Sons (Good Earth Trilogy, Vol 2)

Rating:
Summary: Interesting from Page to Page!
Review: An absolute and thoroughly interesting saga and drama of the sons of Wan Lung. The book mostly follows the life of the departed son, Wang the Tiger. His mission is to have his own army and a son of his own. Pearl S. Buck skillfully details Wang the Tiger's desires, emotions and thoughts. Wang the Tiger removes his son from his sisters and mother to ensure the lad's education and guidance & preparation to follow Wang the Tiger's footsteps. This book is as excellent reading as "The Good Earth" and completely to the end!

Rating:
Summary: An unexpected ending...
Review: Sons is actually a book about the differences between the three generations. Wang Lung died peacefully in the beginning. The story continued with the three different kinds of life the three sons of Wang Lund led. All of the three sons were concisely portrayed, with a slight emphasis on the third, Wang the Tiger. He rose slowly to the position of a warlord. In order to pass his position to his son as he was growing old, he sent his son to a military school to learn western war techniques. However, his sons turned against him by joining the New Revolutionary Army which was against all old lords.

The story is a little bit long, in a way. However, it wis certainly worthy to be read as it shows me how men, no matter how "straight" they are outside, have after all been self-centered. The book is also not in very difficult language. It needs a little bit patience, bit will make a difference in people's life. Give it a try!

Rating:
Summary: Exciting story!
Review: This second volume to the "House of Earth Trilogy" takes off right where "The Good Earth" ends. I was fortunate enough to find a copy with all three books in one so for me there was no space between the two. Written in the same style of the first novel, this story begins with the lives of three sons of Wang Lung: Wang the eldest (Landlord), Wang the second (Merchant) and particularly, Wang the third (The Tiger). By far the most important and interesting character in this book is Wang the Tiger, who became a powerful war lord. Much was written about his life and how he longed to live the life of a soldier, having nothing but disdain for the farmer's life his father wanted for him. It's an interesting irony, how none of the sons respected what Wang Lung, their father, had left for them. The eldest only interested in the façade of the rich life, the second only interested in money, and of course, the Tiger, whose main purpose was to be a strong and powerful leader.

It's an exciting and sad novel. Reading the evolution of the Tiger's rise to power made the Merchant's and Landlord's lives pale in comparison. Wang the Tiger was a most fascinating character, always obsessed with control not only of others, but of his own inner feelings. It was as if he was driven to be more than human...strong and willful, void of any weakness, void of any softness of heart, setting impossible standards for himself.

Once his son was born, he transferred all of his focus from warring, to raising his son as a warrior like himself. His love for his son, like his love for power, was unwavering, unbending, and suffocating. For example, this was evident in the times when the Tiger noticed that his little boy was so grave and quiet for one so young. Also, though his son did whatever he was told to do, he lacked any spirit or enjoyment in his tasks. Unfortunately, every time the Tiger saw this, he had a moment of clarity, but was quick to ignore or bury it, and thus never really attained the wisdom to forsee what would become of his only precious son.

This was a wonderful and exciting novel to read, very different and lively feeling to that of "The Good Earth." Yet it's absolutely necessary to read it as part of the trilogy. Once you finish, you'll be anxious to know what becomes of the Tiger's son, and how the coming revolution will change their relationship.