I read this book years ago and it has stayed with me ever since.
Originally published in 1931, it won the Pulitzer prize the following year.

The setting is in China, right before the revolution. Wang Lung is a poor farmer in a village and the book starts with his wedding to plain O-lan. They have four children together, three boys and one girl. He is a very hard working farmer and bit by bit, thanks also to O-lan's skills, he builds a fortune by buying land from the House of Hwangs's family, landowners in a nearest village whose wealth declines dramatically due to their relentless spending.

We are dipped into Chinese culture, taken from the seemingly bottomless poverty of the early days throughout the rise to wealth, only to be propelled downwards again due to a terrible draught and subsequent famine, when everything seems lost and the family has to move to the city, starting all over again.

We are reading spectators of the rise and fall and twists & turns of Wang Lung's family. Many touching episodes have moved me throughout the book, especially the ones connected with hard-working, silent, subservient O-lan and later on, the ones related to their mentally retarded baby girl.

The story is absorbing and mesmerizing, exquisitely written. Page after page, truly unforgettable. A must-read classic.

This is Pearl S. Buck's stunning Pulitzer prize winning novel, 'The Good Earth'; it was written in 1931.

The book itself is easy to read, written in plain language using simple words to describe people, places and things. No dictionary or thesaurus needed here.

This is not only the story of Wang Lung and his wife O-lan (by arranged marriage), but also in a sense, a historical novel that gives the reader a glimpse of early 20th century, rural China. The tale follows Wang Lung life that starts from the humblest of beginnings; to later, when the winds of revolution started to bring a subtle but steady changes to his way of life as he knew it, with some unexpected effects.

While reading this book, I could not help but feel that this story could be transposed to any poor rural area almost anywhere in the world; its theme has a universal chord to it.

Conclusion:
A beautiful story of a changing China and its people.
Highly recommended.
5 Stars

R.Nicholson

This is Pearl S. Buck's stunning Pulitzer prize winning novel, 'The Good Earth'; it was written in 1931.

The book itself is easy to read, written in plain language using simple words to describe people, places and things. No dictionary or thesaurus need here.

This is not only the story of Wang Lung and his wife O-lan (by arranged marriage), but also in a sense, a historical novel that gives the reader a glimpse of rural pre-revolutionary China. The tale follows Wang Lung life through the changing times; initially in an era where his capitalistic' tendencies were not frowned upon, to later, where the winds of change started to bring a subtle but steady alteration to his way of life as he knew them; some with drastic effects.

While reading this book, I could not help but feel that this story could be transposed to any poor rural area almost anywhere in the world; its theme has a universal chord to it.

Conclusion:
A beautiful story of a changing China and its people.
Highly recommended.
5 Stars

R.Nicholson

This book does exactly what the author intended: It creates a picture of the Chinese culture right before the arrival of the revolution, providing a view of a world quite different from our own. I have read several of the negative reviews, and my advice is, if you cannot for one moment let go of your attitude that the only right way is the way we do it now--the Christian American way--then you're going to have trouble with this book. Also, if you think that all writing has to be at the level of modern pulp fiction, then you also will be sadly disappointed. But if you read the book for what it is, a picture of a particular place and time, then this is an excellent book to develop a certain sense of understanding of the Chinese culture, particularly the agrarian part of it. These are not good people or bad people; they are just people of a particular ethnicity, with their own set of motivations and traditions. They are going to do things we don't like or understand, but then that is the purpose of a book like this--to make us think not in terms of right and wrong but in terms of why.

Really liked this book, but hated how Wang Lung and his family treated his oldest daughter. She is never given a name. She's only referred to as "The Fool". The family leaves her to play alone, outside, with her piece of cloth. Rarely do they check up on her. And, if nobody thinks about it she is sometimes left outdoors. She's treated this way just because she is mentally challenged. It's bad enough that Wang and the other does this. But, it's really hurtful, that O-lan, the mother, does this. You would think that maternal instinct would cause her to feel differently. However, it doesn't.

This is a classic novel about the human condition. The innocence and tentativeness of unproven youth; the rise and fall of an individual's fortunes (monetary and otherwise); the boredom and potential for dissolution that middle age can bring; and finally the nodding, smiling dotage at the end of a life. All the seven deadly sins as well as the seven virtues are illustrated in this novel and it achieves greatness through its beautiful and tragic depiction of each. This book transcends cultures as we can all relate to the feelings these characters experienced.

