Jennifer G. reviewed on + 4 more book reviews
Ok, I was trying to get a good sense of how I felt reading this book. I read The Last Empress and I also read The Good Earth. Because I had a little insight of the author and her subject, I thought I would LOVE this book. I didn't. The Last Empress was full of color and life; this book wasn't. The Good Earth was deep and emotional; this book wasn't.
I have deep respect for both authors and it is very interesting to understand the life of an American with a Chinese heart in China in the early 1900's. I just didn't get a sense of passion in the writing. I think Min tried too hard. I feel like she was walking on a razor's edge, not to insult, not to idolize. I feel like she has so much emotion about the subject but couldn't give it to the story (for fear of offending???). There is a lot of history, but also speculation of the events. I felt some of it was contrived and wished upon the characters. One can get a sense of a character's heroism without the hero being perfect or wonderful. Too much good intention leads to a story without depth.
I think there was too much left unsaid - maybe Min didn't know? I wanted more about the exact condition of her daughter. I wanted more depth on her relationship with her husband, good or bad; or her lover. I felt like a distant observer. Maybe Min could have taken just a couple incidents from Buck's life and really dug deep. The most I got in emotion was fear and frustration and there wasn't really any resolution, good or bad.
I wanted to love this book, but I didn't. I wasn't even interested in finishing it. I wanted to be interested...
I have to give the book a couple stars because I respect Min's attempt on this work and her reasons for her desire to do it. I also have admiration for Pearl Buck, to write about the country that was her heart and do it with such passion.
I have deep respect for both authors and it is very interesting to understand the life of an American with a Chinese heart in China in the early 1900's. I just didn't get a sense of passion in the writing. I think Min tried too hard. I feel like she was walking on a razor's edge, not to insult, not to idolize. I feel like she has so much emotion about the subject but couldn't give it to the story (for fear of offending???). There is a lot of history, but also speculation of the events. I felt some of it was contrived and wished upon the characters. One can get a sense of a character's heroism without the hero being perfect or wonderful. Too much good intention leads to a story without depth.
I think there was too much left unsaid - maybe Min didn't know? I wanted more about the exact condition of her daughter. I wanted more depth on her relationship with her husband, good or bad; or her lover. I felt like a distant observer. Maybe Min could have taken just a couple incidents from Buck's life and really dug deep. The most I got in emotion was fear and frustration and there wasn't really any resolution, good or bad.
I wanted to love this book, but I didn't. I wasn't even interested in finishing it. I wanted to be interested...
I have to give the book a couple stars because I respect Min's attempt on this work and her reasons for her desire to do it. I also have admiration for Pearl Buck, to write about the country that was her heart and do it with such passion.
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