Saturn’s Reviews > The Good Earth > Status Update

The depiction of starvation plus the description of O-lan’s stillbirth plus the way these wealthy men represented by his shitty uncle are trying to take advantage of his extremity is one of the darkest things I’ve read in historical fiction.

This one is a less of a slap cautionary tale about greed. Sometimes you need to tell family you’re broke tbh.
And, man, they called their daughters slaves out the gate. Crazy

Pretty sad to see O-lan get so happy about owning land in the estate where she was once enslaved only to work harder now that they own that land

There’s a guilt of even approaching abundance that is thrust upon only the poor it seems. And it’s displayed here in a similar way as it is in stories like ‘the pearl’ and it’s enough to just break your little heart

Wuan Lang, who is portrayed as pretty kind, I think, has
-sees his wife as property
- disappointed at her feet being unbound
- felt a sense of pride at her being afraid of him
- allowed her to prepare a meal for him during labor.

Not trying to dunk on him. I’m more surprised by what is likely an exaggeration of some pretty shitty real life conduct.

Lowkey what qualifies Buck to write a book about China