My book club recently read this and while several members had read it previously, some, including me, had not. It was an absolute delight and I wish I had picked it up sooner.

If I had to make any criticism of the book, it would be that the end was a bit abrupt after all that I felt I had invested in the main character of Wang Lung.

This book is required for freshman in our high school. Easy reading and a classic!

I know I read The Good Earth in high school - but I wanted to re-read it as it is on my son's high school reading list. I am struck by the almost poetic nature of Buck's writing, but I must confess that the storyline was of such a nature so as to leave me wanting to take a mental bath. Such hopelessness and helplessness of Wang Lung to overcome the downward spin of his pagan destiny was hard to read.

I recommend this book to mature readers (I am going to select a different book off of my 15 year old's reading list) as there is candid discussion of sexual desire and its fulfillment. If a parent is not sure about whether or not a young person would be ready for a book of this depth, I highly recommend pre-reading it.

I do ultimately recommend this book as I think it can reveal much about human nature.

I read this book as part of my summer reading for American Literature class (high school). I enjoyed this book and plan to read the remaining two books in the trilogy. I would recommend this book for high school aged students+. This is a book for people that have read and liked works such as Cry, the Beloved Country and When Things Fall Apart. I learned a lot about that time period, Chinese culture and as American's, the basic freedoms we take for granted. Below is the paper I wrote as part of my assignment for the class.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST: THE GOOD EARTH

Pearl S. Buck, author of the Nobel Prize-winning book, The Good Earth, was an American writer born in West Virginia to Southern Presbyterian missionaries to China. She wrote The Good Earth to unveil to Americans pre-revolutionary Chinese culture and religion. The story begins to unfold when Wang Lung, a poor village farmer, goes to purchase his future wife, a slave, from the House of Whang. Through the life of the fictional character Wang Lung, the Earth, women, and wealth are all major themes in his life, being portrayed differently at different times.
For some, the Earth is what makes their life worthwhile, but for others, it's just something they live on and get food from. But for all, it can provide and it can withhold. For Wang Lung, it gave prosperity to him, but it also took away livelihood from him. The Earth can have relationships. Wang Lung knew the Earth. It was what he loved, even after he became wealthy. But for the House of Whang, the rich people of Wang Lung's village, they didn't have a care for it; they only cared about money that came from it.
The treatment of women in pre-revolutionary China is so completely different from how women are treated now, it's shocking that it was roughly a century ago. In the story of Wang Lung's life, it is obvious that women were usually treated more as property instead of a husband/wife relationship. Also, the desire for women was a lust satisfier and a male offspring supplier. Women's beauty and family status were more important than character. If she was not pretty or from a wealthy family, she generally didn't have a promising future in securing a husband.
Wealth was a fate that determined your friends, how you conducted your every day routine, what you would eat, and influenced your desire for more material things. As Wang Lung became more materially wealthy, he began to resemble Old Lord Whang, who used to be the head of the House of Whang. Wealth corrupted his family. First, it caused Wang Lung to become discontented with his first wife. Wealth made his elder son have a sense of arrogance and conceit. Additionally, Wang Lung's wicked uncle tormented his life and also caused Wang Lung's offspring to lose respect for their elders, land, and religious foundation. Wealth can be good, depending on how you use it, but it can always be bad.
The Good Earth, the first in a trilogy, through the characters, the readers will find many similarities between the treatment of women, the influence of wealth, and the view of the Earth. But there are also many differences, such as a the expectation of a wife and the characters view of the Earth and the influence of wealth. There is still much that can be learned by comparing and contrasting the themes found in The Good Earth.

A friend recently passed this book on to me. I had no interest in reading about China, and in fact delayed reading this book because I was not particularly interested in that subject. However, once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down! I intend to recommend it to my book club!

The Good Earth is a great contrast between Romanticism and reality. It is definitely an "earthy" book told with a very real approach. Pearl S. Buck writes as though she had experienced the story. A great down to earth read for a world caught up in wealth.

This book touches profoundly on the human capacity to withstand pain and suffering and endure. Wang Lung, in his simple connection to the land, is one of the great heroes of 20th century literature. I was amazed, listing to this book on audio, that Pearl Buck captured so much depth and emotion of the Asian character writing in the early part of the century.

