The Rif Raff Book Club met Tuesday April 2 for the March book selection The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck at the Lotus Chinese restaurant in Elmwood Park. The food was good and the tea hot. The porcelan cups had been washed so many times that it looked like the inside of the cup was crusty concrete. The waiter was surly. One could imagine the "thought bubble" over his head - "Why you come here? In my country I am doctor. I should not have to serve you." Despite the quiet lulls in the restaurant chatter, when everyone stopped talking and heard the Rif-Raff discussion, it was a good place for the book club meeting. (A couple "Dr. Fong" cocktails would have been good too - but it was a school night.)

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck

Pearl S. Buck's Pulitzer prize winning novel was one of our better reads of late. Let me clarify, one of the better more "conventional" reads we've had in a long while. It was a pleasure to read a simple, yet compelling story that captured the lifetime of a farmland family in revolutionary China. Classic themes of good vs.evil, power and lust, and money being the root cause of Wang Lungs arrogance, pride, self indulgence and ultimate humility and compassion were carefully woven into this remarkable tale. Although this was considered shocking when it was first published in the 30's, it was even more shocking to imagine the selflessness and humility of Wang Lungs first wife, Olan, compared to the position women hold in society today. Although it was set in China pre/post revolution, the story of this family's travails could have been set in any time period and location. It's considered a classic piece of literature and I would tend to agree. Clearly a head of it's time.

This was the kind of book that makes you want to read more from the author. The characters were fully developed in all aspects. The good the bad and even the O Lan ugly. It was a way to see another culture up close and not have to travel in time or locale to do it. I felt allot of the themes, female heroes / money can't buy everything / family honor and respect, were common to all people not just the Chinese. I felt the reader could identify with the main characters because they understood where they were coming from in a very basic human way. The need to provide for your family, the family and cultural traditions, the moral fall of the main character Wang Lung are examples of that understanding. It was a quick read that was enjoyable. I really like it when people stop me in public and comment on the book I'm reading and that happened with this book. I was encouraged to read other stuff by her and I think I will.