Laura+Buck+The+Good+Earth

__Childhood/Schooling__ Pearl Comfort Sydenstricker was born to Absalom and Caroline Sydenstricker, on June 26, 1892, in Hillsboro, West Virginia . Pearl was the fourth of seven children and was the only one who survived up until her adult years. The Sydenstrickers lived in Chinkiang, in Kiangsu (Jiangsu) province. Pearl's parents were both missionaries, stationed in China. When Pearl was growing up she was fluent in both Chinese and English. Later Pearl and her family traveled to the United States where Sydenstricker attended Randolph-Macon Women’s College in 1910. Four years later she graduated and intended to stay in the United States, but she had to go back to China because there were family matters to take care of.  __ Married Life __ In 1915, Pearl met a young man named John Lossing Buck. He graduated from Cornell College as an agricultural economist. They got married in 1917 and immediately moved to Nanhsuchou, in rural Anhwei province. In this community, Pearl Buck found the materials that she would later use in The Good Earth and other stories of China. Later, in 1921, the Bucks started to have children. They named their first child Carol. Due to problems during birth the baby died shortly after. Later, in 1925 they decided to adopt a baby girl. The Buck marriage was an unhappy one, but lasted for 18 years. From 1920-1933 the Bucks made their home on the Nanking University Campus where they both made a living as teachers.  __ Career __ In the 1920’s Pearl started publishing stories and essays in magazines such as //“The // //Nation //, //The Chinese Recorder, Asia, and // //Atlantic Monthly.” // Her first novel was //East Wind, West Wind //, it was published by John Day Company in 1930. Shortly after in 1935, The John Day Company publisher, Richard Walsh, became Buck's second husband. In 1931, John Day published Buck's novel //The Good Earth. // It became the best selling book of 1931 to 1932, and it won the Pulitzer Prize and the Howells medal in 1935. By the time Buck died in 1973, she published over 70 novels, collections of stories, biography and autobiography, poetry, drama, children's literature, and translations from the Chinese. __ Later Life __ In 1934, she permanently moved back to the United States to be closer to her husband and her adopted daughter. She then bought an old farmhouse,  <span style="COLOR: #6600cc; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">in Bucks County, PA. Later Richard and Pearl adopted 6 more children. In 1942, Pearl and Richard founded the East and West Association, dedicated to cultural exchange and understanding between Asia and the West. <span style="COLOR: #6600cc; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">In 1949, Pearl established The Welcome House, the first international, inter-racial adoption agency. In 1964, The Welcome House provided support for American children who were not eligible for adoption. Pearl also established the <span style="COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">[|Pearl S. Buck Foundation] <span style="COLOR: #6600cc; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">, which provides sponsorship funding for thousands of children in half-a-dozen Asian countries. Pearl died in 1973, just two months after her 81st birthday and is buried at Green Hills Farm. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #6600cc; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">For more information on Pearl S. Buck, go to: <span style="COLOR: #6600cc; FONT-FAMILY: 'Comic Sans MS'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"> <span style="COLOR: blue; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">http://www.english.upenn.edu/Projects/Buck/biography.html <span style="COLOR: #6600cc; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <span style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> __ Synopsis:  __ This book is about a man named Wang Lung who gets married to a slave named O-lan. Together they have kids and work on their land to support their growing family. Throughout their lives together, they experience many ups and downs, some that include floods, famine, and family problems. This book tells about a man and how he goes through life taking one step at a time. When something goes wrong he always refers back to the land and how the land has been there for him through the good and bad. There are many different events in this book that connect to history and the depth of China at the time. By the end of "The Good Earth," you will find out how Wang Lung led his life and raised a family through the difficult and simplistic times during his life in China. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">
 * <span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #ff3399; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">"The Good Earth" **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #ff3399; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">
 * <span style="COLOR: #ff3399; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt">By: Pearl S. Buck **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">
 * __ Biography of Pearl S. Buck __**

<span style="COLOR: #d60093; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Quotes: <span style="COLOR: #ff6699; FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'"> "It was Wang Lung's marriage day. At first, opening his eyes in the blackness of the curtains about his bed, he could not think why the dawn seemed different from any other. The house was still except for the faint, gasping cough of his old father, whose room was opposite to his own across the middle room. Every morning the old man's cough was the first sound to be heard. Wang Lung usually lay listening to it and moved only when he heard it approaching nearer and when he heard the door of his father's room squeak upon its wooden hinges." (Buck 1) This passage open a great classic, that expresses great themes and amazing symbolism. <span style="COLOR: #d60093; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial"> "Here was only this perfect sympathy of movement, of turning this earth of theirs over and over to the sun, this earth which formed their home and fed their bodies and made their gods . . . Some time, in some age, bodies of men and women had been buried there, houses had stood there, had fallen, and gone back into the earth. So would also their house, some time, return into the earth, their bodies also. Each had his turn at this earth. They worked on, moving together—together—producing the fruit of this earth." (Buck 22) This quote reflects the significance of the "good earth," according to Wang Lung. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">

