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Book Review of The Eternal Wonder: A Novel

The Eternal Wonder: A Novel
reviewed on
Helpful Score: 2


"The Eternal Wonder tells the coming-of-age story of Randolph Colfax (Rann for short), an extraordinarily gifted young man whose search for meaning and purpose leads him to New York, England, Paris, a mission patrolling the DMZ in Korea that will change his life foreverand, ultimately, to love. Rann falls for the beautiful and equally brilliant Stephanie Kung, who lives in Paris with her Chinese father and has no contact with her American mother, who abandoned the family when Stephanie was six years old. Both Rann and Stephanie yearn for a sense of genuine identity. Rann feels plagued by his voracious intellectual curiosity and strives to integrate his life of the mind with his experience in the world. Stephanie feels alienated from society by her mixed heritage and struggles to resolve the culture clash of her existence. Separated for long periods of time, their final reunion leads to a conclusion that even Rann, in all his hard-earned wisdom, could never have imagined. "

"The Eternal Wonder", held so many truths that as the world matures maybe, someday soon, so will all the individuals! I was so pleased to able to obtain a copy of this book. I have always enjoyed Pearl S. Buck's writing ---- and, have sadly missed her intelligence in writing fiction that is "real" and holds so much reality! As much as I relished this book, it wasn't quite as good as a lot of older ones (but then who knows if she had truly finished this one). It also appeared to be way too short. Parts just seemed unfinished plus the ending wasn't what I desired. So good to find a long lost old friend that makes you really use your ability to think in reading her books! I will always miss her! But this book is well worth the read!