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kdawn999's review against another edition
4.0
A captivating historical fiction of the Jewish diaspora in China wrapped in a love story. Buck’s writing here is simple and pared down, somehow capturing a fairytale mysticism in buried echoes of Biblical lines from Hebrew scripture. It reads like the nostalgic, historically costumed Chinese soap operas that played on Thai TV when I was a kid. Though the plot revolves exclusively around a man, the perspectives and interiorities belong to the women of the story in a very satisfying way. I don’t feel much is lacking here in this poignant, understated story.
proseandpostre's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
anpu325's review against another edition
4.0
It was so good and insightful that I instantly wanted to check out more of her books.
7seventythree3's review against another edition
3.0
Jewish and Chinese cultures clash and unite. Told in a fable like style. Peony is a Chinese bond maid to the youngest son of a wealthy Jewish family. She falls in love with him, but knows her place and shows she loves him by helping him follow his own heart. He is becoming a man. He is conflicted between the old way and the new and whether to maintain his Jewish customs by marrying the Jewish girl his mother chose for him, or choose for himself and blend with the Chinese.
I honestly don't remember many details because I read it during a chaotic moment in my life. I had the overall feeling I enjoyed it, but I wasn't fully invested.
I honestly don't remember many details because I read it during a chaotic moment in my life. I had the overall feeling I enjoyed it, but I wasn't fully invested.
bearprof's review against another edition
4.0
Kind of sad, and after a while I could not feel much empathy for the heroine. But beautifully written and an interesting peek into the life and culture of China.
hissingpotatoes's review against another edition
3.0
The description implies it's a love story, but it's really not. This book takes place during the decline/assimilation of Jewish culture in Kaifeng, China in the 1800s and the tensions that result. The afterword about the historical context is helpful. There's a common theme throughout of sadness vs happiness that I found thoughtful. It's odd that Peony, who has grown up in and only known a Jewish household, finds its people and customs so foreign and strange. I know she's the lens by which the reader views the Jewish family, but as a character it doesn't make sense. The midpoint takes a wild turn that I didn't think fit with the tone of what came before or after. The narrator's performance brought otherwise dry or repetitive prose to life. Parts of the book are explored well but I'm uneasy about a Christian missionary writing so intimately about Jewish customs, feelings, and changes.
ttalgimilk's review against another edition
3.0
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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.
___________________________________________________
bahoulie's review against another edition
4.0
This book lead to a really interesting discussion in book group. Really kept us going strong for almost 2 hours.
The writing is not elegant, but as history and social commentary it really was interesting.
The writing is not elegant, but as history and social commentary it really was interesting.
teresa_r's review
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
susangiardina's review against another edition
4.0
Not one of Pearl S. Buck's better known books, but a very good one. As usual, her eloquence in description is beautiful, and her story of Peony, a bondsmaid (slave) to a wealthy family in China is very interesting. That the family is Jewish gives it a different perspective from her other books, as they live a life with their traditions firmly planted in Judaism and Chinese culture. Peony loves her young Jewish master as a brother, and as they grow up together, her love becomes more serious. How that plays out is the core of the story, and it takes many twists.
What was interesting to learn was that China was always very open to the Jews, and they were very welcome there, unlike in so many places the Jews went in their diaspora. The Chinese respected their traditions and appreciated the Jews' willingness to deal fairly and kindly with the Chinese.
However, Jews didn't flourish there. Ironically, this was because they and the Chinese got on so well. The Jews intermarried with the Chinese very readily after the first generation or two, and after a few generations more, were almost fully assimilated.
A good book for anyone interested in historical romances, especially Buck fans.
What was interesting to learn was that China was always very open to the Jews, and they were very welcome there, unlike in so many places the Jews went in their diaspora. The Chinese respected their traditions and appreciated the Jews' willingness to deal fairly and kindly with the Chinese.
However, Jews didn't flourish there. Ironically, this was because they and the Chinese got on so well. The Jews intermarried with the Chinese very readily after the first generation or two, and after a few generations more, were almost fully assimilated.
A good book for anyone interested in historical romances, especially Buck fans.