I didn't enjoy Sons as much as I did The Good Earth, but I did appreciate seeing the continuation of Wang Lung's legacy.
Sons follows the three sons of Wang Lung the farmer from the time they bury their aged father through to their own old age. The third son, Wang the Tiger, is the focal character, with the story centering mostly on his military strategies and maneuvers, his relationships, and his love for his own son.
I think the reason it wasn't as enjoyable for me was because I didn't feel there was a character one could really root for. In TGE, while Wang Lung was far from perfect, he was very well written and sympathetic. The same cannot be said for his three sons. They were all extremely one track-minded, self involved men.
As the central son, the character of Wang the Tiger proved to be vaguely disappointing. I found it super hard to root for him to succeed in his aims or overcome his various adversities. He could be arbitrarily just in martial law, but painfully cruel and indifferent to those closest to him, such as his wives! The one relationship he had that had some potential ended up fizzling and went every bit of nowhere.
But overall, I would still recommend Sons if you've read The Good Earth. The spirit of Wang Lung permeates its pages and shows up in his descendents, and the mix of simplicity and depth in the writing style still shines through, keeping you invested and engaged in the story, despite any narrative flaws.
I give it a B-. I do look forward to finishing the trilogy with A House Divided soon!
Sons follows the three sons of Wang Lung the farmer from the time they bury their aged father through to their own old age. The third son, Wang the Tiger, is the focal character, with the story centering mostly on his military strategies and maneuvers, his relationships, and his love for his own son.
I think the reason it wasn't as enjoyable for me was because I didn't feel there was a character one could really root for. In TGE, while Wang Lung was far from perfect, he was very well written and sympathetic. The same cannot be said for his three sons. They were all extremely one track-minded, self involved men.
As the central son, the character of Wang the Tiger proved to be vaguely disappointing. I found it super hard to root for him to succeed in his aims or overcome his various adversities. He could be arbitrarily just in martial law, but painfully cruel and indifferent to those closest to him, such as his wives! The one relationship he had that had some potential ended up fizzling and went every bit of nowhere.
But overall, I would still recommend Sons if you've read The Good Earth. The spirit of Wang Lung permeates its pages and shows up in his descendents, and the mix of simplicity and depth in the writing style still shines through, keeping you invested and engaged in the story, despite any narrative flaws.
I give it a B-. I do look forward to finishing the trilogy with A House Divided soon!