**__<span style="COLOR: #c816da; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Criticism: __**<span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #c816da; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <span style="COLOR: #b135ad; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> This book was interesting because of all the little things that build up to the climax of the story. When Wang Lung finally gets a chance to get married, he gains just a little more happiness then he had before. Or when he has his first son, this section is just one small part of the book that leads into greater depth and conflict later in the story. I would suggest this book to those who like detailed, but simple books. The concept of this book was very easy to understand and for those who do not enjoy reading as much as others do, I would recommend this book to you. But don't get me wrong, if you like to read long detailed books, you will like this book as well. <span style="COLOR: #bc2c74; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"><span style="COLOR: #f11360; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> **__Recommendation:__** <span style="COLOR: #7536a1; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; COLOR: #f11360; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> I would also recommend this book to someone who likes history and a feel good story. After you read this book you will get the feeling that you can accomplish something so difficult by accomplishing something so simple. In the book, Wang Lung is the perfect example of how accomplishments can be made if you set your mind to it. The Good Earth has lots of detail, but seems to be the right amount for all the events that happen. This looks like it would be a boring book, but it actually gets you interested with every chapter you read. I thought that the whole book would be about how a guy who farms, but there is so much more. Within each chapter, something new arises. Eventually the plot takes a sudden turn that you will not want to miss. Read it! **__<span style="COLOR: #6b1a99; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Literary Information: __**<span style="COLOR: #6b1a99; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">-Some of the characters in this book are: Wang Lung, O-lan, Wang's father, Lotus, and Ching -The setting of this book takes place in the 1900's in China -The genre of this book is Historical Fiction. -This book is very detailed and ties together all the historical events that were happening at the time, in China, specifically what was happening to Wang Lung and his family. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> **__<span style="COLOR: #dd36da; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Outstanding __****__<span style="COLOR: #dd36da; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> College __****__<span style="COLOR: #dd36da; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> Bound List: What makes this book so outstanding? __**<span style="COLOR: #dd36da; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> This book is outstanding due to how it was written. It was written with great symbolism and detail. The Good Earth was most likely placed on the outstanding books for the college bound list because it won a Pulitzer Prize. Pearl S. Buck wrote a classic story of how someone so poor can become so rich. Her book shows the culture and tradition of China, but attracts a diverse audience. She wrote about one single family with the struggles and successes they had in China, but at the same time, the same accomplishments of this one family could be applied to many other cultures, including Americans. These are just a couple of reasons why this book was placed on the outstanding books for the college bound list. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> //<span style="COLOR: #dd36da; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">Outstanding Book List Official Site: //<span style="COLOR: #dd36da; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/outstandingbooks/fictionoutstanding.cfm <span style="COLOR: #dc1ece; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; COLOR: #d21451; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; COLOR: #a11246; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">

**<span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; COLOR: #ad0fb8; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">*Other Links **<span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; COLOR: #ad0fb8; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">* __Wiki Index Page:__ Here you can find more information on other books <span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; COLOR: #0e9bf1; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> http://park204.wikispaces.com/Honors_English10A-NonFiction

__*For Other Great Wiki Sites*__ Lisa Catcher in the Rye JDurand Picture Bride kristen dracula <span style="COLOR: #8f668a; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> <span style="COLOR: #a518b4; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> **__<span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; COLOR: #a518b4; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'">What makes this book outstanding? __**<span style="FONT-SIZE: 13pt; COLOR: #a518b4; FONT-FAMILY: 'Century Gothic','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'"> The Good Earth is an outstanding book because it shows great themes and symbolism. A few symbols that are expressed throughout the book are: foot binding, the house of Hwang, and O-lan's pearls. Foot binding is a symbol of beauty. Women did this as a sign of being owned. If a woman had her feet bound, that meant that her husband had control of her because she could not do much. It also meant that they were wealthy because if their feet were bound they could not work, which meant you had people to work for them. Another symbol was the house of Hwang. The house of Hwang symbolized wealth. In the house of Hwang, O-lan was raised and worked as a maid. Throughout the book, the house of Hwang was a constant reminder of wealth's cutting effect on morality and long-term success. Lastly, the pearls that O-lan had found, were an important symbol of love and respect that Wang shows his wife. Along with symbols, there are many themes that run throughout this book as well. A couple of the themes in the book are: man's relationship to the earth, wealth as a destroyer of traditional values, and the oppression of women in the Chinese cultures. These themes help to make the book outstanding and create many thoughts and ideas while you read. <span style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> __**Sources**__ Buck, Pearl. __The Good Earth__. New York: Washington Square Press, 1931.

"The Good Earth, by Pearl S. Buck." __Literary Jewels__. 27 June 2007. Blog Spot. 6 Nov. 2008. <http://literarybonanza.blogspot.com/2007/06/good-earth-by-pearl-s-buck.html>

"The Good Earth." __Sparknotes__. 2008. Barns&Noble. 6 Nov. 2008 <http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/goodearth/>