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Peony
Peony (or The Bondmaid) is set in the 1850s in the city of Kaifeng, in the province of Henan, which was historically a center for Chinese Jews. The novel follows Peony, a Chinese bondmaid of the prominent Jewish family of Ezra ben Israel's, and shows through her eyes how the Jewish community was regarded in Kaifeng at a time when most of the Jews had come to think of themselves as Chinese.
312 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1948
About the author
Pearl S. Buck
644 books2,757 followersPearl Comfort Sydenstricker Buck was an American writer and novelist. She is best known for The Good Earth, the best-selling novel in the United States in 1931 and 1932 and which won her the Pulitzer Prize in 1932. In 1938, Buck became the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature "for her rich and truly epic descriptions of peasant life in China" and for her "masterpieces", two memoir-biographies of her missionary parents.
Buck was born in West Virginia, but in October 1892, her parents took their 4-month-old baby to China. As the daughter of missionaries and later as a missionary herself, Buck spent most of her life before 1934 in Zhenjiang, with her parents, and in Nanjing, with her first husband. She and her parents spent their summers in a villa in Kuling, Mount Lu, Jiujiang, and it was during this annual pilgrimage that the young girl decided to become a writer. She graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, Virginia, then returned to China. From 1914 to 1932, after marrying John Lossing Buck she served as a Presbyterian missionary, but she came to doubt the need for foreign missions. Her views became controversial during the Fundamentalist–Modernist controversy, leading to her resignation. After returning to the United States in 1935, she married the publisher Richard J. Walsh and continued writing prolifically. She became an activist and prominent advocate of the rights of women and racial equality, and wrote widely on Chinese and Asian cultures, becoming particularly well known for her efforts on behalf of Asian and mixed-race adoption.
Buck was born in West Virginia, but in October 1892, her parents took their 4-month-old baby to China. As the daughter of missionaries and later as a missionary herself, Buck spent most of her life before 1934 in Zhenjiang, with her parents, and in Nanjing, with her first husband. She and her parents spent their summers in a villa in Kuling, Mount Lu, Jiujiang, and it was during this annual pilgrimage that the young girl decided to become a writer. She graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman's College in Lynchburg, Virginia, then returned to China. From 1914 to 1932, after marrying John Lossing Buck she served as a Presbyterian missionary, but she came to doubt the need for foreign missions. Her views became controversial during the Fundamentalist–Modernist controversy, leading to her resignation. After returning to the United States in 1935, she married the publisher Richard J. Walsh and continued writing prolifically. She became an activist and prominent advocate of the rights of women and racial equality, and wrote widely on Chinese and Asian cultures, becoming particularly well known for her efforts on behalf of Asian and mixed-race adoption.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 603 reviews
May 3, 2021
Peony is a bondmaid in the House of Ezra. Brought into the merchant’s home as a companion to only child Young Master David, Peony and David have grown to think of the other as brother and sister over the years. Madame Ezra observes that David is now of the age where he should take a bride and his rightful place at the side of his father in the business. Madame Ezra is steadfast in her Jewish faith and is the keeper of all Hebrew observances and history. Madam Ezra has determined that the perfect bride for David is Leah—daughter of their Rabbi.
Master Ezra is happy to let his wife run the household and observe the traditions of their faith, but he is not as reverent of the teachings. Ezra muses about a possible bonding of houses that would profit his business. Chinese merchant, Kung Chen and Ezra have long been negotiating a prosperous contract and bringing the two houses together through marriage would make for a strong union.
Peony is privy to all and, being concerned, begins machinations to bring about the best outcome for David, as she sees it, and for her future in the household. Will all the pieces fall into place? Will Peony let David have his choice or will Peony manipulate him? Will David choose Leah and fulfill his mother’s dream for him and the family line; or, will David choose the beauty Kueilan who has him smitten?
In selecting PEONY as my next read, I did not read the synopsis. The author is Pearl Buck so I eagerly made the choice. The first few pages revealed that the backstory was based on the Kaifeng Jews in China. My reading selection seemed meant-to-be as I very recently had learned of Jews settled in China via a report I watched on television. The fact that this group from the Jewish diaspora was eagerly welcomed into China without prejudice fascinated me. The “Afterword” shared a further synopsis of the Chinese Jews and was a welcomed supplement to the historical fiction PEONY.
I enjoyed this story and its easy style. I would recommend.
Master Ezra is happy to let his wife run the household and observe the traditions of their faith, but he is not as reverent of the teachings. Ezra muses about a possible bonding of houses that would profit his business. Chinese merchant, Kung Chen and Ezra have long been negotiating a prosperous contract and bringing the two houses together through marriage would make for a strong union.
Peony is privy to all and, being concerned, begins machinations to bring about the best outcome for David, as she sees it, and for her future in the household. Will all the pieces fall into place? Will Peony let David have his choice or will Peony manipulate him? Will David choose Leah and fulfill his mother’s dream for him and the family line; or, will David choose the beauty Kueilan who has him smitten?
In selecting PEONY as my next read, I did not read the synopsis. The author is Pearl Buck so I eagerly made the choice. The first few pages revealed that the backstory was based on the Kaifeng Jews in China. My reading selection seemed meant-to-be as I very recently had learned of Jews settled in China via a report I watched on television. The fact that this group from the Jewish diaspora was eagerly welcomed into China without prejudice fascinated me. The “Afterword” shared a further synopsis of the Chinese Jews and was a welcomed supplement to the historical fiction PEONY.
I enjoyed this story and its easy style. I would recommend.
December 26, 2018
Once upon a time, there was a beautiful, gentle jewish boy, David, who lived in a beautiful house with a beautiful garden in the beautiful city Kaifeng in China.
His gentle father Ezra, a successful trader, was married with the most beautiful and rich jewish woman of Kaifeng.
His beautiful, gentle Chinese bondmaid, Peony, loves him dearly and although they can't be together, she gently and tenderly devotes her life and beauty to him.
His scheming mother wants David to marry the tender, beautiful, devout daughter of the Rabbi, Leah.
But David has set his eyes on the even more beautiful Kueilan, the daughter of Kung Chen, a gentle, rich Chinese trader, partner and friend of his father.
Which beautiful girl is David going to choose ? As he's jewish, he can't have them all. If only he could reject his jewishness, he could have a beautiful concubine. But the devout Leah, his mother and the Rabbi won't allow this.
His mother asks the Rabbi to help David, but the Rabbi is a blind man and doesn't understand David's confusion amid all these gentle, beautiful women. So the Rabbi loses his patience and his mind and David is lost again.
Why can't they simply assimilate with the gentle Chinese people of Kaifeng, so they would all live happily ever after ?
His gentle father Ezra, a successful trader, was married with the most beautiful and rich jewish woman of Kaifeng.
His beautiful, gentle Chinese bondmaid, Peony, loves him dearly and although they can't be together, she gently and tenderly devotes her life and beauty to him.
His scheming mother wants David to marry the tender, beautiful, devout daughter of the Rabbi, Leah.
But David has set his eyes on the even more beautiful Kueilan, the daughter of Kung Chen, a gentle, rich Chinese trader, partner and friend of his father.
Which beautiful girl is David going to choose ? As he's jewish, he can't have them all. If only he could reject his jewishness, he could have a beautiful concubine. But the devout Leah, his mother and the Rabbi won't allow this.
His mother asks the Rabbi to help David, but the Rabbi is a blind man and doesn't understand David's confusion amid all these gentle, beautiful women. So the Rabbi loses his patience and his mind and David is lost again.
Why can't they simply assimilate with the gentle Chinese people of Kaifeng, so they would all live happily ever after ?
January 15, 2018
I must say this historical novel is quite different from anything I’ve read thus far in the genre. It is a story of impossible love between a Chinese bondmaid and a young Jewish man in the Jewish community of 19th century China. The crux of the story lies in the spiritual or ideological clash between the Chinese and the Jewish culture, and this clash is seen as a subtle force that simmers beneath the surface of differing customs and traditions, until it bubbles up and creates the ultimate barrier that keeps the lovers apart.
Peony is a Chinese bondmaid sold in childhood to the Ezra household to serve their only son David. They grow up together and develop a mutual bond. Within the Ezra household, the husband is easy going and loves the Chinese way of life and is grateful for the kindness shown to him and his by the Chinese, while the wife is a strong-willed woman whose sole aim in life is to uphold the Jewish Law and traditions. But Peony is witty enough to understand there’s no future for her love for David. In order to be able to stay near him, she devises a scheme for David to wed a beautiful Chinese woman, even knowing that her subterfuge would derail Madam Ezra’s plan to get David married to a traditional Jewish girl. From here the plot thickens until the climax is reached, when an incident forces David, now married with children but still struggling with restlessness, to reveal his true feelings for Peony, which ironically leaves her no choice but to seek refuge in a nunnery.
Buck writes with a simple and candid style, but what really stands out is the intensity and depth of emotions she succeeds in painting – it literally holds the readers’ breath! I think she writes with great sympathy about the dilemma of the diminishing Jewish community in China who tried futilely to resist assimilation into their foreign host country who showed them kindness and tolerance while the rest of the world continued to persecute them.
It was inevitable, when people were kind and just to one another, that the walls between them fell and they became one humanity.
I’m giving this novel 4.3 stars.
Peony is a Chinese bondmaid sold in childhood to the Ezra household to serve their only son David. They grow up together and develop a mutual bond. Within the Ezra household, the husband is easy going and loves the Chinese way of life and is grateful for the kindness shown to him and his by the Chinese, while the wife is a strong-willed woman whose sole aim in life is to uphold the Jewish Law and traditions. But Peony is witty enough to understand there’s no future for her love for David. In order to be able to stay near him, she devises a scheme for David to wed a beautiful Chinese woman, even knowing that her subterfuge would derail Madam Ezra’s plan to get David married to a traditional Jewish girl. From here the plot thickens until the climax is reached, when an incident forces David, now married with children but still struggling with restlessness, to reveal his true feelings for Peony, which ironically leaves her no choice but to seek refuge in a nunnery.
Buck writes with a simple and candid style, but what really stands out is the intensity and depth of emotions she succeeds in painting – it literally holds the readers’ breath! I think she writes with great sympathy about the dilemma of the diminishing Jewish community in China who tried futilely to resist assimilation into their foreign host country who showed them kindness and tolerance while the rest of the world continued to persecute them.
It was inevitable, when people were kind and just to one another, that the walls between them fell and they became one humanity.
I’m giving this novel 4.3 stars.
February 6, 2019
There are two main ways Jews have disappeared from a given place: hatred and kindness. Hatred causes holocausts and inquisitions; kindness makes assimilation attractive.
There are many many books about the former. This is one of the few good books I have read about the latter.
There are many many books about the former. This is one of the few good books I have read about the latter.
October 28, 2019
Historical fiction at its best. Published in 1948, and set in the 1800s, this book is a fascinating exploration of a relatively unknown piece of history: a Jewish community living in Kaifeng, China. Buck employs a single family, that of Ezra ben Israel, his wife Naomi, his son David, and bondmaid Peony, to represent the descendants of the Jews that initially settled in China many generations before, showing how difficult it can be to retain the ancient traditions in an environment of acceptance. Peony and David grew up together, and form close bonds, which eventually lead to strong feeling for each other, but are prohibited from forming a relationship due to class and religious restrictions.
