So I thought I read this classic by Pearl S. Buck before, in high school. For some reason I remember it as being pretty good. When I got a chapter or two into it, I realized that I have never read it before. And though I read through it in two days, barely putting it down to make supper and throw in some laundry (sick kids so easier to sit around the past couple days), I did not like it. If I gained anything from it, it was a new appreciation for hard work and a simple life. Otherwise, UGH... I hated how it went. I hated how he decided to steal to get back to the land and I hated how he made such poor choices when he thought he had plenty of money and grew discontent and thought it ugly that he told himself "everyone else does it and in fact I am better than most" when his conscious was smiting him, and he was treating his wife like crap. I definitely didn't think it was anything my kids needed to read.
Anyone else read this book? What did you think?
5 comments:
It has been over ten years since I read it but I remember reading it straight through just like you and like you I was disappointed. I don't even remember the plot but I knew I would never read it again. Thanks for reminding me why.
I agree. It was given to Angela for Christmas one year, and I pre-read it and decided to replace it with something better.
I pre-read everything. I have been surprised at how many things I decide not to pass on to my children that I read as a child.
I read it eons ago and don't remember it at all. But I remember wondering what all the fuss about it was about because I didn't like it at all. And I don't remember why, but I didn't like it. Now I'm curious and will probably have to look it up to see why I didn't like it!
I read it and came away wondering why it's a classic. It was so depressing that the guy started out so well and then just went downhill and started to be stupid with women. Ugh.
I read this book in high school for a "critical analyses" project which was basically a 10-12 page book report analyzing every aspect of plot and characters. The last question was on whether we liked the book and why or why not. I HATED it! My teacher couldn't believe I didn't like it because I went all out on the project and got an A+. Still, what an awful story...I regretted choosing it.
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