Three Daughters of Madame Liang

I really enjoyed this book as Ms. Buck was able to take the reader inside a family caught in a changing world during the Chinese revolution and show how the characters each acted and reacted according to the information they had and what they believed or wanted to believe about that information. Madam Liang, who is coming to terms with disillusionment about the revolution and her past part in it, and her daughters, who had been sent to America for education and protection and their return to China with patriotic and idealistic expectations, are classic generational viewpoint studies. The shocking ending to the story was unexpected and expected all at once. The basic story is still relevant today.

I grew up with this book! I had to buy this latest copy as I keep lending them out and never getting them back! Pearl S Buck at her best!

Nice story, I read it a while ago

I had hard time getting this book in Asia. When I ordered and delivered to me, I completed reading in 2 days. I must thank my friend who recommended to get hold of this novel to read. True to her recommendation, the late Ms Buck had great foresight in knowing what China moves after the late Mao passed on since this book is written before 1969. She narrates the story well by blending the happenings of China on to the Liang's family particularly Mdm Liang and her 3 daughters. The elder and second daughters' love for their homeland and how each differs later were contrasting and touching. Embedded in the 2 older girls' happenings, the author shared what was happening to the country's road to revolution (/Communism) depicting the rise and fall of the campaigns in 50s-60s. Ms Buck did not elaborate much of the people's sufferings but thru the 2 daughters, I can feel the confusion and despair the nation set for their citizens during that time. I don't know after reading of this novel, I feel proud to be a (Overseas) Chinese. Is it the ancient China's invention or their strong will to live on through the difficult times. This feeling is hard to describe but I am glad that China has come out of darkness. This is well written story, powerful with great flow. Read it if you love Eastern history and story.

This is the story of Madame Liang, from the "old school." The story takes place shortly after the Communist Revolution while the country was being led by Mao. Madame Liang had sent all 3 of her daughters to America when she knew the revolution approached. Two returned eventually as they felt a duty to their country. The book is about the trials and tribulations of those 2 daughters. The book was predictable, if one knows about communism; a good book nonetheless.

The people who appear in Ms. Buck's writings are not "characters." They are living, breathing human beings who know pain, suffering, love and hatred. In the case of THREE DAUGHTERS OF MADAME LIANG, they allow us to experience the disaster brought about by Mao's Marxist policies in China, his "Great Leap Forward." This is probably the book that caused Ms. Buck to be banned from ever seeing China again. There are contemporary Chinese writers who have inherited Ms. Buck's mission to shed the light on life in China through succeeding generations, and they are very fine writers indeed. Still, the reader cannot fail to be in awe of Ms. Buck's genius in her ability to write in a way that makes the reader hear the dialogue as if it were written in Chinese, and to feel the torment of people victimized by the heartless, mindless leaders of their own government. This book is a priceless addition to one's home library, on par with THE GOOD EARTH.

I usually do not read books about China - just don't find an interest there. This was a book club selection and I throughly enjoyed it. The story line is wonderful and it is full of history. But let's look at the author - Pearl S. Buck. There is no way this book could not be great!

The book arrived in excellent condition. You wouldn't say it is second hand. I enjoyed it a lot, since Pearl Bck is one of my favorite writers.

Halfway through a great book, such detail, transports one back in time to a life, so different than mine

good condition

A beautifully written book - I am so glad this author is now back in print and I intend to read a lot more by her.

As I said before she mixes two cultures and arrives at a classic novel. Shame that she is no more.