It is an evenly paced novel, mostly character-driven through inner dialogues, and includes a memorable journey to Peking. It succeeds where many contemporary historical fiction novels fail: the setting and era are integral to the storyline, and the characters act in accordance with the culture, customs, and ways of life of the era. The sights, sounds, smells, textures, and tastes provide an aura of authenticity. The reader feels immersed into the historical environment. For example:
“The coming of the caravan each year was an event for the whole city. The news of it ran from mouth to mouth, and when the long line of camels came padding down the dusty path at the side of the stone-paved streets, the doors of every house and shop were open and crowded with people. Upon a proud white camel at the head of the caravan sat Kao Lien, the trusted business partner of the House of Ezra. Behind him came guards armed with swords and old foreign muskets, and behind them plodded the loaded camels. All were weary with the long journey westward through Turkestan and back again through the mountain passes, but for the final homecoming the men had decked themselves in their best, and even the camels held their heads high and moved with majesty.”
Buck lived in China for many years, and it shows in her storytelling. She writes beautifully – clear, descriptive, and emotionally charged. Her prose is effective in showing the quandary of the Jewish people in China as they attempt to keep their traditions while simultaneously feeling accepted and assimilated into their host country. This is one region of the world where they were not persecuted but treated with kindness.
After reading this book, I was inspired to research the history of Jews in China, and aside from literary license in condensing timelines, it seems historically accurate. It provides opportunities to learn about different cultures and a piece of largely forgotten history and poses thought-provoking philosophical questions of the interplay between the head and the heart. Highly recommended to fans of authentic historical fiction and character-driven family sagas.
It is an evenly paced novel, mostly character-driven through inner dialogues, and includes a memorable journey to Peking. It succeeds where many contemporary historical fiction novels fail: the setting and era are integral to the storyline, and the characters act in accordance with the culture, customs, and ways of life of the era. The sights, sounds, smells, textures, and tastes provide an aura of authenticity. The reader feels immersed into the historical environment. For example:
“The coming of the caravan each year was an event for the whole city. The news of it ran from mouth to mouth, and when the long line of camels came padding down the dusty path at the side of the stone-paved streets, the doors of every house and shop were open and crowded with people. Upon a proud white camel at the head of the caravan sat Kao Lien, the trusted business partner of the House of Ezra. Behind him came guards armed with swords and old foreign muskets, and behind them plodded the loaded camels. All were weary with the long journey westward through Turkestan and back again through the mountain passes, but for the final homecoming the men had decked themselves in their best, and even the camels held their heads high and moved with majesty.”
Buck lived in China for many years, and it shows in her storytelling. She writes beautifully – clear, descriptive, and emotionally charged. Her prose is effective in showing the quandary of the Jewish people in China as they attempt to keep their traditions while simultaneously feeling accepted and assimilated into their host country. This is one region of the world where they were not persecuted but treated with kindness.
After reading this book, I was inspired to research the history of Jews in China, and aside from literary license in condensing timelines, it seems historically accurate. It provides opportunities to learn about different cultures and a piece of largely forgotten history and poses thought-provoking philosophical questions of the interplay between the head and the heart. Highly recommended to fans of authentic historical fiction and character-driven family sagas.
February 12, 2018
ETA: I want my reviews to be clear and easily understandable. For those of you who only see the positive in what I have stated and thus do not understand why I gave the book three rather than four or five stars, please read messages thirteen and fourteen below.
*************
Look at the cover I have chosen. It was the cover of the 1948 edition, the very first edition of the book. I think it is sweet. That is Peony on the cover. She is the Chinese bondmaid about which the book is written. A bondmaid is a woman bound to service without wages. She was bought by a Jewish merchant family belonging to the Zhao clan living in Kaifeng in the Henan province of China in the early 1800s. The chronological timing of the book is fuzzy. How she appears on the cover is the exact image of the girl drawn in the story--a sweet round face, black hair, fringed and drawn into a bun over one ear.
The tale is first and foremost a love story, between two of the book’s characters and between Pearl S. Buck and the Chinese people. It is also a book about the community of Jews that for centuries had lived in Kaifeng, China. It is a book about Jewish assimilation. Pogroms elsewhere killed the Jews, but in China the Jews were treated with such equanimity, tolerance and kindness that they instead came to be absorbed into Chinese society. The story has direct historical background. An informative afterword concerning the history of Jews in China, written by Wendy R. Abraham, gives a perfect concluding touch to the audiobook published by Oasis Audio.
The book is a bit of a fairy tale, but a tale that could indeed have taken place. It starts off slowly, gathers momentum, events multiply and the ending makes perfect sense.
Pearl S. Buck’s writing has a unique style--a quietness, a fluidity that calms the melodrama of the events that occur. The two counter each other well. I cannot describe the writing in any other way.
I do recommend the book. It grows in strength as it proceeds. There is a river trip on a junk to Peking and Peking itself is delightfully described. Eventually, with a little patience, the ways and customs of Chinese life come to be detailed. Even if I never became attached to any of the characters, each one does feel true to themselves. Peony was too angelic for me!
The audiobook I listened to was narrated very well by Kirsten Potter. The melody of her voice fits Buck’s prose style. The speed is perfect and it is easy to follow. The narration I have given four stars.
Personally, I prefer this over the other books I have read by Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973). The topic is interesting, i.e. Jews in China, and she cleverly weaves facts into a fictional story. The author, the daughter of Protestant missionaries, spent much of her life before 1934 in China; she writes about what she knows and about people she came to love. This is evident in the writing.
*************
Look at the cover I have chosen. It was the cover of the 1948 edition, the very first edition of the book. I think it is sweet. That is Peony on the cover. She is the Chinese bondmaid about which the book is written. A bondmaid is a woman bound to service without wages. She was bought by a Jewish merchant family belonging to the Zhao clan living in Kaifeng in the Henan province of China in the early 1800s. The chronological timing of the book is fuzzy. How she appears on the cover is the exact image of the girl drawn in the story--a sweet round face, black hair, fringed and drawn into a bun over one ear.
The tale is first and foremost a love story, between two of the book’s characters and between Pearl S. Buck and the Chinese people. It is also a book about the community of Jews that for centuries had lived in Kaifeng, China. It is a book about Jewish assimilation. Pogroms elsewhere killed the Jews, but in China the Jews were treated with such equanimity, tolerance and kindness that they instead came to be absorbed into Chinese society. The story has direct historical background. An informative afterword concerning the history of Jews in China, written by Wendy R. Abraham, gives a perfect concluding touch to the audiobook published by Oasis Audio.
The book is a bit of a fairy tale, but a tale that could indeed have taken place. It starts off slowly, gathers momentum, events multiply and the ending makes perfect sense.
Pearl S. Buck’s writing has a unique style--a quietness, a fluidity that calms the melodrama of the events that occur. The two counter each other well. I cannot describe the writing in any other way.
I do recommend the book. It grows in strength as it proceeds. There is a river trip on a junk to Peking and Peking itself is delightfully described. Eventually, with a little patience, the ways and customs of Chinese life come to be detailed. Even if I never became attached to any of the characters, each one does feel true to themselves. Peony was too angelic for me!
The audiobook I listened to was narrated very well by Kirsten Potter. The melody of her voice fits Buck’s prose style. The speed is perfect and it is easy to follow. The narration I have given four stars.
Personally, I prefer this over the other books I have read by Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973). The topic is interesting, i.e. Jews in China, and she cleverly weaves facts into a fictional story. The author, the daughter of Protestant missionaries, spent much of her life before 1934 in China; she writes about what she knows and about people she came to love. This is evident in the writing.
December 18, 2012
As I've said before, my criterion for rating a psychology book a 5 is if it changes my life positively. This novel solidified for me my criterion for giving a novel a 5: do I shed actual tears for the characters? In this case, the answer is yes, so hence the 5 stars.
The book is set in the home of a Jewish merchant family in China in the 1850's. According to the historical afterword in my copy of the book, Jews lived in China as far back as the 1200's, and the 1850's is when they ceased to function as a community. How and why did they disappear? No doubt in the way the novel depicts it: through intermarriage and assimilation.
From a Jewish perspective, this book is an absolute tragedy. The matron of the house, Madame Ezra, wants nothing more than to see her son David marry a Jewish woman and carry on the Jewish tradition, even in China. But Peony, the Chinese bondmaid (a house slave, essentially), has ideas of her own about David's future and engages in some pretty elaborate manipulations to get her way. It's incredibly ironic; everyone fears Madame Ezra, but the sly little slave girl ultimately wields more power.
An apropos (though admittedly borrowed) term to describe this book is a "moral chiaroscuro." The characters are not divided into black and white, good and evil. Madame Ezra has an imperious manner, but she's highly principled and is basically kind. David's struggle with his conscience is very human and very Jewish. And Peony herself, while supremely dishonest, also shows an almost saintly level of kindness, especially at the end.
As I said, from a Jewish perspective, this book is 100% tragic. Traditional Jews will be disturbed by it, particularly for its attack on the concept of "chosenness." But it is nonetheless probably an accurate depiction of the fate of the Jews in China, which is something worth learning about. As a historical note, though the book is set in the 1850's, it was written in the late 1940's, i.e. in the immediate aftermath of the Holocaust. No doubt that is what motivated Pearl S. Buck to explore the theme of Jewish disappearance.
As a love story, this novel is passionate, well-written, and complex. I don't know what a romantic would say to the ending, but overall, the book is worth reading just for the characters and the "moral chiaroscuro."
The book is set in the home of a Jewish merchant family in China in the 1850's. According to the historical afterword in my copy of the book, Jews lived in China as far back as the 1200's, and the 1850's is when they ceased to function as a community. How and why did they disappear? No doubt in the way the novel depicts it: through intermarriage and assimilation.
From a Jewish perspective, this book is an absolute tragedy. The matron of the house, Madame Ezra, wants nothing more than to see her son David marry a Jewish woman and carry on the Jewish tradition, even in China. But Peony, the Chinese bondmaid (a house slave, essentially), has ideas of her own about David's future and engages in some pretty elaborate manipulations to get her way. It's incredibly ironic; everyone fears Madame Ezra, but the sly little slave girl ultimately wields more power.
An apropos (though admittedly borrowed) term to describe this book is a "moral chiaroscuro." The characters are not divided into black and white, good and evil. Madame Ezra has an imperious manner, but she's highly principled and is basically kind. David's struggle with his conscience is very human and very Jewish. And Peony herself, while supremely dishonest, also shows an almost saintly level of kindness, especially at the end.
As I said, from a Jewish perspective, this book is 100% tragic. Traditional Jews will be disturbed by it, particularly for its attack on the concept of "chosenness." But it is nonetheless probably an accurate depiction of the fate of the Jews in China, which is something worth learning about. As a historical note, though the book is set in the 1850's, it was written in the late 1940's, i.e. in the immediate aftermath of the Holocaust. No doubt that is what motivated Pearl S. Buck to explore the theme of Jewish disappearance.
As a love story, this novel is passionate, well-written, and complex. I don't know what a romantic would say to the ending, but overall, the book is worth reading just for the characters and the "moral chiaroscuro."
January 26, 2013
Years ago, I discovered that there was a Kosher Chinese restaurant in Hendon, a suburb in North West London. It was, and still is, called ‘Kaifeng’. It is named after the city of the same name in mainland China, which had a Jewish community dating back to 1100 AD if not before. So, when I discovered that there had been a novel written about the Jews of this city, I obtained a copy.
The novel, “Peony”, set in the 19th century, is written by Pearl Buck, who lived for many years in China. Peony is a bond servant (in effect a slave) who lives with the Ezra family, a wealthy Jewish trading family in Kaifeng. She has a secret ‘crush’ on David, the son of the family, with whom she has grown up. David’s mother is keen that her son becomes betrothed to Leah, the daughter of Kaifeng’s elderly blind rabbi. Peony encourages David to ‘fall’ for Kueilan, the attractive daughter of a wealthy Chinese business man. David is torn between Leah, whom he respects for her desire to propagate Jewish traditional values, and the sensuous gentile Kueilan. Fate decisively determines that he marries the latter. Kueilan bears him numerous children. The Ezra business prospers. Peony remains content serving David and his family.
