The Good Earth.

I finished a book! I'm so excited. I took a bit of a reading sabbatical over the last month or so, but due to hours & hours spent in trains, airports & on airplanes this week, I thought I'd take a stab. Anna Kerenina will have to wait a few more weeks... I'm still not quite ready for it.

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I really loved The Good Earth. It reminded me in a way of a Chinese version of East of Eden. My analysis may be completely off, but after I finished the last page, I felt that I had experienced a lifetime with Wang Lung & his family. There were happy moments, times of devastation, & several times- the feeling of being absolutely let down by the protagonist. It really was wonderfully written, albeit a bit sad to experience life with this Chinese farmer, & to understand on what a divergent path his choices ultimately took him & his family.

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Briefly- I've read a couple of Chinese-themed books over the last few years, & the thing which I feel most strongly about is my gratitude for being a woman at a time & in a culture where I am respected, well treated & have the opportunities to do whatever I wish. I couldn't get over the fact that throughout the book, a young daughter was repeatedly referred to as "the poor fool". Daughters were viewed as additional slaves, only to be raised for another family upon marriage. They were an additional mouth to feed, & very little else besides perhaps a work mule. I thought that perhaps the oppression would subside, perhaps the man would grow to love his wife who had given him so much, but... nope.

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Anyway- nothing particularly insightful to say beyond this. I'm glad that I finally read The Good Earth. It's been on my "to read" list for a few years...