A Novel of China at War (Oriental Novels of Pearl S. Buck)

I have read and enjoyed all of Pearl Buck's book, however, I found this novel to be slow moving and di not really go into the war on China. This story only concentrated on one farming family wthout much depth.

I bought this, because the plot and setting sounded interesting, and because she was advertised as a Nobel Prize winning author. I didn't get very far. DNF The writing was Enid Blyton level. The sentence structure just so basic that I wonder how she won the Nobel Prize. After not too many pages I decided a) this is not going to get better and b) I can't stand this any more.

There were many things about this book that I enjoyed. She removes herself from an imperialistic POV, probably because she grew up in a farmer's community in China so she is able to give the community its full authenticity and respect deserved. The contradicting statements of social status are so frustrating, I know that has nothing to do with Buck herself, it was just a reflection of the times but it's crazy to think of the logic that men had in their relationships and interactions with women. Overall I think Buck as delicately and beautifully as possible painted a portrait of a very real and horrible time in Chinese history, even through her well chosen words I was able to feel the uncomfortable pain and anguish experiences during the invasion on Manning.

I thought I would never read a novel as outstanding as The Good Earth. And then I read Dragon Seed! Thus far, this is the greatest book I have ever read! There are truly no adjectives to satisfactorily describe the depth and poignancy of this novel. My heart filled with sorrow as I turned the pages of this mesmerizing story of the Chinese peasants' condition during World II. I would go back to re-read a paragraph every now and then in order to let the words seep into my very soul. I could not comprehend this unspeakable man's inhumanity to man, but there it was, as only Pearl Buck could write about it. Not to read this book at least once is not to have lived. I will carry the drama and heartbreak of Dragon Seed with me for the rest of my life. Dragon Seed is not just a novel; it is an experience of the heart and soul! It should be a must for everyone who truly loves great literature, and it should be required reading for every public high school student in this country.

I had never really read any books by Pearl S. Buck, then I read the Good Earth trilogy. After that I just wanted to move on to every one she wrote. In this book I was completely enthralled with the setting even though no dates were actually stated. The conditions could be 50 years ago or hundreds with the sparse lifestyles described. This is simply a novel about a common family and life in the village but I never wanted to stop reading. It is a worthwhile read.

As a child more than half a century ago, I read The Good Earth. I had always assumed the author to be Chinese. So, now I am not only embarrassed about that assumption but amazed that this woman so deeply understood this culture and did so much to help embrace us all. This book is a work of art, of history, of us all. Let us never give up hope.

I have now read 5 or 6 books by Pearl Buck, and I couldn't admire her writing more. This book moved me, as Ms. Buck states the thoughts and feelings of her characters that are so basic and so close to us that they could be uttered by our very own hearts. The only thing that was disappointing about this particular book is that I felt the ending came too quickly without us getting to know or see the outcomes of some of the characters. On the whole, though, a memorable and heart-rending book whose themes go deeply with all of us.

I was recently handed this book by my wonderful mother-in-law. It is taped together with duct tape, has yellowed pages that fall out when you turn the page. She assured me it was a great book. Having read The Good Earth, I was excited to get this book, but I had no idea what I was in for. I struggle to find the words to describe the beauty of the language and the clear descriptions of the feelings and places in this tragic story. To be honest I have not even finished it yet, but I just had to go on the store to see if other people loved this book as much as I do. Read this book. It will leave its mark on you!

If you would like to find out what China was like during the occupation of Japan and before, this book will tell you. A good family story of traditions and relationships. I always have been a fan of her's since I read the Good Earth years ago. I had missed this one.

i loved this book of pearl the most. i know and love her style by now, and i am sorry to say that hers is even better than the real thing (native chinese writers-novels) since tose are probably lost in translation.

I've been enjoying reading Buck, after "The Good Earth", choosing books to a large extent based on cost and the store reviews.

If anyone had written a review representing "Dragon Seed" as I experienced it, I'd NEVER have invested in it. It's the only book I ever ordered, which I was tempted not only to leave unfinished, but which I had to restrain myself from physically tossing out.

That's because I felt this book's sloppy, disorganized writing and shallow characterization were actually harming my own ability to write quality fiction. (Bad writing DOES have a contagion, the same as does good writing).

The quality is admittedly variable in "Dragon Seed" but that's just another flaw of the book - its unevenness. The reliance on outrageous coincidence - a known Buck gimmick - is at its utter nadir here.

Without, I hope, containing any "spoilers", let me just ask those of you who DO complete this low-level Buck fiction: So, how would YOU characterize the last ~ third of the book? I refer especially to the account of the youngest brother's "fix-it" match-making and romance (not to mention his slapped-together post-traumatic character development)? Are we supposed to buy the notion that any post-Revolutionary Chinese warlord was suckered into his quasi idealism this way, or could have found such a nutsy help-meet to counter his blood-thirsty personal vendetta?