Everything changes when Peony accompanies David, his wife, and children, on a long trip north to Peking. What happens I will not reveal. But, suffice it to say that what had been a peaceful existence comes to an end.
Taken at face value Buck’s novel is a well-written story rich in detail about life in 19th century China. However, its real interest for me is its exploration of assimilation. On the one hand, David’s mother, the rabbi, and Leah wish to preserve their Jewish identity from becoming dissolved and diluted in the sea of the Chinese world that surrounds them. In contrast, David and his father have fewer concerns about this happening.
Leah points out to David that without people like his mother and her father, “… our people would long ago have been lost. We would have become as all other people are, without knowledge of the One True God. But they are the faithful, who have kept us a living and separate people.” David replies, “Yet I wonder if it is not they who turn others against us…” I have also often wondered whether this desire by some Jews to consider themselves distinct (i.e as being the the 'Chosen People') from their gentile neighbours might be a factor contributing to the antagonism that some gentiles have towards Jews.
David wonders, “Would he keep himself separate, dedicated to a faith that made him solitary among whatever people he lived, or would he pour the stream of his life into the rich ocean of all human life about him?” You will have to read “Peony” to find out.
PS: The edition, which I read, includes an interesting historical appendix about the Jews in China.
The novel, “Peony”, set in the 19th century, is written by Pearl Buck, who lived for many years in China. Peony is a bond servant (in effect a slave) who lives with the Ezra family, a wealthy Jewish trading family in Kaifeng. She has a secret ‘crush’ on David, the son of the family, with whom she has grown up. David’s mother is keen that her son becomes betrothed to Leah, the daughter of Kaifeng’s elderly blind rabbi. Peony encourages David to ‘fall’ for Kueilan, the attractive daughter of a wealthy Chinese business man. David is torn between Leah, whom he respects for her desire to propagate Jewish traditional values, and the sensuous gentile Kueilan. Fate decisively determines that he marries the latter. Kueilan bears him numerous children. The Ezra business prospers. Peony remains content serving David and his family.
Everything changes when Peony accompanies David, his wife, and children, on a long trip north to Peking. What happens I will not reveal. But, suffice it to say that what had been a peaceful existence comes to an end.
Taken at face value Buck’s novel is a well-written story rich in detail about life in 19th century China. However, its real interest for me is its exploration of assimilation. On the one hand, David’s mother, the rabbi, and Leah wish to preserve their Jewish identity from becoming dissolved and diluted in the sea of the Chinese world that surrounds them. In contrast, David and his father have fewer concerns about this happening.
Leah points out to David that without people like his mother and her father, “… our people would long ago have been lost. We would have become as all other people are, without knowledge of the One True God. But they are the faithful, who have kept us a living and separate people.” David replies, “Yet I wonder if it is not they who turn others against us…” I have also often wondered whether this desire by some Jews to consider themselves distinct (i.e as being the the 'Chosen People') from their gentile neighbours might be a factor contributing to the antagonism that some gentiles have towards Jews.
David wonders, “Would he keep himself separate, dedicated to a faith that made him solitary among whatever people he lived, or would he pour the stream of his life into the rich ocean of all human life about him?” You will have to read “Peony” to find out.
PS: The edition, which I read, includes an interesting historical appendix about the Jews in China.
April 14, 2023
___________________________________________________
Rating: ★★★☆☆
“Let woman out of the home, let man into it, should be the aim of education. The home needs man, and the world outside needs woman.”
___________________________________________________
Peony is a fascinating look on the Jews of Kaifeng who first settled in China in the Middle Ages. This book takes place in the 1850s as we follow Peony, a Chinese servant in the House of Ezra, who experiences the decline of the Jew community and the clash with the Chinese culture.
Plot: Pearl S. Buck writes in a very simplistic and candid style so i found the book very easy to read. I was effortlessly transported to the scenarios she described and it was an absolute pleasure to experience it.
On a plot standpoint however, i was slightly disappointed. Peony is advertised as being a forbidden romance novel but that is clearly not what it is. I dived into it thinking i was reading an epic love story, but the romantic plot was only introduced in the last 30 pages of the book.
I ended up not DNFing it because of how interested i was in the struggles the Jews faced when trying to maintain their religious traditions against the pressure to assimilate.
Characters: I adore Peony and she was the only character with whom i felt a connection with. Throughout the book we can clearly see her growth, both physically and mentally. It was a pleasure to see her little self navigate life to try and find her place in a house that stopped feeling like her own.
Ending: I found the ending a bit clunky. While the beginning of the book was very slow paced, the ending felt a bit rushed.
Final thoughts: Peony is definitely a very enjoyable novel if the reader dives into it with the idea that it’s an historical fiction book and not a romance one. Nevertheless, i sincerely enjoyed it and found a great deal to ponder about while reading it.
___________________________________________________
Rating: ★★★☆☆
“Let woman out of the home, let man into it, should be the aim of education. The home needs man, and the world outside needs woman.”
___________________________________________________
Peony is a fascinating look on the Jews of Kaifeng who first settled in China in the Middle Ages. This book takes place in the 1850s as we follow Peony, a Chinese servant in the House of Ezra, who experiences the decline of the Jew community and the clash with the Chinese culture.
Plot: Pearl S. Buck writes in a very simplistic and candid style so i found the book very easy to read. I was effortlessly transported to the scenarios she described and it was an absolute pleasure to experience it.
On a plot standpoint however, i was slightly disappointed. Peony is advertised as being a forbidden romance novel but that is clearly not what it is. I dived into it thinking i was reading an epic love story, but the romantic plot was only introduced in the last 30 pages of the book.
I ended up not DNFing it because of how interested i was in the struggles the Jews faced when trying to maintain their religious traditions against the pressure to assimilate.
Characters: I adore Peony and she was the only character with whom i felt a connection with. Throughout the book we can clearly see her growth, both physically and mentally. It was a pleasure to see her little self navigate life to try and find her place in a house that stopped feeling like her own.
Ending: I found the ending a bit clunky. While the beginning of the book was very slow paced, the ending felt a bit rushed.
Final thoughts: Peony is definitely a very enjoyable novel if the reader dives into it with the idea that it’s an historical fiction book and not a romance one. Nevertheless, i sincerely enjoyed it and found a great deal to ponder about while reading it.
___________________________________________________
Shelved as 'dnf'
December 9, 2023Não quero começar o próximo ano com livros empatados.
Pearl S. Buck requer uma disponibilidade que eu não tenho neste momento. A sua escrita continua bela, mas não me interessa como este livro termina, e isso diz-me tudo aquilo que preciso saber antes de o arrumar de novo na estante.
Pearl S. Buck requer uma disponibilidade que eu não tenho neste momento. A sua escrita continua bela, mas não me interessa como este livro termina, e isso diz-me tudo aquilo que preciso saber antes de o arrumar de novo na estante.
October 28, 2014
PLEASURE READING AT ITS BEST.
"Yet what is right except that which makes happiness and what is wrong except that which makes sorrow?"–page 132
The novels of Pearl S. Buck never fail to remind me just what 'reading for pleasure' is really all about.
PEONY: A Novel of China—the story of the beautiful Chinese bondservant, raised and indentured, in the household of a noted, China-born, family of European Jews; who witnesses the fascinating closing days of the complete assimilation of the Kaifeng (China) Jewish community/culture—is another sterling example of the warmth, wisdom, and compelling character development of Ms. Buck's wonderful stories.
Recommendation: Read PEONY for the sheer joy of great storytelling, and for glimpses of little-known times and cultures.
"All sober souls were in bed and asleep, but the young and the old who were lovers of life were making the most of the moon." . . . . "It was the hour to seize joy with both hands."—page 142
NOOKbook, 309 pages
"Yet what is right except that which makes happiness and what is wrong except that which makes sorrow?"–page 132
The novels of Pearl S. Buck never fail to remind me just what 'reading for pleasure' is really all about.
PEONY: A Novel of China—the story of the beautiful Chinese bondservant, raised and indentured, in the household of a noted, China-born, family of European Jews; who witnesses the fascinating closing days of the complete assimilation of the Kaifeng (China) Jewish community/culture—is another sterling example of the warmth, wisdom, and compelling character development of Ms. Buck's wonderful stories.
Recommendation: Read PEONY for the sheer joy of great storytelling, and for glimpses of little-known times and cultures.
"All sober souls were in bed and asleep, but the young and the old who were lovers of life were making the most of the moon." . . . . "It was the hour to seize joy with both hands."—page 142
NOOKbook, 309 pages
June 22, 2022
4,5 ⭐
Jews have settled in the city of Kaifeng, China since the middle ages. Now in mid-nineteenth century, the community starts to decline in number. Peony is a bondmaid of a child named David, son of Ezra ben Israel, a wealthy jew in the city of Kaifeng. As David grows, Peony grows alongside him, and feelings between the two flourish. Peony is quite aware that she loves David, however she has no pretensions in projecting those feelings further from her heart, as she knows that she is a simple maid. "Peony" is a portrait of a jewish family in China through the lens of the character that gives te title of the romance.
It is written in a beautiful language and sometimes it seems that Pearl S. Buck uses elements of the greek tragedy in its narrative. In fact, one of the main themes regards the forbbiden love of a simple maid that knows her fatum (i.e. her own destiny), there is conflict and then there is catharsis. I will not explore further the narrative so as not to give any spoilers.
However there are several themes that are brought to light in this romance:
1. Aculturation, Intermarriage and Identity:
The family of Ezra ben Israel lives in China, free from antisemitism and with total religious liberty. However Ezra lives in conflict between its jewish faith (regarded as strict, sad and fatidical) and the chinese culture that provides him pleasure, wealth and prosperity. Naomi, his wife, is an orthodox jew who acts as a moral compass for Ezra, and rejects any trace of chinese aculturation of her family. She educates her son, David, as a jew, and tries to solidify that, by trying to marry him with Leah, the daughter of the Rabi. However as the story unfolds, the Ezra family becomes more and more chinese in its customs. This is a major point of inner conflict for everyone in the family and shapes deeply David's psychological development. The synagogue becomes a symbol used by Pearl S. Buck to represent the idea of a "melting pot", as the synagogue becomes more degraded as fewer and fewer jews attend cerimonies.
2. Proto-zionism and anti-semitism:
Naomi believes that she does not belong in China and hopes to return to the "Promised Land". She is a fierce defensor of the ideas that later in history became known as zionism. However, with no land, Naomi believes that her people share the metaphysical land of faith and as such, she tries to preserve the "purity of the blood". Her attempts to marry Leah and David are motivated by the firm belief that her people should remain pure, in order to maintain the jewish faith alive (an thus her metaphysical promised land) until someone guides them back to their physical promised land, according to the prophecies. Anti-semitism doesn't exist in China, but when Kao Lien (a business partner of Ezra) returns from a trip to the West with the news that their people are being murdered, an inner conflict and turmoil emerges in David and the anger towards anti-semitic people shape him deeply.
3. The feminine figure:
In the novel, there are several strong feminine figures that dominate the family. Naomi, as stated before, acts as a moral compass and shadows every thought of Ezra. Peony, the main character, is not only the lens through whom we see the Ezra family, but she is also a major power figure in the house, using psychological tactics to get what she wants and to also guide the family. These two different women clash as one tries to preserve identity and the other tries to accommodate their customs into the chinese way of living. Leah, the daughter of the rabi, commands her own house and bonds with Naomi in an effort to guide David to accept his jewish roots and reject any chinese aculturation. It is also worth mentioning that the elder maid, Wang Ma, acts as Peony's guide, reviewing herself in Peony.
