Customer Reviews

Sons

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This second volume to the "House of Earth Trilogy" takes off right where "The Good Earth" ends. I was fortunate enough to find a copy with all three books in one so for me there was no space between the two. Written in the same style of the first novel, this story begins with the lives of three sons of Wang Lung: Wang the eldest (Landlord), Wang the second (Merchant) and particularly, Wang the third (The Tiger). By far the most important and interesting character in this book is Wang the Tiger, who became a powerful war lord. Much was written about his life and how he longed to live the life of a soldier, having nothing but disdain for the farmer's life his father wanted for him. It's an interesting irony, how none of the sons respected what Wang Lung, their father, had left for them. The eldest only interested in the façade of the rich life, the second only interested in money, and of course, the Tiger, whose main purpose was to be a strong and powerful leader.

It's an exciting and sad novel. Reading the evolution of the Tiger's rise to power made the Merchant's and Landlord's lives pale in comparison. Wang the Tiger was a most fascinating character, always obsessed with control not only of others, but of his own inner feelings. It was as if he was driven to be more than human...strong and willful, void of any weakness, void of any softness of heart, setting impossible standards for himself.

Once his son was born, he transferred all of his focus from warring, to raising his son as a warrior like himself. His love for his son, like his love for power, was unwavering, unbending, and suffocating. For example, this was evident in the times when the Tiger noticed that his little boy was so grave and quiet for one so young. Also, though his son did whatever he was told to do, he lacked any spirit or enjoyment in his tasks. Unfortunately, every time the Tiger saw this, he had a moment of clarity, but was quick to ignore or bury it, and thus never really attained the wisdom to forsee what would become of his only precious son.

This was a wonderful and exciting novel to read, very different and lively feeling to that of "The Good Earth." Yet it's absolutely necessary to read it as part of the trilogy. Once you finish, you'll be anxious to know what becomes of the Tiger's son, and how the coming revolution will change their relationship.

SONS is the sequel to the famous (and thanks to Oprah - newly popular) THE GOOD EARTH. The story begins just where the previous book left off, with Wang Lung a dying old man, hoping his sons will handle his legacy wisely. Of course, they do not.

The oldest son, Wang The Landlord, turns into fat, greedy man who sells off much of the land to pursue hedonistic pleasures. Wang the Merchant, the second son, sticks more to the letter of his father's wishes, but is an opportunistic skinflint who loves silver above all else. These two think always of their position in society and how to advance it, and care more about how they appear in others' eyes than the actual substance of their lives. Their children are spoiled and worthless, just as Wang Lung saw the old lord Hwang's sons become in THE GOOD EARTH. The reader gets the feeling Wang Lung would be disgusted.

The majority of the novel follows the wild, rebellious third son, who becomes known as Wang the Tiger. He ran away from home as a teenager to be a soldier, and this book finds him a young man planning to escape his master and establish his own dynasty in the north. With his trusted companions, Wang the Tiger fights his way to becoming the controlling warlord of a region in the north, and he finally falls in love with a fierce robber girl. (These scenes painted vivid pictures in my mind reminiscent of the movie Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.) Much to his bewilderment, the years go by and his life does not work out as he plans. He ends up with a son he does not understand, just as his father did not understand him.

Pearl S. Buck's plodding, biblical phrasing is not so easy for the modern reader, and I confess that while it was a good story, every page seemed like two or three, and I found myself groaning aloud "Isn't it over YET?"

After devouring "The Good Earth," I was dying to read more and see where Pearl Buck would go next with this dynamic family. I found that "Sons" was a good read, but a little slower and not as exciting and thrilling. But true to the original, right as I starting losing just a little bit of interest she would introduce a new twist or turn which made me always come back for more. She is an amazing writer and her insights into the culture are always fascinating. If you really liked The Good Earth, Sons will probably be a fun, quick read, but I don't feel that it is as vital of a work as The Good Earth.

The Good Earth follows the life of a farmer by the name of Wang Lung as he suffers life's trials and successes to build a dynasty that will span through many generations.

Sons picks up where THE GOOD EARTH leaves off and opens on the end of Wang Lung's life as he prepares to die and his sons inherit his properties and possessions. As the story progresses Pearl Buck no longer refers to the sons by their names but instead begins to call them names based upon their character and occupation. The eldest son becomes known as Wang the landlord because he makes his living by renting out his father's lands. The second son becomes known as Wang the merchant because he makes his living as a merchant. The youngest son becomes known as Wang the Tiger as he becomes a soldier and War Lord. SONS contains aspects of all of their lives but in particular follows the life of Wang the Tiger.