Sadly, this book is increasingly relevant today - as millions of people around the globe struggle to find enough food and potable water to survive, some turning to prostitution and criminal activity to endure. The Good Earth reminds us how thin is the line between civilization and chaos.

Anthony Heald does a fine job narrating the audio book. His tone is earnest, filled with raw emotion, successful at conveying both external dialogue as well as Wang Lung's rich internal life.

Although The Good Earth is an old novel, and a simple read, it's a classic for a reason. The story and life of one family through hardship and struggle is the same today, as it ever was in the past. This honest look at a poor farmer's life, as he struggles to follow his dreams no matter the hardships he endures, deserves to be read. The story is written so that young teenagers will be able to enjoy the story as well as adults. Pearl S. Buck took her knowledge of Chinese culture and displayed it for everyone one to take a look at. The story will continue to be a favorite with people for years to come, and will never lose the charm it once had, still has, and will always have. I recommend this book for everyone. Whether you're looking for an easy read, or something deeper and emotional, this book has it all. In short, a classic book will always be a classic book.

The Good Earth is a very good book about the life of a poor Chinese farmer who during his life becomes very rich. Wang Lung, the main character, marries a slave named O-lan from the big house. O-lan is very resourceful though ugly. With O-lan's resourcefulness and their combined work effort, they are slowly able to purchase more and more land to farm. Once they have to flee from a famine, but they return to their land. Throughout his life, the farmer slowly rises up the social ladder in China. At the end of his life he has lots of land and lots of servants, three sons and a concubine, but all he wants to do is be with the land that he worked on for so long. He believes the land is the best thing he owns and it is the thing that provided all the other luxuries; he will never part with it. His sons do not believe this thinking and think that this thinking is old fashioned thinking. One day while he is walking, he hears his sons saying that they want to sell the land. This idea greatly upsets Wang Lung so his sons tell him they will not sell the land, but over the farmer's head the sons smile.
I really enjoyed the view which the book gave us of what China was like in the old days and how it changed. The author, Pearl S. Buck, grew up in China and probably saw China change from the old era to this new one. Her experience helps the readers feel as if we were they watching the tale unfold. The one part I did not like about the book was the fact that he never really loved O-lan, his wife, though she was very good and self-sacrificial, and instead he loved a pretty concubine named Peach Blossom.

While "The Good Earth" may move a little slow at times, readers may realize they have touched upon something profound after reading this book. The langauge is somewhat clumsy at times, as readers follow the path of farmer Wang Lung from his wedding day to the day of his metaphorical death. Through this, readers not only receive a sample of Chinese culture, but also a mirror image of the triumphs and tragedies in the life of every man.

The story of Wang Lung begins on his wedding day. Seeing the scorn he endures as a poor farmer, one can only suspect that he would rise to prominence later in the story. Despite having a wife, elderly father, and several children, nothing is more precious than his land. The plot of the story seems to consistently return to his acreage. So while he is off of the land, his thoughts drift back. When his world seems to be an explosion of noise, he walks barefoot across his land. Even in wealth, the good soil of the Earth is the one constant.

As Wang Lung ages, the landscape of his family also changes. His sons rise to respect, and the women in his life change for better or worse. In his wealth, even parasites seem to find him from his family tree. It is in these matters, that one might question Lung's line of thinking or reasoning and lose respect for him.

This classic has received more attention recently, but it has always been a remarkable work. The perspective portrayed by Pearl S. Buck is the landscape of a lifetime. While the soil is the life blood of the story, not everything which matures comes from the soil.

"The Good Earth" is the saga of one man, a humble and simple farmer named Wang Lung, who rises from poverty to wealth throughout the course of his life. No matter what befalls him, one thing is constant in his life - the land that provides for his livelihood, whether in harvest or in drought. Pearl S. Buck crafted a masterful, if somewhat slowly unfolding epic, of one man's journey through life that touches upon the trials and tribulations that all men experience.

