him and his family. Nearby, the nobles of the House of Hwang consider themselves above the land and its workers; but they will soon meet their own downfall.

Hard times come upon Wang Lung and his family when flood and drought force them to seek work in the city. The working people riot, breaking into the homes of the rich and forcing them to flee. When Wang Lung shows mercy to one noble and is rewarded, he begins to rise in the world, even as the House of Hwang falls.

My Thoughts: Sometimes it's hard for me to wrap my mind around a culture that is so completely different from my own.  When Wang goes to marry his wife whom he has never met or courted he seems alright with his choice considering his status in life is but a farmer.  She works next to (behind really) him at all times on the farm.  She prepared meals and kept the home.  A better wife you would be hard pressed to find.  Until Wang's social status changes after coming into a lot of money.  He starts visiting a brothel.  After a while becomes discontent with his wife and moves in a mistress taken from the brothel.  

After some pour life choices Wang's life begins to fall apart.  His sons don't live up to his expectations.  I can't say that I felt sorry for him by the end of this story.  I don't know if I want to continue with the series yet or not.  Some of the content is for mature audiences so I would not recommend this for anyone under upper teens.

The Bonesetter's Daughter

The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan 2001 G.P. Putnam's 353 pages (Source: Library audio book)

First sentence: For the past eight years always starting on August 12th, Ruth Young lost her voice.

Plot: Ruth Young and her widowed mother, LuLing, have always had a tumultuous relationship.  Now, before she succumbs to forgetfulness, LuLing gives Ruth some of her writings, which reveal a side of LuLing that Ruth has never known.

In a remote mountain village where ghosts and tradition rule, LuLing grows up in the care of her mute Precious Auntie as the family endures a curse laid upon a relative known as the bonesetter.  When headstrong LuLing rejects the marriage proposal of the coffinmaker, a shocking series of events are set in motion - all of which lead back to Ruth and LuLIng in modern San Francisco.  The truth that Ruth learns from her mother's past will forever change her perception of family, love, and forgiveness.

My thoughts: At first I thought this was going to be very boring book.  When the story shifted from modern day San Francisco to early 20th century China my thought began to change.  LuLing's life story is told in this portion and explains a lot of why she is the way she is and why he and her daughter Ruth have a very hard relationship.

Ruth discovers the writings of her mother while staying with her during the early stages of Alzheimer's disease.  It's a journey of discovery.  Finding out who you are and where your family came from.

In the end I found I enjoyed this story very much.