4. David's development and influences:
David is a splited spirited person. On one hand he identifies himself as jew, and the influence of Naomi and Leah shape his heart as such. But on the other hand he preferes the idle life that the chinese provide him. He lives in constant inner turmoil because of these two different dimensions that are antagonic. David makes the reader reflect that the role of parents in shaping one's character is limited and that there are other pressures acting in it, sometimes conflictual pressures. It is interesting to analyze David's growth along the novel and to consider the conflict of "identity vs difusion" that he experiences.
To sum up, "Peony" is a beautiful written novel that provides a glimpse on the jewish diaspora, particularly in the Eastern Asia. Although sometimes melodramatic and soap-operish, Pearl S Buck uses the elements of the narrative in communion with the elements of style to create a dense and rich story, easy to read, being able to bring to light interesting topics. It was a pleasure reading "Peony".
Jews have settled in the city of Kaifeng, China since the middle ages. Now in mid-nineteenth century, the community starts to decline in number. Peony is a bondmaid of a child named David, son of Ezra ben Israel, a wealthy jew in the city of Kaifeng. As David grows, Peony grows alongside him, and feelings between the two flourish. Peony is quite aware that she loves David, however she has no pretensions in projecting those feelings further from her heart, as she knows that she is a simple maid. "Peony" is a portrait of a jewish family in China through the lens of the character that gives te title of the romance.
It is written in a beautiful language and sometimes it seems that Pearl S. Buck uses elements of the greek tragedy in its narrative. In fact, one of the main themes regards the forbbiden love of a simple maid that knows her fatum (i.e. her own destiny), there is conflict and then there is catharsis. I will not explore further the narrative so as not to give any spoilers.
However there are several themes that are brought to light in this romance:
1. Aculturation, Intermarriage and Identity:
The family of Ezra ben Israel lives in China, free from antisemitism and with total religious liberty. However Ezra lives in conflict between its jewish faith (regarded as strict, sad and fatidical) and the chinese culture that provides him pleasure, wealth and prosperity. Naomi, his wife, is an orthodox jew who acts as a moral compass for Ezra, and rejects any trace of chinese aculturation of her family. She educates her son, David, as a jew, and tries to solidify that, by trying to marry him with Leah, the daughter of the Rabi. However as the story unfolds, the Ezra family becomes more and more chinese in its customs. This is a major point of inner conflict for everyone in the family and shapes deeply David's psychological development. The synagogue becomes a symbol used by Pearl S. Buck to represent the idea of a "melting pot", as the synagogue becomes more degraded as fewer and fewer jews attend cerimonies.
2. Proto-zionism and anti-semitism:
Naomi believes that she does not belong in China and hopes to return to the "Promised Land". She is a fierce defensor of the ideas that later in history became known as zionism. However, with no land, Naomi believes that her people share the metaphysical land of faith and as such, she tries to preserve the "purity of the blood". Her attempts to marry Leah and David are motivated by the firm belief that her people should remain pure, in order to maintain the jewish faith alive (an thus her metaphysical promised land) until someone guides them back to their physical promised land, according to the prophecies. Anti-semitism doesn't exist in China, but when Kao Lien (a business partner of Ezra) returns from a trip to the West with the news that their people are being murdered, an inner conflict and turmoil emerges in David and the anger towards anti-semitic people shape him deeply.
3. The feminine figure:
In the novel, there are several strong feminine figures that dominate the family. Naomi, as stated before, acts as a moral compass and shadows every thought of Ezra. Peony, the main character, is not only the lens through whom we see the Ezra family, but she is also a major power figure in the house, using psychological tactics to get what she wants and to also guide the family. These two different women clash as one tries to preserve identity and the other tries to accommodate their customs into the chinese way of living. Leah, the daughter of the rabi, commands her own house and bonds with Naomi in an effort to guide David to accept his jewish roots and reject any chinese aculturation. It is also worth mentioning that the elder maid, Wang Ma, acts as Peony's guide, reviewing herself in Peony.
4. David's development and influences:
David is a splited spirited person. On one hand he identifies himself as jew, and the influence of Naomi and Leah shape his heart as such. But on the other hand he preferes the idle life that the chinese provide him. He lives in constant inner turmoil because of these two different dimensions that are antagonic. David makes the reader reflect that the role of parents in shaping one's character is limited and that there are other pressures acting in it, sometimes conflictual pressures. It is interesting to analyze David's growth along the novel and to consider the conflict of "identity vs difusion" that he experiences.
To sum up, "Peony" is a beautiful written novel that provides a glimpse on the jewish diaspora, particularly in the Eastern Asia. Although sometimes melodramatic and soap-operish, Pearl S Buck uses the elements of the narrative in communion with the elements of style to create a dense and rich story, easy to read, being able to bring to light interesting topics. It was a pleasure reading "Peony".
September 30, 2022
L’auteure nous présente Pivoine comme une esclave achetée pour tenir compagnie à David fils unique de la famille EZRA dés son plus jeune âge. Ils ont été élevés presque comme frère et sœur.
Pivoine est intelligente, espiègle et conduit presque les affaires de la maison EZRA en commandant les autres esclaves et créant les conditions qu’elle souhaite pour qu’une décision se prenne.
Ce roman est un roman d’amour impossible et de déchirement entre juifs installés en Chine et Chinois…il nous démontre que la religion juive ne se transmet que presque uniquement par les femmes, alors que les hommes ont plus de facilité voire de capacité et aisance d’integration.
3,5 ⭐️ pour cette belle saga
Pivoine est intelligente, espiègle et conduit presque les affaires de la maison EZRA en commandant les autres esclaves et créant les conditions qu’elle souhaite pour qu’une décision se prenne.
Ce roman est un roman d’amour impossible et de déchirement entre juifs installés en Chine et Chinois…il nous démontre que la religion juive ne se transmet que presque uniquement par les femmes, alors que les hommes ont plus de facilité voire de capacité et aisance d’integration.
3,5 ⭐️ pour cette belle saga
December 31, 2015
This was another difficult book to rate. The writing is exquisite, which is to be expected from a Nobel Prize in literature winner. The plot is classic "happy" Chinese love story, where girl and boy end up knowing that they love each other but are unable to consummate the relationship [classic "unhappy" Chinese love story is where they die never knowing how the other felt]. But I had a hard time with how Pearl S. Buck portrayed the 19th-century Jews of Kaifeng and how their community, which had existed for 1000 years, ultimately disappeared.
I could not ignore that Buck was the daughter of Christian Missionaries, especially when she had the Jewish grandson who most resembled his devout great-grandmother saying [about Christians who wanted to use stones from the last synagogue to built their church], "They belonged to our religion, which has come to an end in this land, but their religion sprang from ours. Let them keep the stones." True Kaifeng's last rabbi died between 1800-1810, and that Jewish community never recovered, but Judaism did not, and has not, come to an end in China. And surely the author knew that. Also I cannot imagine a Jew, even an assimilated Chinese one, speaking so kindly of Christianity when the story makes it clear that pogroms were happening in the West and it was not safe for Jewish merchants to travel there.
Peony's copyright is dated 1948, which means it was written before the State of Israel was founded, likely during the Holocaust. Did the author think European Jewry was coming to an end and want to compare this horrific demise to the gentler fate of Chinese Jews? Or perhaps, like most Americans, she had no knowledge of the death camps, and the timing of this novel's publication is a strange, thought-provoking, coincidence.
Back to my review. My first reason for not giving 5 stars was that the first third is too long and the last third too short. The scenes in Peking take place too quickly considering their importance in how the book ends. Also I was annoyed by Buck's portrayal of the dissolute rabbi's son, who seemed completely extraneous to the story. All the Chinese characters were kind and good, except for the Chief Steward, whose behavior was integral to the plot. Even the chief bandit wasn't so bad.
I could not ignore that Buck was the daughter of Christian Missionaries, especially when she had the Jewish grandson who most resembled his devout great-grandmother saying [about Christians who wanted to use stones from the last synagogue to built their church], "They belonged to our religion, which has come to an end in this land, but their religion sprang from ours. Let them keep the stones." True Kaifeng's last rabbi died between 1800-1810, and that Jewish community never recovered, but Judaism did not, and has not, come to an end in China. And surely the author knew that. Also I cannot imagine a Jew, even an assimilated Chinese one, speaking so kindly of Christianity when the story makes it clear that pogroms were happening in the West and it was not safe for Jewish merchants to travel there.
Peony's copyright is dated 1948, which means it was written before the State of Israel was founded, likely during the Holocaust. Did the author think European Jewry was coming to an end and want to compare this horrific demise to the gentler fate of Chinese Jews? Or perhaps, like most Americans, she had no knowledge of the death camps, and the timing of this novel's publication is a strange, thought-provoking, coincidence.
Back to my review. My first reason for not giving 5 stars was that the first third is too long and the last third too short. The scenes in Peking take place too quickly considering their importance in how the book ends. Also I was annoyed by Buck's portrayal of the dissolute rabbi's son, who seemed completely extraneous to the story. All the Chinese characters were kind and good, except for the Chief Steward, whose behavior was integral to the plot. Even the chief bandit wasn't so bad.
July 16, 2019
8,5 de 10*
Não foi por acaso que Pearl S. Buck ganhou o prémio Nobel da Literatura. Esta senhora tem o dom da escrita. Ler os seus livros é levitar sobre uma cultura tão diferente da nossa. As suas descrições são fabulosas, as personagens cheias de conteúdo, ricas e complexas.
Comentário completo em:
https://abibliotecadajoao.blogspot.co...
Não foi por acaso que Pearl S. Buck ganhou o prémio Nobel da Literatura. Esta senhora tem o dom da escrita. Ler os seus livros é levitar sobre uma cultura tão diferente da nossa. As suas descrições são fabulosas, as personagens cheias de conteúdo, ricas e complexas.
Comentário completo em:
https://abibliotecadajoao.blogspot.co...
August 12, 2024
-----Aviso: spoilers-----
Después de Bambú (que rescaté de la basura, unos vecinos iban a deshacerse del libro y así conocí a esta maravillosa escritora) y La buena tierra, le ha tocado el turno a Peonía. Pearl S. Buck, hija de unos misioneros estadounidenses, creció en China y en sus libros siempre plasmaba la cultura oriental con una sensibilidad exquisita. Su prosa resulta delicada y poética. Aunque ganó el Pulitzer y el Nobel de literatura, parece bastante olvidada hoy día; la mayoría de sus obras están, desgraciadamente, descatalogadas.
Peonía narra la historia de una esclava, a las órdenes de una familia de comerciantes judíos asentada en la ciudad china de Kai-Feng, que fue comprada para ser compañera de juegos y sirvienta de David, el joven hijo de la casa de Ezra Ben Israel. Ambos han crecido juntos y Peonía está enamorada de él. En la novela se habla de cómo los judíos fueron amablemente acogidos en China, a diferencia de lo que sucedía en otras partes del mundo, y de cómo sus tradiciones empezaron a diluirse al ir mezclándose con la cultura china.