The novel begins with Wang Lung's marriage day, and moves slowly as he experiences the birth of his children, and the seemingly unpredicatble whims of the gods of the earth. As Wang Lung earns more money, he is able to buy more land that he loves, building an ever-increasing inheritance for his sons when he shall be no more. Yet as with any simple unlearned man trying to transverse the life of a wealthy educated man, Wang Lung is sorely tempted to risk his fortune on unwise schemes, and must pay respect to the older generation, even to family members who act as vipers within his own household. Readers experience the joys and pangs right along with Wang Lung, all the way to the bittersweet end, as this man returns time and again to the earth that sustains him and will finally hold him after he dies.

While "The Good Earth" allows readers to follow the transformative journey of one Chinese peasant and his family, it also allows readers unique insight into Chinese life. Pearl S. Buck used her experiences as the daughter of missionaries to deftly weave a vivd picture of life in China, the obligations and traditions that hold its people fast, the filial respect to older generations that one cannot fight against, the belief and worship of a variety of gods. To present day readers, "The Good Earth" may come across as choppy at times, the writing somewhat archaic, but the message remains familiar to those of any time period.

I would have to say this is one of the best books I've ever read. It draws you right away. The sequel to this book Sons is about a 3 1/2 star and I was disappointed by the third book A house divided. I would definately recommend the first book.

A must read. Richly written. Insight into rural China and the climb to success.

This book is nicely written and easy to read. The plot is quite interesting and the characters are original.

What a great book. Buck is an incredible storyteller. Even though the plot is not extraordinary, I couldn't put the book down. My mother has been telling me to read this book for a year. I am so glad that I did and now have 2 other books by Buck on my shelf ready to read.

I actually bought this as a gift, but it was the favorite book of a very dear friend. I enjoyed it as well. The subject is timeless, struggle against adversity and coping with troubles, be they personal, ecconomic or of the family nature. The story could be a blueprint of how to succeed in business and what not to do in your personal life. It is very entertaining. Pearl Buck didn't write many bad books. Her descriptions are always vivid.

Reflecting the themes of the story itself, The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck is written in a plain, unadorned style that is able to accurately depict the struggles faced by the main protagonists. This novel is a detailed and stark recounting of one man's journey through life and society, and his attempts to rise above the poverty he was born in, only to find himself stuck in decadence and mired with a wealth of problems when the success he dreamed of is attained. While the points established by The Good Earth are certain to provoke intrigue and debate among readers, and the story itself is simultaneously sobering and informative, it fails to achieve any sort of truly deep writing and easily bores readers with its unbearably bleak language and lack of interesting plots or characters.

The Good Earth relates the life story of Wang Lung, an impoverished peasant in China who prepares for his marriage at the beginning of the novel. History plays an important part in the story, as the time that the novel takes place in is the late 19th century, an era of discord and chaos for China. Wang Lung's life and the situations he are in are similarly fraught with difficulty. From the start, land is emphasized as the lifeblood of all mankind, and a possession that no one can or should ever relinquish, even under the most horrendous circumstances. Over the course of the entire book, Wang Lung steadfastly holds onto his land properties, even when he is forced to migrate to a coastal city to find work. Ironically, as Wang Lung expands his holdings, his wealth and ability to provide education and extra comforts for his children leave them detached from the land that has contributed to their wellbeing. Wang Lung himself is corrupted by the profits he has earned, and sinks into an ostentatious lifestyle. Through all this, practically all of the characters are able to earn the sympathy of readers through the plights they encounter, but none of them have ever been able to evoke any support or feelings of rapport from me. Many character are misogynistic, foolish, devoid of morals, or are simply boring and unable to connect with modern readers. The book details basically every event in Wang Lung's adult life, and the plots of each chapter eventually drive the reader to boredom with predictable responses from each character, and events that do not relate greatly to one another.

What makes the story even more difficult and tedious to read in its entirety is Buck's use of language. Buck frequently utilizes forms of speech that have fallen out of date in modern times, and the parts of the novel that are clear to readers are characterized by dull language that becomes far too simplistic to be interesting to readers. It is not hard to discover the devices, however few there are, under Buck's writing. The stale language does, however, succeed in reflecting the earthy qualities of the story, and the centrality of land in the story.

There are a few positive points of The Good Earth that make up for the book's flaws and are not worth discarding. One is the book's message of life being a cycle in which one can attain prosperity and lose it in the same lifetime, resulting in a neverending chain of ups and downs in life. This idea struck deep into me, as its power comes from the fact that it applies to all people of all walks of life. Another point of interest in this book was its unique and amazingly detailed description of life in 19th century China, which is difficult to find, especially by a non-Asian writer.

