BFFs for Thursday and FridayIt all began on Thursday morning when I hopped on my bike to exercise. I decided to begin listening to an MP3 book I had gotten from the library, “The Good Earth” by Pearl S. Buck. I have been wanting to read this book for some time now and was excited to begin this 12 hour 25 minute “modern classic” as it has been called. It is set in the pre-revolutionary, pre-industrial China. It is a story of one farmer’s desperate fight to survive destiny. “Buck traces the whole cycle of life, its terrors, its passions, its ambitions, and rewards.”
I was able to listen to the intro while riding, then decided to keep listening to it as the day progressed. Before I new it, it was time for kids to come home and dinner to be made. I begrudgingly stopped listening and tried to act attentive to household needs. Then is was time for pack night – I sneaked it in the car to listen to while on the way there and home. While I listened I knitted (Michelle would be so proud). I felt the idle listening was justifiable if I was doing something productive with my hands. 🙂
I woke up on Friday with eagerness knowing I had a great story waiting. Even though my body was saying “don’t go run on that treadmill!” I thought of my book and again thought it justifiable to listen to if I was exercising. This is a great motivation for me when my social exercising isn’t available – good thing to find out about myself. Anyway, I listened, and ran, then listened and got ready for the day, and then listened and ate lunch, and then listened and folded clothes, and listened and knitted, etc… As the story progressed, I found myself largely detesting the man in this book, and unhappy with the way his life was being led – but hoped he would come around. It is hard for my 20th century mind that has grown up on American soil, and having been taught values and standards, as well as being treated as an equal among men – to understand the mind of a man from China before the Chinese Revolution who could not read nor write and treated women as “slaves” as they were called, and have such an unquenchable desire and lust for fortune and money and concubines. My heart grieved for his first wife!
I will admit I enjoyed the writing style of Pearl Buck and realize that this was how it was – shameless as it seems now. Pearl was able to get me emotionally involved and it was a very compelling read. The first half of this book was so endearing and simply sweet as they struggled to tend the earth and merely survive and then as prosperity and fortune came things took a turn for the worse as far as I’m concerned. When all is said and done this is one of the major themes I took from the book: It seems like trying to acquire the means of a better life is good as long as it can be kept within good balance, once it has crossed the line and changes people in the aspect of pride, vanity, and obsession it will destroy. So the cycle has been since the dawn of time and so it will continue to be. It makes me feel like it is good to have enough for needs and if there is any left over SHARE before the destruction!
I am grateful I live now where I am treated as an equal to my husband and in society, and don’t have to deliver my own children (this is one of the most amazing parts of this story – those that have read it will know what I’m talking about!), and haven’t felt the destitution of starvation.
This is what I have to show for the past 2 days: My life is good.
 Almost done! |
 loads and loads of fun! |
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Comments:
Dad Parker said…
I also enjoy Pearl S. Buck. You will never have time to do anything you want. You sometimes just have to do it. Nobody was hurt and you read a fine book that will bless your life,
Saturday, March 28, 2009 4:36:38 PM
Jana said…
It’s never bad to take a “time out” for good things! Seems like you walked away a better person and my friend once said ” you never can be done with laundry unless your standing naked in front of your washing machine “
Saturday, March 28, 2009 8:12:26 PM
Diana said…
You gotta teach me now. Those are some pretty fancy stitches!
Sunday, March 29, 2009 7:26:46 PM
Susan said…
The Good Earth was required reading when I was in school. I will never forget it. By the way you got more done “reading” your book thn I do on a regular day 🙂 In all thy getting, get learning”
Monday, March 30, 2009 11:39:30 AM