Los padres de David muestran esta dicotomía: Ezra es un comerciante afable, práctico y moderno, hijo de un judío y de una china, al que no le importan tanto las costumbres judías, mientras que su esposa, madame Ezra, ambiciona que su hijo se case con Leah, la hija del rabino, para que su descendencia sea únicamente judía. Ella sueña con regresar a su tierra prometida ("esa árida franja de tierra"), se esfuerza en inculcar la Torá a su hijo y no concibe un mundo en el que su pueblo siga disperso y sin fe. David se muestra indeciso ante la presión que recibe de los dos; su padre desea que se case con una de las hijas de Kung Chen, un importante comerciante de la región, y su madre insiste en que se comprometa con Leah, a fin de mantener la pureza de su sangre. Peonía se da cuenta de la lucha que libran sus amos; es una joven hermosa, instruida e inteligente, que antepone la felicidad de David a la suya propia. Aunque pronto comprende que su amor es imposible, teme que él contraiga matrimonio con Leah, pues sospecha que, al hacerlo, David aceptaría llevar sobre sus hombros la pesada carga de su pueblo; una raza a la que Peonía considera triste y lóbrega, de modo que abrazaría ese dolor y se alejaría definitivamente de ella. En cambio, si aceptara contraer matrimonio con Kueilan, llevaría una vida plácida, cómoda y alegre, lejos de los pesares y frustraciones de los judíos. No se trata solo de la elección entre dos mujeres, sino de la elección entre dos clases de existencia. En cierta manera, David intuye que podría amarlas a las dos. Leah lo conmueve, por Kueilan se siente atraído, pero duda de si sería más dichoso cediendo a las presiones de su madre o complaciendo a su padre. Y, aunque nunca parece reparar en el amor que Peonía siente por él, escucha sus consejos y recomendaciones, mientras ella mueve astutamente sus hilos para inducirlo a comprometerse con Kueilan.
Pearl S. Buck analiza la situación de los judíos en China, aborda las razones por las que no conseguían integrarse en otras comunidades menos apacibles, y hace una crítica sobre su forma de comportarse y su arrogancia al creerse superiores al resto de los mortales. También habla de la persecución que sufrían, de cómo eran injustamente masacrados, y, a través del personaje de David, sopesa qué sería más acertado: regodearse en la tristeza, lamentarse continuamente por el desarraigo de un pueblo que se mantiene unido en su sufrimiento, o echar raíces en una nueva patria, una tierra extraña que los acoge sin importar cuál es su religión o sus costumbres. Aferrarse a lo primero, mantenerse separados de los demás, o ir perdiendo su identidad al tiempo que se construyen vidas prósperas, tranquilas y felices.
"Pero el rabino no quería su compasión.
-Por esto es por lo que Dios ha elegido a mi pueblo, para que podamos recordarles eternamente al género humano que Él reina solo. Nosotros somos tábanos para el alma del hombre. No podemos descansar hasta que el género humano crea en el verdadero Dios.
Todo el enojo se desvaneció del corazón de Kung Chen, y dijo con la más amable de las voces:
-No debería haber un hombre colocado por encima de otro hombre, ni un pueblo por encima de otro pueblo. Bajo el cielo todos somos una familia.
(...)
Se dirigió con gran dignidad hacia la puerta y luego en dirección este, hacia la cancela. David fluctuaba entre la piedad y la vergüenza; corrió detrás de Kung Chen y lo alcanzó en la puerta.
-Le pido a usted mil perdones.
Kung Chen volvió su cara bondadosa hacia el joven. No había trazas de enojo en ella. Habló con gravedad:
-No me siento agraviado en modo alguno, así que no hay nada que perdonar. Sin embargo, en beneficio suyo, quiero decirle algo: nadie en la tierra puede amar a aquellos que declaran que solo ellos son los hijos de Dios."
"-Pero el Tora... -balbució David.
-Fue escrito por judíos amargados por la derrota -dijo Kao Lien. Y siguió-: He aquí la verdad..., te la ofrezco entera. Somos un pueblo orgulloso. Hemos perdido a nuestro país. Nuestra única esperanza de regreso era mantenernos como pueblo. La única esperanza de conservarnos como pueblo era preservar nuestra fe común en un solo Dios, un Dios propio. Ese Dios ha sido nuestro país y nuestra nación. En la aflicción, en el llanto, y en la angustia por todo lo que hemos perdido ha consistido nuestra unión. Y nuestros rabinos nos lo han enseñado así una generación tras otra."
"Ezra había visto la escena docenas de veces, pero aquella noche penetraba en él su significado. La felicidad estaba esperando ser cogida. En la ciudad existía esa felicidad, pero también la aflicción eterna del rabino recordando el dolor de su pueblo. En verdad, esto no estaba dentro del poder del rabino. Él había elegido la pena, la pena sin fin de un hombre perseguido por Dios. Incluso había transmutado esa pena en un goce extraño y oscuro. Era más feliz cuando más profundamente sufría, como la mariposa que revoloteaba cerca de la llama de la vela. Sí, el parecido era cierto. Aquel hombre abrasaba su propia alma en el éxtasis de Dios. Pero ¿tenían que encontrar todos los hombres la felicidad de la misma manera? Que el rabino encontrara su placer dondequiera, pero no tenía por qué empujar a los jóvenes... y sobre todo, a aquel que era su hijo."
"-Quieres decir...
-Que no podríamos vivir aquí, entre este pueblo, y continuar separados, padre -arguyó David-. En los países de Europa sí, porque allí los pueblos nos obligan a separarnos de ellos con sus persecuciones. Nosotros nos adherimos a nuestro propio pueblo porque ningún otro nos aceptaría, somos martirizados y glorificados por el martirio. No tenemos otro país que el dolor. Pero aquí, donde todos somos amigos, ¿cuál es la recompensa por mantenerse aparte?
(...)
-¿Desapareceremos entonces? -meditó Ezra.
David no contestó. Era inevitable, como ya había dicho, cuando un pueblo era bondadoso y justo con el otro, que desaparecieran las murallas entre ellos y se convirtieran en una sola humanidad. Sin embargo, él no podía prever el lejano futuro, cuando sus descendientes no lo conocieran ya, cuando quizás hubieran olvidado hasta el nombre de Ezra, cuando sin duda estarían tan perdidos como un puñado de arena arrojada en el desierto y una taza de agua en el mar. Contemplaba la larga línea de aquellos que vendrían de su sangre y de la sangre de sus hijos. Veía las caras vueltas hacia él, y eran caras de chinos."
A medida que van transcurriendo los años, se suceden los matrimonios, los nacimientos y las muertes en la familia de Ezra Ben Israel. Peonía se ha transformado en una mujer prudente, sabia y abnegada, que lleva el timón de la casa con mano firme. En ella se apoyan todos. Así pues, se desvive para que David tenga éxito en sus negocios, su mujer y sus hijos estén bien atendidos y él se sienta tranquilo, aun cuando descubre tardíamente que no está enamorado de su esposa, y sus sentimientos por Peonía, a quien siempre consideró una hermana, se le revelan tras un viaje a Pekín.
"-Voy a decirte algo que debes tener presente mientras dure nuestra vida. Si te lo digo, ¿lo recordarás?
-Sí -murmuró ella, y sus ojos parpadearon.
-Me he engañado a mí mismo todos estos años diciéndome que eras como una hermana -dijo-. He sido un estúpido. Tú no has sido nunca una hermana. Nunca podría haber amado a una hermana como te amé cuando éramos niños... y como te amo ahora."
Esa bonita historia de amor tiene un triste desenlace. Peonía se sacrifica nuevamente por él; abandona su casa y termina metida en un convento budista, porque no quiere casarse con ningún otro hombre y, acosada por el mayordomo principal del palacio, se halla en una encrucijada. Aunque David podría salvarla convirtiéndola en su concubina, y a pesar de ser esto una práctica común y socialmente aceptada en China, Peonía está segura de que David sería incapaz de traicionar los principios que su madre le inculcó. Entonces sus destinos se separan. David acepta egoístamente el último gran sacrificio de Peonía, porque eso lo libera de la tentación, y con los años ella encuentra cierta serenidad en el convento, preguntándose si la familia de Ezra, al entrelazarse con su pueblo, está condenada a desaparecer.
"-Nada se pierde. Él vive y se repite entre nuestro pueblo -murmuró-. Donde hay una frente más audaz, unos ojos más brillantes, hay uno como él; donde una voz canta más claramente, hay uno; donde se dibuja una línea con más inteligencia para esclarecer una pintura, una talla más fuerte, hay uno; donde un estadista se mantiene más honorable, un juez más justo, hay uno; donde un estudiante es más instruido, hay uno; donde una mujer es a la vez hermosa y sabia, hay uno. Su sangre está llena de vida por cualquier molde que corra, y cuando ha desaparecido la forma, su polvo mismo enriquece el todavía bondadoso suelo. El espíritu de ellos renace con cada generación. Ellos ya no existen, y, sin embargo, perduran."
Me ha encantado esta novela. Seguiré buscando los libros de esta magnífica escritora en el mercado de segunda mano. Y ojalá vuelvan a reeditar su obra como merece. Sus páginas están cargadas de belleza incluso cuando cuenta historias duras y sus personajes son víctimas de la crueldad humana. Y esa melancolía, la melancolía del amor perdido, de la vida que se escapa, del paso del tiempo y del olvido... es imposible no sucumbir a su sublime escritura.
Después de Bambú (que rescaté de la basura, unos vecinos iban a deshacerse del libro y así conocí a esta maravillosa escritora) y La buena tierra, le ha tocado el turno a Peonía. Pearl S. Buck, hija de unos misioneros estadounidenses, creció en China y en sus libros siempre plasmaba la cultura oriental con una sensibilidad exquisita. Su prosa resulta delicada y poética. Aunque ganó el Pulitzer y el Nobel de literatura, parece bastante olvidada hoy día; la mayoría de sus obras están, desgraciadamente, descatalogadas.
Peonía narra la historia de una esclava, a las órdenes de una familia de comerciantes judíos asentada en la ciudad china de Kai-Feng, que fue comprada para ser compañera de juegos y sirvienta de David, el joven hijo de la casa de Ezra Ben Israel. Ambos han crecido juntos y Peonía está enamorada de él. En la novela se habla de cómo los judíos fueron amablemente acogidos en China, a diferencia de lo que sucedía en otras partes del mundo, y de cómo sus tradiciones empezaron a diluirse al ir mezclándose con la cultura china.
Los padres de David muestran esta dicotomía: Ezra es un comerciante afable, práctico y moderno, hijo de un judío y de una china, al que no le importan tanto las costumbres judías, mientras que su esposa, madame Ezra, ambiciona que su hijo se case con Leah, la hija del rabino, para que su descendencia sea únicamente judía. Ella sueña con regresar a su tierra prometida ("esa árida franja de tierra"), se esfuerza en inculcar la Torá a su hijo y no concibe un mundo en el que su pueblo siga disperso y sin fe. David se muestra indeciso ante la presión que recibe de los dos; su padre desea que se case con una de las hijas de Kung Chen, un importante comerciante de la región, y su madre insiste en que se comprometa con Leah, a fin de mantener la pureza de su sangre. Peonía se da cuenta de la lucha que libran sus amos; es una joven hermosa, instruida e inteligente, que antepone la felicidad de David a la suya propia. Aunque pronto comprende que su amor es imposible, teme que él contraiga matrimonio con Leah, pues sospecha que, al hacerlo, David aceptaría llevar sobre sus hombros la pesada carga de su pueblo; una raza a la que Peonía considera triste y lóbrega, de modo que abrazaría ese dolor y se alejaría definitivamente de ella. En cambio, si aceptara contraer matrimonio con Kueilan, llevaría una vida plácida, cómoda y alegre, lejos de los pesares y frustraciones de los judíos. No se trata solo de la elección entre dos mujeres, sino de la elección entre dos clases de existencia. En cierta manera, David intuye que podría amarlas a las dos. Leah lo conmueve, por Kueilan se siente atraído, pero duda de si sería más dichoso cediendo a las presiones de su madre o complaciendo a su padre. Y, aunque nunca parece reparar en el amor que Peonía siente por él, escucha sus consejos y recomendaciones, mientras ella mueve astutamente sus hilos para inducirlo a comprometerse con Kueilan.
