Week 4, Mar 11-17, Chapter 17-27

[Francesca]

"Praise out of season, or tactlessly bestowed, can freeze the heart as much as blame."
Pearl S. Buck

[Kellieara]

{sigh}....This book is not going the way I wanted it to. Too bad she didn't write this as a "Choose Your Own Adventure" (anyone else ever read those cheesy pre-teen books?) O-lan definitely would not have been the one to perish!

Actually, as that part was approaching, I was lying dead-sick on my bed, having been running a fever for 2 days, and I came close to a Rebecca-type move of heaving the book across the room. I didn't, however, and just read on through the painful chapters of her death. Wang Lung's half-hearted repentance was some comfort to me, as it also seemed to be to O-lan, but it was way too little, too late. And, of course, I was still irked by his obsession with looks and how it relates to his love and desire. If nothing else, it made me thankful for my husband and his ability and willingness to love me inspite of my flaws.

Would it sound terrible to say that my favorite part was when Wang Lung beat Lotus? It would? OK, well I won't say it, but....wasn't it about time? The only way to improve that scene would have been if his son or Lotus would have wrenched the whip from him and given Ol' Wang Loser (to borrow Annie's appropriate nickname) a few whacks with it!

I was actually surprised that everything worked out with the new daughter-in-law so well. I thought for sure that Ms. Buck was setting up a downfall by sending the 2nd son to work in that household, and that surely he and the daughter were going to fall for each other. I guess that was a little too goth/romantic of me. This is China afterall. I guess it wouldn't have mattered if they had. The dads had signed, so off she goes....

I'm interested to see what happens with Wang Lung/Ching's opium plot. Not that I'm a huge fan of WL at the moment, but no one deserves his uncle and his family mooching and meddling the way they have been for the past several years.

[Francesca]

I feel frustrated with the book this week. There were too many things that pricked me the wrong way...

I wonder what the youngest daughter really thought about her parents relationship and what kind of expectations she had about her own future. To know that her father did not love her mother b/c she was not beautiful enough -- and to know that she knew this b/c her mother told her.

How can you marry someone, bear children with them, work side-by-side with them, be poor and be rich with them, and watch them suffer so physically & emotionally because of you and STILL find them repulsive b/c they aren't externally attractive -- I just wanted to shake Wang Lung. I was also amazed that they lived so closely together and endured so much and yet she was a stranger to him ... Our cultures and the ways we interact could not be more different ...

It is one thing to honor your father and mother, but to have to endure an Uncle, Aunt, & Cousin the way they did seemed too much - though I guess it would not really be considered honoring them to get the hooked on opium and let them waste away in a drug induce haze.

One redemption may be found in the oldest son and his marriage. His son seems to genuinely love and want to protect his wife -- to the point of being inappropriate in his fathers eyes.

I have had a real love-hate relationship with this book. I know in a way it was meant for the reader to understand a bit more about the old Asian culture... but the more I "understand" the less I understand it.Yet, I've grown a soft spot in my heart for the ups and downs of this family's life.

Looking forward to the way it ends...

Also looking forward to Bridge to Terabithia.

p.s. Yes, Kellie, the beating of Lotus was a highlight -- though in my sick mind I would have enjoyed it if he'd accidentally broken her dainty nose and had to look at that disfigured schnaz the rest of his obsessed days!!

[pjreads]

My darling daughters,
Please, let us have no uncharitable or violent thoughts toward poor Wang Lung. Truly I think he's done the best one can do when one is a SPINELESS, HALF-HEARTED, QUARTER-BRAINED, FAITHLESS, OPPORTUNISTIC, IDOL WORSHIPPING, WHORE-MONGERING(don't read this, Annie!), WEAK-KNEED, LILY-LIVERED NUT NOSE!!!

I feel better now: thank you!

[pjreads]

Oh, I think I forgot INCONSIDERATE, FEATHER-HEADED TWIRP.

That'll do it for now

[Annie]

Well... these ch. were rather difficult to read, it's those parts of books when, "The Ogre was right behind her, about ready to make her his breakfast, and she kept on walking unknowing of the danger..." Or in Good Earth's case, "He tried to love her, (O-lan) but he could not, she was to ugly." where you really just want to leap into the book, grab the person and scream at them, "You dumb-dumb!" But I agree with pjreads, He's (Wang-Lung's) doing pretty good, for a Pig Brain!