I had to force myself to chew and swallow this section, inwardly gagging in much the same way a cheapskate finishes a fatty, indigestible restaurant meal because he paid for it.

I could feel in my gut, Buck's own lack of interest and desperation to wind up - plausibly or not (NOT!) - this primarily propagandistic anti-Japanese polemic. I am mystified why other reviewers describe themselves as awe-struck! I can only conclude that those with any literary aesthetics, slapped it down in disgust early on. Thus, there's a response bias among reviews toward slavish Buck devotion among the population of readers who didn't abandon this trashy book mid-way.

Most of the writing doesn't rise above the level of "True Confessions" or "Modern Romances". Sorry, but if it hadn't been about Old China, the Emperor's nudity would have been remarked right away. I found myself angry with both myself and Buck long before finishing. She took advantage of her fan base to get away with literary murder.

I will be a voice in the wilderness here, but hopefully, this one negative review will give pause to other potential buyers, so they can avoid (as I wish I had) wasting time and money on this vintage SUB-PAR Buck. At least, let there be one strong dissent! I will certainly rely on the Public Library for the rest of my (largely escapist) Buck reading. Thanks to this experience, I see there is too much risk of happening on others that are not only not worth owning - but which (like this one) aren't even worth borrowing for free!

Be forewarned, those of you unable to tolerate outrageously improbable smarm - even cloaked in fascinating exotica. Your ability to lose yourself in this story for escapist purposes, may be tried so sorely by "Dragon Seed", you can't forget your own rainy day!

I love all of pearl buck's books for their simple storytelling and earthy lyricism.

This book had an unsettled and unsatisfactory ending.

Love learning a bit of the Chinese work ethic and sense of family.

I have been reading my way through the entire Pearl Buck collection. All that I will say is that she is the product of her time and in many cases her writing did not age well. The book was written in 1941, so it could not have had any kind of an ending because the war was ongoing. Her readers would have known immediately who invaded and what was going on with China at the time, so the actual city names and dates are absent. Her job was to rouse up sympathy for the simple Chinese suffering. She has accomplished this task, but not much else. The story meanders, the pacing is all over the place and her characters are pretty flat and stereotypical outside of the main character, the old man who loves his land. This is the character she knows how to write best, so I was actually happy to see him at the center of this story. This book is an example of what happens when the author goes for propaganda value and not for an actual story that has a beginning, middle and end and a conflict that gets resolved (nothing here gets resolved because it could not, but she rushed the book for political reasons). Ultimately it is good to see the author come back to writing what she knows, and it was an enjoyable book in the sense that her good books are enjoyable - taking you in the world of a Chinese farmer. I have suffered through many of her other books that are much worse. If you liked the trilogy, you will probably be happy.

This is one of my favourite books of all time. The book is set in China, during the lead up to the second world war. It details the Japanese invasion of China in the late 1930s, and how it affects the fictional Ling Tan family. For those interested in a non-fictional account of part of this period, 'The Rape of Nanking' by Iris Chang is worth reading.

All Pearl Buck's novels are 5 star. She is a story teller extraordinaire. You not only live within her characters but feel their environment in which they reside. You won't be disappointed with this or any of her novels.

I always preferred reading magazines rather than novels because i thought novels were boring and reading them was a waste of time. After reading Dragon seed my perception about novels took a shift in the positive dierction. No other author can bring out the subtle aspects of life in times of difficulty as pearl buck has did. I read this novel as a thirteen year old but i still remeber every part of it(i am 22 now). Such is the impression this novel has created. one can read a lot of books on philosophy and humanity but still miss out on some key aspects. i promise u will have the feeling of having read a thousand books on the human nature in this one novel. The novel ends with a positive note and a glimmer of hope which will make every reader search for the silver lining even during the most turbulent times.

I have read many books in my time but the two books that stand out for me are Dragon Seed by Pearl S. Buck and This Perfect Day by Irn Levin. Although The Good Earth is a fine book by any standard, Dragon Seed brought the characters to life for me. I have re-read these two books so many times that they have become a little "raggy" with time. Each time I read them I find something new, some new slant on what the authors were saying. The movie that was made from the book Dragon Seed could have been done better and although I like Katherine Hepburn, the part she played should have been played by an oriental. But, the book will live on and will continue to make itself felt for many years to come. Someday, I hope to find someone who will put these two books on a tape for those who have vision difficulty. I have not found them available for the visually impaired thus far. I feel that this is keeping a large section of the population from enjoying these books and I do hope that this will be corrected in the near future.

If you enjoy learning about China, you should definitely read Pearl S. Buck. She knew China quite well and her books give you a glimpse of life in China during the time periods in which the book is set. Her books are classic and timeless. Well worth the time to read her works.