Pearl S. Buck analiza la situación de los judíos en China, aborda las razones por las que no conseguían integrarse en otras comunidades menos apacibles, y hace una crítica sobre su forma de comportarse y su arrogancia al creerse superiores al resto de los mortales. También habla de la persecución que sufrían, de cómo eran injustamente masacrados, y, a través del personaje de David, sopesa qué sería más acertado: regodearse en la tristeza, lamentarse continuamente por el desarraigo de un pueblo que se mantiene unido en su sufrimiento, o echar raíces en una nueva patria, una tierra extraña que los acoge sin importar cuál es su religión o sus costumbres. Aferrarse a lo primero, mantenerse separados de los demás, o ir perdiendo su identidad al tiempo que se construyen vidas prósperas, tranquilas y felices.
"Pero el rabino no quería su compasión.
-Por esto es por lo que Dios ha elegido a mi pueblo, para que podamos recordarles eternamente al género humano que Él reina solo. Nosotros somos tábanos para el alma del hombre. No podemos descansar hasta que el género humano crea en el verdadero Dios.
Todo el enojo se desvaneció del corazón de Kung Chen, y dijo con la más amable de las voces:
-No debería haber un hombre colocado por encima de otro hombre, ni un pueblo por encima de otro pueblo. Bajo el cielo todos somos una familia.
(...)
Se dirigió con gran dignidad hacia la puerta y luego en dirección este, hacia la cancela. David fluctuaba entre la piedad y la vergüenza; corrió detrás de Kung Chen y lo alcanzó en la puerta.
-Le pido a usted mil perdones.
Kung Chen volvió su cara bondadosa hacia el joven. No había trazas de enojo en ella. Habló con gravedad:
-No me siento agraviado en modo alguno, así que no hay nada que perdonar. Sin embargo, en beneficio suyo, quiero decirle algo: nadie en la tierra puede amar a aquellos que declaran que solo ellos son los hijos de Dios."
"-Pero el Tora... -balbució David.
-Fue escrito por judíos amargados por la derrota -dijo Kao Lien. Y siguió-: He aquí la verdad..., te la ofrezco entera. Somos un pueblo orgulloso. Hemos perdido a nuestro país. Nuestra única esperanza de regreso era mantenernos como pueblo. La única esperanza de conservarnos como pueblo era preservar nuestra fe común en un solo Dios, un Dios propio. Ese Dios ha sido nuestro país y nuestra nación. En la aflicción, en el llanto, y en la angustia por todo lo que hemos perdido ha consistido nuestra unión. Y nuestros rabinos nos lo han enseñado así una generación tras otra."
"Ezra había visto la escena docenas de veces, pero aquella noche penetraba en él su significado. La felicidad estaba esperando ser cogida. En la ciudad existía esa felicidad, pero también la aflicción eterna del rabino recordando el dolor de su pueblo. En verdad, esto no estaba dentro del poder del rabino. Él había elegido la pena, la pena sin fin de un hombre perseguido por Dios. Incluso había transmutado esa pena en un goce extraño y oscuro. Era más feliz cuando más profundamente sufría, como la mariposa que revoloteaba cerca de la llama de la vela. Sí, el parecido era cierto. Aquel hombre abrasaba su propia alma en el éxtasis de Dios. Pero ¿tenían que encontrar todos los hombres la felicidad de la misma manera? Que el rabino encontrara su placer dondequiera, pero no tenía por qué empujar a los jóvenes... y sobre todo, a aquel que era su hijo."
"-Quieres decir...
-Que no podríamos vivir aquí, entre este pueblo, y continuar separados, padre -arguyó David-. En los países de Europa sí, porque allí los pueblos nos obligan a separarnos de ellos con sus persecuciones. Nosotros nos adherimos a nuestro propio pueblo porque ningún otro nos aceptaría, somos martirizados y glorificados por el martirio. No tenemos otro país que el dolor. Pero aquí, donde todos somos amigos, ¿cuál es la recompensa por mantenerse aparte?
(...)
-¿Desapareceremos entonces? -meditó Ezra.
David no contestó. Era inevitable, como ya había dicho, cuando un pueblo era bondadoso y justo con el otro, que desaparecieran las murallas entre ellos y se convirtieran en una sola humanidad. Sin embargo, él no podía prever el lejano futuro, cuando sus descendientes no lo conocieran ya, cuando quizás hubieran olvidado hasta el nombre de Ezra, cuando sin duda estarían tan perdidos como un puñado de arena arrojada en el desierto y una taza de agua en el mar. Contemplaba la larga línea de aquellos que vendrían de su sangre y de la sangre de sus hijos. Veía las caras vueltas hacia él, y eran caras de chinos."
A medida que van transcurriendo los años, se suceden los matrimonios, los nacimientos y las muertes en la familia de Ezra Ben Israel. Peonía se ha transformado en una mujer prudente, sabia y abnegada, que lleva el timón de la casa con mano firme. En ella se apoyan todos. Así pues, se desvive para que David tenga éxito en sus negocios, su mujer y sus hijos estén bien atendidos y él se sienta tranquilo, aun cuando descubre tardíamente que no está enamorado de su esposa, y sus sentimientos por Peonía, a quien siempre consideró una hermana, se le revelan tras un viaje a Pekín.
"-Voy a decirte algo que debes tener presente mientras dure nuestra vida. Si te lo digo, ¿lo recordarás?
-Sí -murmuró ella, y sus ojos parpadearon.
-Me he engañado a mí mismo todos estos años diciéndome que eras como una hermana -dijo-. He sido un estúpido. Tú no has sido nunca una hermana. Nunca podría haber amado a una hermana como te amé cuando éramos niños... y como te amo ahora."
Esa bonita historia de amor tiene un triste desenlace. Peonía se sacrifica nuevamente por él; abandona su casa y termina metida en un convento budista, porque no quiere casarse con ningún otro hombre y, acosada por el mayordomo principal del palacio, se halla en una encrucijada. Aunque David podría salvarla convirtiéndola en su concubina, y a pesar de ser esto una práctica común y socialmente aceptada en China, Peonía está segura de que David sería incapaz de traicionar los principios que su madre le inculcó. Entonces sus destinos se separan. David acepta egoístamente el último gran sacrificio de Peonía, porque eso lo libera de la tentación, y con los años ella encuentra cierta serenidad en el convento, preguntándose si la familia de Ezra, al entrelazarse con su pueblo, está condenada a desaparecer.
"-Nada se pierde. Él vive y se repite entre nuestro pueblo -murmuró-. Donde hay una frente más audaz, unos ojos más brillantes, hay uno como él; donde una voz canta más claramente, hay uno; donde se dibuja una línea con más inteligencia para esclarecer una pintura, una talla más fuerte, hay uno; donde un estadista se mantiene más honorable, un juez más justo, hay uno; donde un estudiante es más instruido, hay uno; donde una mujer es a la vez hermosa y sabia, hay uno. Su sangre está llena de vida por cualquier molde que corra, y cuando ha desaparecido la forma, su polvo mismo enriquece el todavía bondadoso suelo. El espíritu de ellos renace con cada generación. Ellos ya no existen, y, sin embargo, perduran."
Me ha encantado esta novela. Seguiré buscando los libros de esta magnífica escritora en el mercado de segunda mano. Y ojalá vuelvan a reeditar su obra como merece. Sus páginas están cargadas de belleza incluso cuando cuenta historias duras y sus personajes son víctimas de la crueldad humana. Y esa melancolía, la melancolía del amor perdido, de la vida que se escapa, del paso del tiempo y del olvido... es imposible no sucumbir a su sublime escritura.
July 12, 2019
Ancestors are the roots in any house, and children are the flowers, and the two must not be cut asunder.
I picked up this book on a whim at the library because I knew Pearl S. Buck had been somewhat of an expert in writing historical fiction set in China and that she'd been compared to Lisa See. I was pleased to see that this book was about the Kaifeng Jews in China, a little known group of Jewish people in midland China which has mostly ceased to exist via years of assimilation and mixing with their Chinese neighbors. Peony was an interesting book and I don't regret reading it. However, I don't think I will pick up another.
Some reviews criticize the book for making our main character, Peony, too angelic. I didn't get that sense of her at all, however. Rather I thought she was scheming and manipulative. This may be a realistic depiction of the kind of woman who could penetrate the cultural and class barriers of the family to whom she serves as a bondmaid. She is able to shape David's, the young master of the house, entire trajectory of his love life just by planting ideas into other people's minds for her own selfish gain. Peony is an extremely clever girl!
Others criticize the book as fanning the flames of antisemitism by portraying the Jewish people's "setting themselves apart" by resisting assimilation as their main conflict. I didn't feel that Buck intended to write the book as to agree with those ideas, but rather was simply reflecting the attitudes of the time. Along the same vein, some have pointed out the Jews in the book don't quite align with how the rest of the Jewish diaspora talk and behave. Things such as saying "Jehovah" rather than Hashem, and some other things. However, it is quite likely that the Keifeng Jews would have been a little odd as they had been isolated from the diaspora for quite some time.
My main complaint is that the timeline in the book doesn't actually gel with the history of the Keifeng Jews. The book is set in the mid-1800s and the Keifeng Jewish community of Peony loses their rabbi without a successor during that time. Yet, in the real history, this exact scenario would have happened in the 1600s. The synagogue was destroyed around 1860, however, so some facts are accurate. My guess is the Buck based a lot of her story on old tales she would have learned about the group during her time in China.
What I liked about the book, however, was how well Buck showed how assimilation happens, maybe even inevitably. I also enjoyed the evolution of Peony's character as she matures and eventually accepts what she can't have. There are probably better books by Buck out there to pick up for the first time. However, with a TBR pile that threatens to crush me and my cats any moment now, I will move on to other authors.
August 14, 2018
“You paid money for me, but that does not make me yours. A human creature can’t be bought whole.”
Excellent. Buck delves deep into the thoughts and emotions of the title character and those closest to her. Unlike typical novels, the reader is immersed in the flow of hopes and uncertainty of all the principal cast. Based on history, Buck explores the assimilation of Jewish communities which had existed for hundreds of years in China.
“Out of the dark and sullen bottom of a lake the lotus flowers bloomed upon its surface, and she would pluck the flowers.”
A full immersion for the reader in the life and times of a Jewish remnant in China. Paradoxically the Jews in Europe, persecuted to death, kept to their faith and culture; while Jewish communities in China, tolerated if not welcomed, flourished for hundreds of years but eventually faded.
“She knew now what she wanted and would have. There remained only the matter of how to get it and keep it.”
Herself a Chinese girl bonded to a Jewish family, Peony suffers many hopes, frustrations and a few victories as she bridges Chinese and Jewish culture. Those around her are blessed by the role she fashions, not following the accepted pattern of either her own people or the semi-assimilated Jews.
“Is life happy or sad?” “Life is sad. You cannot be happy until you understand that life is sad. Expecting nothing, I am glad for anything.”
Many insightful and colorful epigrams: “I do not blame you for growing up, but … whatever happens is always the woman’s fault.” “People do strange things when they are religious.” “These poor eyes can still weep, even though they can no longer see.” “To hate another human being is to take a worm into one’s vitals. It consumes life.” “Happiness is waiting to be chosen.” “So his heart made its own choice, after all, and his soul was silent.” “They are no more and yet they live forever.”
Excellent. Buck delves deep into the thoughts and emotions of the title character and those closest to her. Unlike typical novels, the reader is immersed in the flow of hopes and uncertainty of all the principal cast. Based on history, Buck explores the assimilation of Jewish communities which had existed for hundreds of years in China.
“Out of the dark and sullen bottom of a lake the lotus flowers bloomed upon its surface, and she would pluck the flowers.”