However, these redeeming qualities found in The Good Earth cannot cover for all of the problems I discovered upon reading it, which include an uninspiring plot, lack of any particularly interesting characters, and stilted forms of speech used by both characters and the narrator. On the whole, this book failed to give me any sense of sympathy for the characters in their plights, and did not inspire me to read the sequels following it. I recommend this book strongly only for those who have the extensive time required for reading it, and those able to tolerate the dryness of its style and plot.

Wonderful, beautiful, warm, cold, elegant, lush, and spare. On my top ten list of all time. If you have not read this, do so. It will stir your heart, stimulate your mind, and cause you to question what is important in your own life and in the world of human beings. Perfect!

What a great book. Well written. I read this while I was pregnant and just
got drawn into the Chinese culture and the story. One of my favorite books ever.

"I can only write about what I know, and I know nothing but China..." - Pearl Buck.

Raised in the early 20th Century China, Buck offers an insight of rural China through a native's perspective in The Good Earth, a fictional account of a farmer's life spanning from the late 19th to early 20th Centuries. She places special emphasis upon the interactions between man v.s. man, man v.s. society, and most of all, man v.s. nature. Her novel's strong ties with the land (note: how the novel derives its title) are most notably represented by the multiple times the Wang family seek refuge from social turmoil at the time.

Buck's presentation of China from within is perhaps one of the greatest strengths of the novel. Indeed, The Good Earth is a modest portrayal of agrarian life. As much and as accurate as the book's descriptions have been however, they are made universal through Buck's use of a 3rd person central point-of-view. Doing so she is able to freely comment upon the action of the novel, and presents hard facts without ever resorting to the use of stream of consciousness. There is therefore, a lack of subtlety in her style, but with one exception: never once has she stated the setting of the novel explicitly - the only time a trace of time appeared is when Wang Lung hurried his children to board the "fire wagon," or train, indicating that it is set at a time when railroads are novel to China. Unlike other literary works that are set in a foreign setting(such as Adeline Yen Mah's Falling Leaves), The Good Earth carries through without a single use of the Chinese language. Buck has domesticated the novel by replacing "mah jong," a popular Chinese gambling game, with the term "sparrow dominoes," thereby making her American readers more familiar to what would otherwise be perceived as a trace of foreignness.

The process of how Wang Lung tries to acquire wealth is similar to the ideal of the "American Dream," only difference being on Chinese soil. Perhaps the following quote best sums up the book as a whole: "When the rich are too rich there are ways, and when the poor are too poor there are ways." Through Wang Lung's struggle and eventual rise to become wealthy, the quote becomes applicable to him as he does constantly search for alternative ways out regardless he is rich or poor. While I applaud her inventiveness for shedding new light upon a ever-popular concept, it nevertheless strikes me as redundant - after all, how many works of the same "rags to riches through hard work" have been published?

Nonetheless, the novel is an enjoyable read and fairly easy to understand.

This book is a very enjoyable look at one man's spiritual journey. The story is well done in every facet--engaging plot, deep characters and things move at a satisfactory pace. Buck was the daughter of missionaries to China, which adds credibility and insight to her writing. There are many valuable life lessons contained in this relatively short work. Recommended without reservations.

You are my hero. That's all I want to say.
Figure it yourself and read the book...

Wang Lung is a Chinese peasant whose life story unfolds through
The Good Earth. If you are looking for an easy, fun read, this
book is not for you but it is not difficult to read, it's just
very, very depressing at times. It is not politically incorrect
but does define how certain Chinese stereotypes began.

It's sad to see the differences in Lotus and O'Lan are treated
but Buck does a good job of showing how money can go to ones
head and how many diverse societies are taught to value beauty
and youth over wisdom and loyalty. I couldn't call it a master-
piece because it was definitely s l o w
but it's a well-written and until recently, forgotten story.

I chose thise book for a book club. It is the one month of the year that is also for the men in our lives. I think this is a wonderful book for men and women. I am anxious to hear the reactions. Personally I loved this book. It is a book that could be written today and just the names would be changed. It could take place anywhere. If you have never read it or have forgotten it from school, give it a chance. It does not disappoint.