In THE GOOD EARTH Wang Lung made his living upon the land, and it was very important that his land be protected. He had seen the fall of the great house of Hwang as the family had ceased to value the land and the sons had become spoiled little princes who spent their money on Opium, women and gambling. Wang Lung wanted his sons to value the land but then gave his sons everything his newly acquired wealth and position could afford, and they too became spoiled little princes who did not know the value of the land. He charged them fervently never to sell the land. Upon his death in the book SONS Wang Lung's son's almost immediately begin to sell off the land and go through the inheritance that their father had left to them.

As with most of Pearl Buck's books it is not so much what happens in the story as it is the development of the characters and their lives as they unfold that is of particular interest.
Wang the landlord became a fat, glutenous, gambling, womanizer who struggles to keep the money from flowing out twice as fast as it flows in. Wang the merchant becomes a wise shrewd merchant and does quite well financially but does not value the land as his father did. Wang the Tiger sets forth to become a War Lord, using his father's land to finance his armies. The book follows his life as he conquers different lands and then tries to retain control of them. Wang the Tiger has a soft heart for a war lord and finds injustice difficult to stomach. He realizes that the one thing he is missing are sons as his brothers have, so he marries and finds great joy when he has a son of his own and watches his son's growth into manhood. He wishes his son to follow in his footsteps and become a Lord of War, but the boy, while he is obedient in his training, lacks the desire to be as his father. Just as Wang the Tiger did not desire to be as his father but instead chose another path, it is obvious that Wang the Tiger's son will also choose to follow a different path.

While I am not sure of the exact time setting of this book, it is clear that it is a more recent time in history when China stands upon a threshold of change to the modern instead of the traditional. Pearl Buck does a wonderful job in this book as in all her books of showing us a picture of Chinese life and culture. The book doesn't have to 'move' quickly with lots of plot twists because her characters are so interesting and real that it holds the interest of the reader.

Sons is worth reading if you have read THE GOOD EARTH because you find out what happens in the lives of the characters with whom you already have a connection. Compared with Pearl Buck's other works I was not as impressed with this book but did find it interesting.

I was dismayed to come to the end of Good Earth, but I was delighted to find out that this was but the first installment in a trilogy! While I liked Good Earth better than this, this book was still a very good read as we discover the fate of Wang Lung's sons, and Wang Lung's land itself.

4.5 out of 5 stars. Now I am more than ready to start 'A House Divided'!

I only found out recently that there were sequels to The Good Earth and so I was anxious to read them. I was really disappointed in this book, it just did not really go anywhere. This book did not draw you in as the first one did. I could not get involved with the characters and it seems as if Ms. Buck was just trying to move the story along. I do not plan on reading the last of the trilogy.

Generational conflict in China as the country undergoes dramatic political and economic changes. As relevant today as yesterday in understanding the Chinese people.

An absolute and thoroughly interesting saga and drama of the sons of Wan Lung. The book mostly follows the life of the departed son, Wang the Tiger. His mission is to have his own army and a son of his own. Pearl S. Buck skillfully details Wang the Tiger's desires, emotions and thoughts. Wang the Tiger removes his son from his sisters and mother to ensure the lad's education and guidance & preparation to follow Wang the Tiger's footsteps. This book is as excellent reading as "The Good Earth" and completely to the end!

Sons is actually a book about the differences between the three generations. Wang Lung died peacefully in the beginning. The story continued with the three different kinds of life the three sons of Wang Lund led. All of the three sons were concisely portrayed, with a slight emphasis on the third, Wang the Tiger. He rose slowly to the position of a warlord. In order to pass his position to his son as he was growing old, he sent his son to a military school to learn western war techniques. However, his sons turned against him by joining the New Revolutionary Army which was against all old lords.

The story is a little bit long, in a way. However, it wis certainly worthy to be read as it shows me how men, no matter how "straight" they are outside, have after all been self-centered. The book is also not in very difficult language. It needs a little bit patience, bit will make a difference in people's life. Give it a try!

Pearl Buck is my absolute favorite, and I quickly read through this novel after reading Good Earth again (I've read it nearly a dozen times, it is my favorite). Out of the trilogy, Sons is my least favorite, although it is still good and gives some really good biographical information on a Chinese man of the time. Focusing mostly on Wang the Tiger, I enjoyed the second half immensely. If you read Sons, be ready to get right into A House Divided (the last third of the trilogy), as this one leaves you hanging.

A great work by a great author. My love of The Good Earth just overshadowed this book, which is why it only got 4 stars.