Author: Pearl S. Buck
Length: 352 pages
Peony
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AVAILABLE!
AVAILABLE!
Description
“In 1850s China, a young girl, Peony, is sold to work as a bondmaid for a rich Jewish family in Kaifeng. Jews have lived for centuries in this region of the country, but by the mid-nineteenth century, assimilation has begun taking its toll on their small enclave. When Peony and the family’s son, David, grow up and fall in love with one another, they face strong opposition from every side. Tradition forbids the marriage, and the family already has a rabbi’s daughter in mind for David. Long celebrated for its subtle and even-handed treatment of colliding traditions, Peony is an engaging coming-of-age story about love, identity, and the tragedy and beauty found at the intersection of two disparate cultures.”
Janet Dore –
“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?”
Many of my favorite books are ones with a story that pulls you in and holds you tight while teaching you important stuff. Peony did both of these things.
This book has historical fiction, romance (between a Chinese-Jewish man and his bondmaid), and religious philosophy all wrapped into one.
This the story about a prominent Jewish family living in China in the 1800s. You learn about both the Chinese and Jewish culture and people living during this time. In fact, it’s the first book with an explanation of the Jewish plight that makes total sense to me.
It’s not a typical romance, but it’s a true one given the cultures and norms of the time period. It requires at least one box of tissues!
I couldn’t put the book down and when I was done, I missed Peony. She’s an amazing character that will live with me forever.
My only “complaint” is the major shift in the writing style toward the end of the book. It’s almost as though Pearl realized (or was told) that the book was going to be too long if she kept up with the depth and detail she’d been using. At this distinct point, the story became more more summarial with Pearl glossing over major happenings and many years very quickly without the emotional depth that made the rest of the book so amazing.
Nevertheless, Peony made my all-time favorites list and I highly recommend it to historical fiction buffs, especially those who love learning history while being pulled into an emotional story!