Just like Lisa See's book, once again we can see how women are seen as so unimportant, even though the book proves over and over that this is not true. The farmer would have never gained all the riches that he did without his wife O-Lan. Yet, he could never see it. And thank goodness her feet were not bound!!! I loved the rich culture that you can take away from this book, even though the treatment of women still really bothers me. It was amazing to me that you cannot refuse a family member from leaching off of you even if you know they are terrible, dangerous people. Amazing! They have so much more patience than I ever could. I also learned that I really am a whimpy pregnant lady. I am a whimp...O-lan is a warrior!

The story takes place in 18oo's china and retells the history of a farmer and his family fro being dirt poor to the achievement of wealth. It is fast paced and a good read.

Pearl S Buck. A classic and always a pleasure to read. Easy to get lost in it.

This was one of my favorites in my teens -- I must have read it dozens of times. I recently re-read it and I still love the story, the evocative language, the vivid re-creation of a time and place. A great example of an epic novel.

I wish my grandmother were still alive. It's for her generation - it's not for today. The Good Earth reads like like a parable - many, many paragraphs beginning with conjunctions. The author gives the reader no insight - it's all story. Recommended for lazy readers who don't want to challenge themselves. Little to think about...Terribly dated...politically incorrect...that the pages turn is the best I can say about The Good Earth.

It is an epic drama of Wang Lung spanning four generations during early twentieth century China. Of course it is all about land, its bounty, its sustenance and above all its purity which no one can ever destroy.

The book opens with Wang Lung visiting the rich family to take his bride home, who was raised as a slave. He was but a poor farmer and had to endure humiliations all his life but never complained. He took good care of his aged father, tilled his land, and married O Lan, epitome of self sacrifice, humility and devotion, one of the most memorable wives in all literature.

She gives him three sons and two daughters and then the life's drama unfolds. He looses everything due to bad weather, escapes with his family, finds fortune, returns to his beloved land and prospers beyond his wildest dreams, a touch of Count of Monte Cristo. He buys more land, his sons become scholars, his daughter marries rich, takes up a concubine, and has scores of slaves. He even moves in the very house where he had gone begging for his wife decades earlier.

But the country was going through a revolution and poor Wang Lung could not grasp its effects and its tumultuous upheaval finds him as a twig bending to fierce forces beyond his control. His sons break his heart when they talked of selling the land. He is shocked, protests, but the sons look at each other, smile yet assuring the old man they would never part with his beloved good earth.

Pearl Buck, who was born and raised in China, brings all characters to full bloom in her inimitable prose.

It is an all time classic. Should be in hundred best books of 20th Century.

My attitude about these characters is I don't know and I don't want to know but Pearl S. Buck don't care and just goes on and on about a very messed up family. I will never forget that the husband took his coarse first wife's two pearls to buy more trinkets for his concubine whom he picked up in some brothel. Awch!

This is my absolute favorite book in the world (well besides my own--LOL!) This was the first book I read that totally infuriated me. When Wang Lung took Lotus as his concubine I about had a fit! I was totally outraged and was only 13 years old! I didn't even know what a concubine was but I knew O-lan should have received more respect! This is when I discovered the power of words and how a brilliant author can influence the readers feelings about their characters and the character's actions. I digress though, this book is much more than just Wang Lung losing himself once he became successful. It's a powerful novel that will keep generation after generation's attention. I re-read this classic every year.

This is one of my favorite books. It is obvious that Pearl Buck had a profound insight into the Chinese experience. The book is very well written and simply told; yet the characters are vivid, and a profound over-arching message lies within concerning life's journey.

When I read "The Good Earth" in high school, I thought it was a boring book about some Chinese farmer named Wang Lung. When I read the book again at the age of 31, I found the book to be an exciting, timeless read about life.

The Good Earth is a rags to riches tale about a farmer named Wang Lung. The book takes places in old world China. Wang Lung starts his adult life as a landowner, farmer, living off of what he grows. In the Old World tradition, he is taking care of his elder father. After a few good years, Wang Lung buys a slave from the rich house in town for his wife. After settling and being satisfied in married life, the remainder of the book is about the journey of Wang Lung from a poor farmer to the richest person in the area.