A full immersion for the reader in the life and times of a Jewish remnant in China. Paradoxically the Jews in Europe, persecuted to death, kept to their faith and culture; while Jewish communities in China, tolerated if not welcomed, flourished for hundreds of years but eventually faded.
“She knew now what she wanted and would have. There remained only the matter of how to get it and keep it.”
Herself a Chinese girl bonded to a Jewish family, Peony suffers many hopes, frustrations and a few victories as she bridges Chinese and Jewish culture. Those around her are blessed by the role she fashions, not following the accepted pattern of either her own people or the semi-assimilated Jews.
“Is life happy or sad?” “Life is sad. You cannot be happy until you understand that life is sad. Expecting nothing, I am glad for anything.”
Many insightful and colorful epigrams: “I do not blame you for growing up, but … whatever happens is always the woman’s fault.” “People do strange things when they are religious.” “These poor eyes can still weep, even though they can no longer see.” “To hate another human being is to take a worm into one’s vitals. It consumes life.” “Happiness is waiting to be chosen.” “So his heart made its own choice, after all, and his soul was silent.” “They are no more and yet they live forever.”
May 17, 2008
I picked up this book since I knew the quality of Buck's writing, and was in the mood for another novel about China. Much to my surprise, when I opened the book, I found a story about Jewish people living amongst the Chinese in the late 19th century, whose people had lived for generations in Kaifeng (a true, yet little-known tidbit of Chinese history). Who knew?
This is a good book for those who found Pearl S. Buck to be an enthralling writer in The Good Earth, but who had a hard time liking the characters of that book. This book was a page-turner for me, just as The Good Earth was, but in contrast, all of the main characters in this novel are very likeable, and as their motivations and attitudes are defensible, it is difficult to decide which of their deepest desires you want to have fulfilled, or to see how it could even happen.(In that way, it was reminiscent of watching Dr. Zhivago for me.) So perhaps in this novel, it is human nature and conficting traditions that are the antagonists, and human nobility and selflessness that becomes the hero in the end.
This is a good book for those who found Pearl S. Buck to be an enthralling writer in The Good Earth, but who had a hard time liking the characters of that book. This book was a page-turner for me, just as The Good Earth was, but in contrast, all of the main characters in this novel are very likeable, and as their motivations and attitudes are defensible, it is difficult to decide which of their deepest desires you want to have fulfilled, or to see how it could even happen.(In that way, it was reminiscent of watching Dr. Zhivago for me.) So perhaps in this novel, it is human nature and conficting traditions that are the antagonists, and human nobility and selflessness that becomes the hero in the end.
December 16, 2012
Mixed reaction to my first Pearl S. Buck novel. The theme of assimilation vs holding true to traditions was interesting but I was put off by some of the author's perspective on this theme. Her characters seemed sterotyped - the "sad jews" and the "happy & carefree natives" were primarily there to give a framework for long philosphical point of views - they did not seem like real people. Buck is obviously a believer in assimiliation over tradition as the characters who hold to their traditions have sad, unhappy lives and those who embrace the local culture are happy. I was also disturbed by the idea that is repeated several times that the jews are persecuted around the world because "they set themselves apart as the chosen people" and of course, others will hate them for that belief. Buck does stop short of accepting total assimiliation to the local culture in that she doesn't let one of her main characters, David, embrace the Chinese notion of having paramours in addition to a wife.
June 17, 2017
Peony is a richly told story of the demise of Jews in Kaifeng in China. It is a story of faith, identity, lovr and duty. I kept thinking how well Ms. Buck portrayed both Jewish and Chinese sentiment without judgement. She leaves it to the reader to form their own opinion. In the end how you feel about Peony, depends on your own bias. I'm still conflicted but I know she can't be the sole cause of the blame.
Another well written story of every day life in China. The surprising twist is this relatively unknown aspect of Judaism in China.
Another well written story of every day life in China. The surprising twist is this relatively unknown aspect of Judaism in China.
July 29, 2023
Yes, I am in the minority when it comes to this book! I started off liking it and thought I would, but only kept going because it was on audio and I did want to see how things ended for David.
I was annoyed by all of the Jews being sad and their religion only being about sadness and how happy the Chinese were although there were hints that it wasn't that way for others. I thought this a rather strong stereotype and belittling to many Jewish mothers IRL who are not nearly so pushy as old stereotypes like to portray.
Some of what saves this is that there are many accurate things about the lives of the Jews living in Kaifeng--they were there for many centuries. However, she compressed historical events spread over more than a century into a far shorter time frame, and not evenly so. Also, although initially I liked Peony she
I really wanted to like this, and the audiobook was well-read. The afterword was interesting and I learned Buck was very accurate in her portrayal of local Chinese people, despite the compression of historical events which made for more drama, not all of it helpful to the books, and I found many things in this novel irksome. Also I found some of it rather melodramatic and hard to swallow and it wasn't plausible that David . What it did show was a fictional family with a surname that matched the wealthiest and most prominent Jewish one at the tale end of any remnants of people who still held to the Jewish law.
I was annoyed by all of the Jews being sad and their religion only being about sadness and how happy the Chinese were although there were hints that it wasn't that way for others. I thought this a rather strong stereotype and belittling to many Jewish mothers IRL who are not nearly so pushy as old stereotypes like to portray.
Some of what saves this is that there are many accurate things about the lives of the Jews living in Kaifeng--they were there for many centuries. However, she compressed historical events spread over more than a century into a far shorter time frame, and not evenly so. Also, although initially I liked Peony she
I really wanted to like this, and the audiobook was well-read. The afterword was interesting and I learned Buck was very accurate in her portrayal of local Chinese people, despite the compression of historical events which made for more drama, not all of it helpful to the books, and I found many things in this novel irksome. Also I found some of it rather melodramatic and hard to swallow and it wasn't plausible that David . What it did show was a fictional family with a surname that matched the wealthiest and most prominent Jewish one at the tale end of any remnants of people who still held to the Jewish law.
May 25, 2017
I thought it was too much of a love story and lost it's way by losing the Lost Tribe.
The beautiful bondwoman Peony is in love with the handsome David who is love with an even-more-beautiful Chinese girl (who he has seen once) Keuilan. Due to her low station in life, Peony will never be able to marry David. Meanwhile David's mother is scheming to marry him to the also beautiful-but-more-of-a-sister Leah so that two families of Jews are united and the shrinking gene pool of the small Jewish community is sustained for at least another generation. Peony steers David towards the even-m0re-beautiful Keuilan as she feels she has a better chance of staying in the same house as her beloved owner. The manoeuvring takes up the first half of the book before tragedy, then a marriage occurs. As she ages, Peony becomes even more beautiful than the once even-more-beeautiful Keuilan and is the rock in the house as she runs the household, is wise, faithful and devoted.
The best part of the book in with the Rabbi, his anguish of a declining community, lack of a successor and his debate with the even-more-beautiful Chinese girl's father on what is the Jewish God.
The beautiful bondwoman Peony is in love with the handsome David who is love with an even-more-beautiful Chinese girl (who he has seen once) Keuilan. Due to her low station in life, Peony will never be able to marry David. Meanwhile David's mother is scheming to marry him to the also beautiful-but-more-of-a-sister Leah so that two families of Jews are united and the shrinking gene pool of the small Jewish community is sustained for at least another generation. Peony steers David towards the even-m0re-beautiful Keuilan as she feels she has a better chance of staying in the same house as her beloved owner. The manoeuvring takes up the first half of the book before tragedy, then a marriage occurs. As she ages, Peony becomes even more beautiful than the once even-more-beeautiful Keuilan and is the rock in the house as she runs the household, is wise, faithful and devoted.
The best part of the book in with the Rabbi, his anguish of a declining community, lack of a successor and his debate with the even-more-beautiful Chinese girl's father on what is the Jewish God.
March 11, 2017
It has been 40+ years since I read Pearl Buck's _The Good Earth_, and I cannot imagine why it has taken me so long to return to this author. I can still remember much about that reading, though so distant-- and the fact that I do remember bears witness to the author's ability to deeply imprint the psyche.
Peony is also a memorable read, though entirely different from the Good Earth. Set in the 1800s, it is titled after a Chinese servant girl named Peony. She serves a wealthy Jewish-Chinese family and witnesses the Jewish culture in the last throes of being assimilated into the Chinese culture.
The Jewish matriarch of the house, Peony's mistress, makes a desperate attempt to keep the Jewish tradition alive through her son. The son is under a great deal of tension as he must make a choice whether to give his life as a rabbi, or follow his Father--- who is half Chinese--- into a lucrative life of business.
I had never realized that there was a Jewish colony in China that survived for many centuries until they fully intermarried with the Chinese to the point where they ceased to be a distinct people. There was an interesting afterward at the back of the book chronicling the history of this group.
The Chinese were kind to their Jewish refugees; they were allowed to build a synagogue, to conduct business, and to take full part in the community. The Jewish matriarch of the story noted wryly that, in fact, the Jewish people had been "killed by kindness." In an ironic way, that was true because persecution had failed to eradicate the Jews ---but friendly assimilation effected that very thing in this Chinese colony.
There was a very sad moment in the book that became the tipping point for the young man who was being torn by having to choose between the 2 cultures. At this point, a prominent Chinese businessman asked if he could have a tour of the synagogue, which the boy willingly obliged. The businessman was thoroughly impressed by the wisdom of the writings within and marveled that much of it intersected with the wisdom he had acquired via Confucius. At this moment, there was common ground--- an opportunity to share faith and mutual understanding. The spark was quickly extinguished when the elderly rabbi vehemently expelled the man, ironically proclaiming him a "foreigner."
Much food for thought here, as we contemplate the Jewish mandate to remain a distinct people vs. their calling to be a light unto the nations. The well drawn characters in this book each have their own perspective and create a finely crafted story not to be missed.
Peony is also a memorable read, though entirely different from the Good Earth. Set in the 1800s, it is titled after a Chinese servant girl named Peony. She serves a wealthy Jewish-Chinese family and witnesses the Jewish culture in the last throes of being assimilated into the Chinese culture.
The Jewish matriarch of the house, Peony's mistress, makes a desperate attempt to keep the Jewish tradition alive through her son. The son is under a great deal of tension as he must make a choice whether to give his life as a rabbi, or follow his Father--- who is half Chinese--- into a lucrative life of business.
I had never realized that there was a Jewish colony in China that survived for many centuries until they fully intermarried with the Chinese to the point where they ceased to be a distinct people. There was an interesting afterward at the back of the book chronicling the history of this group.
The Chinese were kind to their Jewish refugees; they were allowed to build a synagogue, to conduct business, and to take full part in the community. The Jewish matriarch of the story noted wryly that, in fact, the Jewish people had been "killed by kindness." In an ironic way, that was true because persecution had failed to eradicate the Jews ---but friendly assimilation effected that very thing in this Chinese colony.
There was a very sad moment in the book that became the tipping point for the young man who was being torn by having to choose between the 2 cultures. At this point, a prominent Chinese businessman asked if he could have a tour of the synagogue, which the boy willingly obliged. The businessman was thoroughly impressed by the wisdom of the writings within and marveled that much of it intersected with the wisdom he had acquired via Confucius. At this moment, there was common ground--- an opportunity to share faith and mutual understanding. The spark was quickly extinguished when the elderly rabbi vehemently expelled the man, ironically proclaiming him a "foreigner."
Much food for thought here, as we contemplate the Jewish mandate to remain a distinct people vs. their calling to be a light unto the nations. The well drawn characters in this book each have their own perspective and create a finely crafted story not to be missed.
October 29, 2007
Peony is an interesting look at the death of the Jewish community of Kaifeng, China, though in many ways, it is a case-study for what could happen to any Jewish community that becomes assimilated.
