"The Good Earth"

The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)

I was a little worried this was going to be another Joy Luck Club (or, God forbid, another Snow Flower and the Secret Fan). Luckily, this wasn't the case - what The Good Earth has that The Joy Luck Club doesn't is a strong narrative thread and a (mostly) likable main character. This is the difference between a book that is difficult to read and one that is difficult to put down. It's not without its problems; The language is a bit archaic, and I would have liked a little bit more focus on the female lead, who slips out of the picture as the main character grows apart from her. Still, I enjoyed it, and if it doesn't quite match up to is reputation as a all time classic, it's a pretty enjoyable read.

Grade: B