The plot of the book is simple and timeless. It is a rags to riches tale of a farmboy. Wang Lung's journey to fortune is filled with good and bad. The messages in the book are just as valid today as they were centuries ago, such as:

The world is full of great equalizers that affect the poor and rich alike. There are events that happen that will cause the rich and poor alike to struggle for their lives. If you happen to be one of the rich during this time, you will become the target of the poor.

Money is the great corrupter. As Wang Lung gained more wealth, he was no longer satisfied with this good life with a loyal wife and many children. With more money, Wang Lung wanted more extras in his life. In the end, he realizes that happiness can't be bought. Life was best when it was at its basics, Wang Lung and the land.

If a child is spoiled, they will be a soiled child. A spoiled child is an ungrateful child. In trying to provide a good life for his children, Wang Lung creates spoiled children who all turn on him, sometimes without their father's knowledge.

There are few novels that are so great that they transcend all barriers and applies equally to life 1000 years ago as well as life 1000 years from now. The Good Earth is one of these books. At least in my case, the book had different meanings, depending on where I was in life. As I said in the beginning, in High school this book was about some poor farmer, in adulthood the book was about life.

The book is action packed, but not the type of shoot'em up, explosions, and car chase type of action American society is used to. Because of this, some people may find this to be a slow read. However, I think this book is one that should be read by all. This is one of the few books from High School English that I found a lot of meaning in later in life.

When I read "The Good Earth" in high school, I thought it was a boring book about some Chinese farmer named Wang Lung. When I read the book again at the age of 31, I found the book to be an exciting, timeless read about life.

The Good Earth is a rags to riches tale about a farmer named Wang Lung. The book takes places in old world China. Wang Lung starts his adult life as a landowner, farmer, living off of what he grows. In the Old World tradition, he is taking care of his elder father. After a few good years, Wang Lung buys a slave from the rich house in town for his wife. After settling and being satisfied in married life, the remainder of the book is about the journey of Wang Lung from a poor farmer to the richest person in the area.

The plot of the book is simple and timeless. It is a rags to riches tale of a farmboy. Wang Lung's journey to fortune is filled with good and bad. The messages in the book are just as valid today as they were centuries ago, such as:

The world is full of great equalizers that affect the poor and rich alike. There are events that happen that will cause the rich and poor alike to struggle for their lives. If you happen to be one of the rich during this time, you will become the target of the poor.

Money is the great corrupter. As Wang Lung gained more wealth, he was no longer satisfied with this good life with a loyal wife and many children. With more money, Wang Lung wanted more extras in his life. In the end, he realizes that happiness can't be bought. Life was best when it was at its basics, Wang Lung and the land.

If a child is spoiled, they will be a soiled child. A spoiled child is an ungrateful child. In trying to provide a good life for his children, Wang Lung creates spoiled children who all turn on him, sometimes without their father's knowledge.

There are few novels that are so great that they transcend all barriers and applies equally to life 1000 years ago as well as life 1000 years from now. The Good Earth is one of these books. At least in my case, the book had different meanings, depending on where I was in life. As I said in the beginning, in High school this book was about some poor farmer, in adulthood the book was about life.

The book is action packed, but not the type of shoot'em up, explosions, and car chase type of action American society is used to. Because of this, some people may find this to be a slow read. However, I think this book is one that should be read by all. This is one of the few books from High School English that I found a lot of meaning in later in life.

Long after I read the last page, I reflected on the irony of a poor man's ascent to greatness--and yet his descent to arrogance and insensitivity, the two evils that plagued him as a poor man. It was difficult to read between the lines and see the treatment of the very woman who made him great, and the worship of the one who brought him low. Beautifully written, wonderfully detailed, this is a must-read.

Oprah doesn't always make the most interesting choices when she suggests a classic, but she got it exactly right with The Good Earth. The story of Wang Lung, his wife, O-Lan, their family and the changes in China at the time propells the reader along. Even better are the hypnotic cadences of Buck's storytelling. I will definitely recommend this book to others!

As good as it is in the page, it would be even better read aloud. I'm sure there's a good audiobook of it out there somewhere.

This edition is particularly good with the clarifying notes, the suggested reading and viewing to complement the story and the brief biography of Pearl S. Buck. All of this made me want to read more of Buck's novels as well as a biography of her that was published in the 1990's.

