Pavilion of women Author:Pearl S. Buck The elegant and beautiful Madame Wu seemed to possess everything a Chinese woman of her time could want?a kind, adoring husband, three well-grown sons and a renowned family name. Yet something was missing from her life; something neither rank nor riches could provide. Thus, on her fortieth birthday Madame Wu makes the fateful decision to seek in... more » her own way for that elusive thing that will fulfill her life. The moving story of her search and of the man who helps to guide her make this a deeply personal and richly textured novel.« less
I read PAVILION OF WOMEN for the November 2013 "Asia" theme in my online book club, The Reading Cove.
THE GOOD EARTH by Pearl S. Buck is one of my favorite books of all time, so I've been eager to continue reading her work.
Madame Wu is turning 40 and all hell breaks lose in the Wu household. She makes a lot of decisions that affect her husband, children and even people outside the family.
I didn't feel the plotting was as engaging as THE GOOD EARTH, this book felt a little long-winded through the middle and could've been paced a bit better, but overall, the character's have depth and are well-drawn; and there's a good look at upper-class life and the culture's overall treatment of aging, at this point in Chinese history.