Another thing, I really think Wang-Loser's (I've desided that, until he straightens up, that's his official name! ) Cousin has got to go! I really mean it!You know when the book talks about when the Cousin grabbed Wang-Loser's youngest daughter and Wang-Loser knocked him on the head a couple of times? Well if I was Wang-Loser's youngest daughter, I wouldn't have screamed, I would have smacked him off of me, and then knocked him OUT , then I would have screamed.

Well what needs to happen for this story to end in a "Happily Ever After" this is what needs to happen:

Lotus has to go,

Coo-coo (Cuckoo) has to go,

Cousin has to go,

Uncle and Uncle's wife have got to go,

and Wang-Loser has to straighten up!

[beccalou]

Ok,Ok... I realize I have been well, we all know so I won't expound on it. However I must defend myself and say that I do not throw book anymore:)( I have matured greatly since I was 15:)) I have out grown that part outwardly although inwardly I'm still yelling at the characters and throwing the book acroos the room, I just can't frighten my little one and well... she would be frightend by this new aspect of her mommy!! I will try to join in on the next reading. Annaliegh I hear it's your pick!! Congrats.. I enjoyed the previous reads and you all have peeked my curiosity of this latest book. Have a great week all. I love you very much.

[praisegirl]

Hello beloved family!

Believe it or not I have been faithfully reading our book. I got a late start and then in the middle of the book began re-decorating my spare bedroom and lost one solid week of reading. However, I am nearly caught up and hope to finish today or tomorrow - that is why I am posting on the wrong week.

Kellie & Susan I wholeheartedly agree with you, the most satisfying moment of the recent chapters of the book was the momentary thrashing of Lotus (which in my opinion did not last nearly long enough). To my way of thinking it would have been a more justified outcome if Wang-Loser, Wang-Lost-his-mind, Wang-Loose-Cannon, whatever you want to call him, had accidentally disfigured his prize possession and had nothing beautiful but what he started with - his land.

It was such a sadness that the knucklehead could never see the beauty which should be found in simple faithfulness that O-Lan embodied until he was confronted with her illness and then death. I guess the one redeeming value of this section of the book is that it has caused me to realize that there are many days when I probably take my husband's precious love for granted. It is always there, I never question it. But in so many areas of the world still women are possessions, not partners to be cherished and adored. Men in many nations of this world would never think of seeking their wife's or wives' counsel on anything for the women are mere objects in their households. Thank God that I was born in this country!

Many has been the moment I have been sorely tempted to just close the book for good, especially since I have been playing catch up the entire time. But I press on in the hopes that our book, which started out as such a pleasure, is going to redeem itself at the turn of the next page. I'm still waiting...

I'm off to try to finish now. I'll post my final thoughts when I'm done.

Annie, I'm delighted to have you on board and look forward to your pick. I should get my book tomorrow or Tuesday.

Love to you all ~

Amy

[Annie]

Well... these ch. were rather difficult to read, it's those parts of books when, "The Ogre was right behind her, about ready to make her his breakfast, and she kept on walking unknowing of the danger..." Or in Good Earth's case, "He tried to love her, (O-lan) but he could not, she was to ugly." where you really just want to leap into the book, grab the person and scream at them, "You dumb-dumb!" But I agree with pjreads, He's (Wang-Lung's) doing pretty good, for a Pig Brain!

Another thing, I really think Wang-Loser's (I've desided that, until he straightens up, that's his official name! ) Cousin has got to go! I really mean it!You know when the book talks about when the Cousin grabbed Wang-Loser's youngest daughter and Wang-Loser knocked him on the head a couple of times? Well if I was Wang-Loser's youngest daughter, I wouldn't have screamed, I would have smacked him off of me, and then knocked him OUT , then I would have screamed.

Well what needs to happen for this story to end in a "Happily Ever After" is:

Lotus has to go,

Coo-coo (Cuckoo) has to go,

Cousin has to go,

Uncle and Uncle's wife have got to go,

and Wang-Loser has to straighten up!