I first read this book when I was in my early teens and decided to re-read it once again. I was totally enchanted with this book the first time I read it, and it was good to see my feelings had not changed! I've always thought Pearl S. Buck was such a romantic character: being raised in such a faraway, exotic place, and having such an intimate knowledge and understanding of another culture and people. She does not disappoint with this book.

The story revolves around Wang Lung, a farmer in a remote province of China. The book begins as he is about to obtain a wife, a slave in a wealthy house. O-lan, his wife, is neither beautiful nor graceful, but she is dutiful and a hard-worker, and thankful to be taken from the life a slave. Together, Wang and O-lan build a life and manage through the struggles of life.

At times it is easy to like to Wang Lung - in fact, it is easy to despise the man. The decisions he makes and how he treats people and his family, most notably his wife, makes him a most unsavory character. But Pearl S. Buck does not hold back. She does not give us a book of sugar-coated lightness and fluff. Life is bitter-sweet, and with good times come bad. Sometimes bad decisions are made, yet hopefully one can learn. This is not an easy book to read. There are struggles and difficulties, but the hope of the human spirit is a powerful thing and one must continue to hope it will triumph ultimately.

This book is a classic in every sense. And even though it was written at a very specific time and a very specific place, it is timeless. A story that will bring smiles and tears and hope. Does it get any better than that?

This story... as well as ALL of Pearl Buck's stories... capture the feel of 'old' China like no other author I have ever read. Her books are timeless classics of a way of life in an ancient culture that no longer exists. I read The Good Earth 40 years ago... and re-reading it has left me feeling the same as I did the first time I read it... like I was there.

The Good Earth was required reading for the Academic Decathlon competition this year. I hadn't read or taught this novel for some time. The novel was an excellent vehicle for teaching students the cultural differences between EAst and WEst.

This is a great classroom novel. I use it all the time.

This book is so great. I started reading it and I just coulnd't stop. I finished it the day i started, I read all day. Pearl Buck has a great style of writing, simple, but entrancing. A definite must read.

This book is a simple, easy-to-read, engrossing yarn. There is no stylization beyond a somewhat stilted formality...the words exist to convey the plot. The plot itself is a simple bildungsroman, with your standard contrivances, but nothing snort-worthy. An excellent book for a bright twelve-year-old.

This story proves that things are the same everywhere, in real life, in the pages of a romance novel, and here in "the Good Earth".

And it is one of the great truths that money corrupts.
Money is the root of all evil.
And some men are still shallow lotharios.

This was an absorbing tale which brought me into China. The attitudes toward females is shameful and ridiculous. I was disgusted by Wang Lung's foolhardy behavior with Lotus and treatment of O'Lan.

This was a classic tale of money rotting men's souls.

Pearl S. Buck had lived in China for much of her life; her family moved there when she was three months old and she was taught both the Chinese and English language. This upbringing gave her a lot of experience and preparation for writing about the lives of the Chinese. Many stories about China focus on the aristocratic or exotic elements of that country. "The Good Earth" has an incredibly authentic feel and does not attempt to make light of the grim and difficult aspects of the life of the poorer classes.

The peasant Wang Lung is the central character of the story. He marries O-Lan, a former slave of the wealthy Hwang family. Though she is plain and not beautiful, O-Lan is hardworking and resourceful, and she and Wang Lung have several children together. When weather conditions make adequate farming and making a living impossible, the family must move to a city to find work. They must sell many of their possessions in order to move, but Wang Lung will not sell the land. The land has deep meaning for Wang Lung and is the theme at the heart of this novel. Wang Lung's view is that as long as the family keeps the land, no matter what else happens, they will be able to prosper. They are eventually able to leave the city with money and come back to harvesting the land successfully. Wang Lung is able to hire workers and send his sons to school as a result of this wealth. At the same time, the formerly wealthy Hwang family begins to lose their fortune due to a loss of interest in preserving the land. This reaffirms Wang Lung's belief in the importance of "the good earth" that provides for his success. Later in his life, Wang Lung is able to purchase the Hwang family's property and attains a respected position in society. However, his life is not without misfortune even as his monetary wealth grows. His uncle and his uncle's wife try to take advantage of his abundant food and property, must deal with sons who don't respect the land as he does, and falls to vice and lust in taking a concubine (Lotus) later on in the novel.

Like Charles Dickens' "Great Expectations" and John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath", this is another novel that artfully and believably captures the lives of a particular group of people within an era.