Pearl S. Buck's writing is excellent, and the storytelling is engaging. I had some issues with the story, since I do not agree with intermarriage between Jews and non-Jews, or with the casual attitude taken by some of the characters when simply tossing aside Jewish rituals and traditions, nor with the over-the-top-bordering-on-crazyness characterization of those few Jews in the community who did still hold on to the Jewish ways, and these are all too prevalent in the narrative. I'm still not sure to what extent was the author sympathizing with these issues, and I guess that's where my biggest discomfort lies.
Peony is merely a vehicle for the reader to witness the decline and eventual dissolution of the Jewish community living in this province, a dissapereance that comes about by assimilation and intermarriage into the greater Chinese culture. This is, sadly, a theme too relevant to our times, when more Jews have been lost to these two forces than to the Holocaust. The ending is imminent, but it doesn't have to be so for us as well.
I guess in the end I am just tired of stories where the Jewish characters are not observant and sometimes even ridicule their legacy. Where are the stories of Jews who do observe, who struggle to keep the Law, and who manage to still live in the modern world as well?
Pearl S. Buck's writing is excellent, and the storytelling is engaging. I had some issues with the story, since I do not agree with intermarriage between Jews and non-Jews, or with the casual attitude taken by some of the characters when simply tossing aside Jewish rituals and traditions, nor with the over-the-top-bordering-on-crazyness characterization of those few Jews in the community who did still hold on to the Jewish ways, and these are all too prevalent in the narrative. I'm still not sure to what extent was the author sympathizing with these issues, and I guess that's where my biggest discomfort lies.
Peony is merely a vehicle for the reader to witness the decline and eventual dissolution of the Jewish community living in this province, a dissapereance that comes about by assimilation and intermarriage into the greater Chinese culture. This is, sadly, a theme too relevant to our times, when more Jews have been lost to these two forces than to the Holocaust. The ending is imminent, but it doesn't have to be so for us as well.
I guess in the end I am just tired of stories where the Jewish characters are not observant and sometimes even ridicule their legacy. Where are the stories of Jews who do observe, who struggle to keep the Law, and who manage to still live in the modern world as well?
May 31, 2012
A short synopsis of this plots makes it seem like a romance. It's not. Peony is a "bondwoman", having been sold to a Jewish family when she was 8, as a companion for their only child, David. The children are now marriageable age. David's mother wants him to marry Leah, the beautiful and dutiful daughter of the Rabbi. His father wants him to marry Keilein, the beautiful younger daugter of his business associate. Peony, also quite beautiful, loves David, but knows he cannot marry her. However, her chances of happiness in the house would be much better if he married Keilein than Leah. This book encompasses 50 years in the lives of the Jewish family and their friends. Along the way the reader gets the history fo the Jews in China and the history of China as it unfolds from 1950 to the turn of the century.
My only complaint in this book was that there was only one "bad" character, Aaron. Even he was only lazy and greedy, not evil. Everyone else was good with small character flaws, such as pettiness or pride. Otherwise, this is a wonderful character driven plot about China in the 1950s.
My only complaint in this book was that there was only one "bad" character, Aaron. Even he was only lazy and greedy, not evil. Everyone else was good with small character flaws, such as pettiness or pride. Otherwise, this is a wonderful character driven plot about China in the 1950s.
November 2, 2010
This should be required reading.
"A" is excellent and that's what this book truly is. This was a great book that explored two diverse cultures mingling in love, work, family, religion, aging, power and secrets. It's a vacation to China without actually going. The proverbs, poems and phrases written within the story will stay with you forever. It's so meaningful and will provide a psychological balance for any one. If you are Chinese or Jewish this is a "required reading"! Although, I am a native Californian who was brought up as a Roman Catholic. My ancestry is from Spain and I clearly found some Jewish roots in my mothers' anscestors. And so, this book offered some answers to questions that I've always had in the back of my mind. In the end, you'll learn that, today, we are a world of diverse peoples' who must work together lovingly and happily. There is a great love story intertwined in this wonderful novel, too. it was a great reminder of how the peoples of our past have blood-lined the present populations while we will, henceforth, be a part of future generations.
"A" is excellent and that's what this book truly is. This was a great book that explored two diverse cultures mingling in love, work, family, religion, aging, power and secrets. It's a vacation to China without actually going. The proverbs, poems and phrases written within the story will stay with you forever. It's so meaningful and will provide a psychological balance for any one. If you are Chinese or Jewish this is a "required reading"! Although, I am a native Californian who was brought up as a Roman Catholic. My ancestry is from Spain and I clearly found some Jewish roots in my mothers' anscestors. And so, this book offered some answers to questions that I've always had in the back of my mind. In the end, you'll learn that, today, we are a world of diverse peoples' who must work together lovingly and happily. There is a great love story intertwined in this wonderful novel, too. it was a great reminder of how the peoples of our past have blood-lined the present populations while we will, henceforth, be a part of future generations.
January 20, 2010
I learned so much. I don't know why, but it never occured to me before that the displaced Jewish people would head east to China as well as west to Europe. And I love how Buck takes the reader into China with information about customs and events with just enough information for understanding without losing the story line at all.
Peony's story is tragic but beautiful. She is not perfect, but you can see as she grows and her loves grows. She is, I think, above reproach.
There were parts of the story that really pulled at my heart. I would gladly recommend this book to anyone and read it again myself.
Peony's story is tragic but beautiful. She is not perfect, but you can see as she grows and her loves grows. She is, I think, above reproach.
There were parts of the story that really pulled at my heart. I would gladly recommend this book to anyone and read it again myself.
September 22, 2019
Andei desaparecida por uns tempos, uma vez que estive uma fase bastante ocupada da minha vida e queria cá voltar só quando pudesse participar como gosto no Goodreads.
Entretanto acabei este livro e, depois desta leitura, vou querer ler tudo de Paerl S Buck, que bem mereceu ganhar o Prémio Nobel.
Como escrevi imensos updates à medida que ia lendo o livro, vou optar por deixá-los aqui, pois acho que foram espelhando o quanto gostei de o ler.
August 12, 2019 – page 54
15.34% "Já andava a querer ler esta escritora há imenso tempo!Infelizmente,ando com muito pouco tempo para ler,mas ainda assim estas poucas páginas têm sido uma delícia.Só perceber como eram os costumes na China,das casas judaicas que mantinham as suas tradições,mas depois tinham escravos chineses já é extremamente interessante e essa vivência da época(1850)está bem descrita a ponto de conseguir ver e sentir como aquilo era."
August 16, 2019 – page 77
21.88% "Só tenho pena de andar com pouco tempo para ler, pois até agora o livro demonstra que a sua autora mereceu, de facto, ganhar o Prémio Nobel da Literatura."
August 20, 2019 – page 118
33.52% ""Jamais lho poderia dizer. Tivera sempre a prudência de lhe confessar o que sentia e pensava, sabendo, por intuição feminina, que os homens não querem saber tudo de mulher nenhuma."
Só tenho bem a dizer desta autora e livro!Se não andasse tão ocupada e tivesse capacidade de ler mais rapidamente,estaria mais adiantada de certeza!A forma como Pearl SBuck descreve aquele mundo e o mundo interior das personagens é bela!"
38.07% "Sabe bem (na verdade a sensação é mais do que isso) ver que Pearl S Buck, nascida no séc. XIX, expressa esta sua forma de ver o ser humano pondo as seguintes palavras na boca de uma personagem: " (...) não acredito na separação das pessoas em raças diferentes. Todos os seres humanos têm narizes, olhos, braços, pernas, coração, estômagos e... tanto quanto sei, reproduzimo-nos da mesma maneira.""
August 26, 2019 – page 193
54.83% "Tenho cada vez mais curiosidade em saber como se vai desenrolar o resto da acção e cada vez mais me encantam as descrições da cidade chinesa em que a história se passa, das casas e jardins chineses,das moradias judias, do templo, das ruas cheias de vida,da comida nas refeições, do luar no rio. Até os lagos com as flores de lótus são descritos de uma forma que faz apetecer ir lá! É tudo muito bonito e/ou interessante."
Entretanto acabei este livro e, depois desta leitura, vou querer ler tudo de Paerl S Buck, que bem mereceu ganhar o Prémio Nobel.
Como escrevi imensos updates à medida que ia lendo o livro, vou optar por deixá-los aqui, pois acho que foram espelhando o quanto gostei de o ler.
August 12, 2019 – page 54
15.34% "Já andava a querer ler esta escritora há imenso tempo!Infelizmente,ando com muito pouco tempo para ler,mas ainda assim estas poucas páginas têm sido uma delícia.Só perceber como eram os costumes na China,das casas judaicas que mantinham as suas tradições,mas depois tinham escravos chineses já é extremamente interessante e essa vivência da época(1850)está bem descrita a ponto de conseguir ver e sentir como aquilo era."
August 16, 2019 – page 77
21.88% "Só tenho pena de andar com pouco tempo para ler, pois até agora o livro demonstra que a sua autora mereceu, de facto, ganhar o Prémio Nobel da Literatura."
August 20, 2019 – page 118
33.52% ""Jamais lho poderia dizer. Tivera sempre a prudência de lhe confessar o que sentia e pensava, sabendo, por intuição feminina, que os homens não querem saber tudo de mulher nenhuma."
Só tenho bem a dizer desta autora e livro!Se não andasse tão ocupada e tivesse capacidade de ler mais rapidamente,estaria mais adiantada de certeza!A forma como Pearl SBuck descreve aquele mundo e o mundo interior das personagens é bela!"
38.07% "Sabe bem (na verdade a sensação é mais do que isso) ver que Pearl S Buck, nascida no séc. XIX, expressa esta sua forma de ver o ser humano pondo as seguintes palavras na boca de uma personagem: " (...) não acredito na separação das pessoas em raças diferentes. Todos os seres humanos têm narizes, olhos, braços, pernas, coração, estômagos e... tanto quanto sei, reproduzimo-nos da mesma maneira.""
August 26, 2019 – page 193
54.83% "Tenho cada vez mais curiosidade em saber como se vai desenrolar o resto da acção e cada vez mais me encantam as descrições da cidade chinesa em que a história se passa, das casas e jardins chineses,das moradias judias, do templo, das ruas cheias de vida,da comida nas refeições, do luar no rio. Até os lagos com as flores de lótus são descritos de uma forma que faz apetecer ir lá! É tudo muito bonito e/ou interessante."
May 15, 2017
How many teardrops does anyone have? Is it infinite? This is what resided quietly in a corner of my mind, from the first word read to the last one, of Ms. Buck’s Peony. She, PSB, has a gentleness, a softness, a grace in her intelligent prose that I find seductive. I noticed it in ‘The Good Earth’ and I recognized it again here. If the version I was reading was made from trees rather than electrodes, the pages would have been always moist.
This is a tender story of a family living in China during the eighteenth or early nineteenth century.
It may not be a book for everyone but Ms. Buck surely allowed me, once again, to be part of the fictional family. I endured all the nuances of a relationship with many of her characters. It was an emotional rollercoaster for us, the characters and me. We shared happiness and sadness, health and sickness, love and like and dislike. There were good and bad times and we pushed through it collectively.
I would like to thank my GR friend, K, for recommending this book to me. I hope I can reciprocate the pleasure I derived from it.
This is a tender story of a family living in China during the eighteenth or early nineteenth century.
It may not be a book for everyone but Ms. Buck surely allowed me, once again, to be part of the fictional family. I endured all the nuances of a relationship with many of her characters. It was an emotional rollercoaster for us, the characters and me. We shared happiness and sadness, health and sickness, love and like and dislike. There were good and bad times and we pushed through it collectively.
I would like to thank my GR friend, K, for recommending this book to me. I hope I can reciprocate the pleasure I derived from it.
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