Search - The Good Earth

Beautifully rich in writing, this epic novel tells the tale of man you'll love and hate, and love again. You'll feel for him as he struggles, cry with him as he despairs, and cheer with him as he triumphs. It's a good comment on the class system in place in China at the time, but also a comment on perseverance of spirit and integrity of character.

I hadn't read this book since 8th grade. Now, 25 years later, I read it again and weep with the beauty of this book. Love, tolerance, deception, greed, pride all flowing as poetry. If you haven't read this book since high school, you, now as an adult must re-read to truly appreciate what makes this book the classic it is.

I read this book for a book club that I was participating in. I found it to be very thought-provoking, and a great choice for a book club. One particular topic of interest to discuss in our club after reading the book is the perception of and treatment of women in the time of the book vs today.

The first part of this book is a wonderful depiction of a newly married poor man. He and his amazing wife are dedicated to their land and family, working hard together. The next part is gut wrenching as it shows terrible poverty and famine but the last part is worse as the reader witnesses how low humanity can get when wealth and lack of constructive activity are combined. The characters were happiest living a simple, honest life of labor on their bit of "good earth". Well worth reading for it's cultural perspective as well as it's lessons but it ends on a low note.
Parent info: I find it odd that this book was required high school reading since it's a bit sexually explicit.

This was a wonderful book. The characters were so believable, I couldn't the book down.

Good lesson on values dragged in spots