A coming of age story

This story felt a little bland, but that might have been partly due to the narrator, who I also didn't enjoy for the recording of Sons. The parts of the story I did like: the internal conflict within the sweet, niave main character (Yuen) as he grew up from older teenager to young adult paralleled with the conflict of China going through the rebellion years. Yuen feeling like an angsty outsider, no matter where he is, until he starts to finally mature at the end and we the author hints at him finding himself and some much needed friendship.

Ms. Buck's books continue to intrigued me with everything that she doesn't document... because how can anyone simply summarize China's history into three short novels. I look forward to learning more about what inspired these novels.

3 people found this helpful

the son the power

great story that follows generation in China. The role and duty towards a parent is clearly highlighted and the reason for wanting a son is clearly visible good and bad.

3 people found this helpful

So slow til the very end

why???? why did P.S.B. leave the book hanging???? it was just getting good...
So so sad it only got good at the end

2 people found this helpful

A perfect ending

A House Divided tells a more personal story than its predecessors, yet still expands the scope of the story. It continues the beautifully minimalist style of writing, and brings a perfect, satisfying end to the trilogy.

The narration by Verner is delightful and brings the story and characters to life.

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It was everything I hoped it would be

The entire series was absolutely amazing. I believe everyone should read these books, they changed my outlook on the world. Beautiful stories, so full of humanity.

1 person found this helpful

Timeless

I love how Pearl Buck captures human nature; the circle of life, every generation’s dream to be better than the last, but still struggling with the same nature as every other generation before. Here we are, 100 years later and an ocean away, and yet we, too, have these same dreams and same challenges.

A look into the hearts and minds of the Chinese before communism.

Excellent read for anyone searching within themselves for their future and questions about their past.

A great series

Can’t wait for the next book. Every book graduated to each generation. I liked it because it showed their differences and their changes in life.

A beautiful, sometimes funny, view of how young humans “find” themselves via the story of an appealingly earnest young man

This might be the favorite book of all I’ve read this last ten years. I’d forgotten what a wise, entertaining, and deeply nostalgic writer is Pearl S Buck. The story’s universal themes of growing up, with all the impatiences and arrogances of young people and all the stubbornnesses and conventions of their parents and grandparents, is wonderfully like what the whole world seems to be going through just now. The answer in the end is, of course, patience and love. What an accurate, hopeful, and beautiful story….

Stunning

A trip through time as cultures ebb and flow. Holding to the past while moving to the future. Excellent.