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The Goddess Abides
A widow's New England peace is interrupted by her feelings for two brilliant men, one much younger and the other quite older--and the dilemma of choosing between them
At forty-three, Edith has lost a husband, and has children who have children of their own. Living in a large Vermont house, her days are spent idly reading and playing music. But all of this is to change when two candidates for her affection arrive on the scene. The first is thirty years her senior, a philosopher named Edwin with whom she enjoys an enriching intellectual friendship. The second, Jared, is twenty years her junior: a handsome scientist, he attracts Edith in mind and body. But even if Jared shares her passion, does he have enough life experience to know whether such a union is in his best interests? In this exquisite and probing examination of desire, contrasting passions come to a head. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Pearl S. Buck including rare images from the author's estate.
At forty-three, Edith has lost a husband, and has children who have children of their own. Living in a large Vermont house, her days are spent idly reading and playing music. But all of this is to change when two candidates for her affection arrive on the scene. The first is thirty years her senior, a philosopher named Edwin with whom she enjoys an enriching intellectual friendship. The second, Jared, is twenty years her junior: a handsome scientist, he attracts Edith in mind and body. But even if Jared shares her passion, does he have enough life experience to know whether such a union is in his best interests? In this exquisite and probing examination of desire, contrasting passions come to a head. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Pearl S. Buck including rare images from the author's estate.
251 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1972
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About the author
Pearl S. Buck
785 books3,039 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 60 reviews
June 23, 2022
Real Rating: 3.5* of five, rounded up because Pearl S. Buck
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A novel whose age shows...telegrams, utter failure of the Bechdel Test...but whose meditations on Love in its many, mutable manners are in the veriest sense of the word timeless. An "older" (43!!) widow is torn between a young man's desire for her and an older man's long-standing regard for her, her perceived duty to her children and grandchildren, and her desire for selfhood at last. Assuming you're familiar with the entire genre of women's fiction, you'll know if this is agreeable to you; I found it a rich, enfolding hoary-old-story larded with The Best Aperçus!
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It is sweet to be loved, but to be able to love is to possess the life force. I love you. Therefore I am strong. Whatever my age, I am sustained by my own power to love.
A novel whose age shows...telegrams, utter failure of the Bechdel Test...but whose meditations on Love in its many, mutable manners are in the veriest sense of the word timeless. An "older" (43!!) widow is torn between a young man's desire for her and an older man's long-standing regard for her, her perceived duty to her children and grandchildren, and her desire for selfhood at last. Assuming you're familiar with the entire genre of women's fiction, you'll know if this is agreeable to you; I found it a rich, enfolding hoary-old-story larded with The Best Aperçus!
June 27, 2022
My delve into the classics continues, and this Pearl S. Buck novel is rather brilliant! The writing is exquisitely crafted and ideally adapts to each character in the story.
Edith is recently widowed and yet is I still a young woman in her forties. Having always submitted to her husband’s expectations, whether it be friends, events, food, clothes, attitude, she is now left to discover her real self. While doing so she meets two men, one considerably older and one considerably younger, both who take an interest in her and she in them.
The men are each intellectuals in their own rights and it is aptly reflected in their speech and actions (there’s that exquisite writing I mentioned earlier!). So she sets out on a road of self discovery, a freedom ride of sorts, and lives life without regret, though still treading carefully.
The story is really about learning to love and be loved. About transcending one’s own self to find that place where love, contentment and happiness converge and understanding that each of these terms holds a different meaning to everyone.
While it sounds rather dry and philosophical when I explain it, the story and the characters have real depth and definition. By the end of the story Edith has blossomed and moves from being some sort of trophy-wife to beautiful lively fulfilled woman. Although it is a story about love, it is neither a love story nor a romance, but it is a delightful read. The characters really shine!
I’ll be reading more from this classic author.
Edith is recently widowed and yet is I still a young woman in her forties. Having always submitted to her husband’s expectations, whether it be friends, events, food, clothes, attitude, she is now left to discover her real self. While doing so she meets two men, one considerably older and one considerably younger, both who take an interest in her and she in them.
The men are each intellectuals in their own rights and it is aptly reflected in their speech and actions (there’s that exquisite writing I mentioned earlier!). So she sets out on a road of self discovery, a freedom ride of sorts, and lives life without regret, though still treading carefully.
The story is really about learning to love and be loved. About transcending one’s own self to find that place where love, contentment and happiness converge and understanding that each of these terms holds a different meaning to everyone.
While it sounds rather dry and philosophical when I explain it, the story and the characters have real depth and definition. By the end of the story Edith has blossomed and moves from being some sort of trophy-wife to beautiful lively fulfilled woman. Although it is a story about love, it is neither a love story nor a romance, but it is a delightful read. The characters really shine!
I’ll be reading more from this classic author.
December 15, 2014
This one was a difficult read--I think I took a break from my obsession with Pearl S. Buck's books after this. The decisions made by the protagonist left me empty and lonely inside. I felt her sacrifice to be unwise and futile. Perhaps I've known too much loss to understand a conscious choice, such as the one which was made by her...I don't know. Perhaps I'll read it again some day. Maybe not. Powerful writing and reasoning--I'm just not sure it edified my life as fully as most of Buck's works.
March 27, 2013
This one was a real struggle to finish. I felt like Buck's characters were very flat and did not evolve at all; this was a strong source of frustration for me. Edith never actually DID anything, she let others come to her, and when the time came to make a decision--well, she'd just claim to not know how to respond. And what's worse, the opposing party would accept this refusal to decide as not only an acceptable response, but somehow a deep and mystical awe-inspiring way to reply. Ugh.
There was virtually no story at all, no middle or clear end. This book felt like the longest paragraph I've ever read. At least there were clear differences between the two love interest characters, at least in the beginning. However as the story wore on, Jared's actions and statements became more and more like those of Edwin.
Lastly, I felt that the philosophies of love were a bit too subtle for me; the idea of a pure love is, in my opinion, utterly fantastical.
There was virtually no story at all, no middle or clear end. This book felt like the longest paragraph I've ever read. At least there were clear differences between the two love interest characters, at least in the beginning. However as the story wore on, Jared's actions and statements became more and more like those of Edwin.
Lastly, I felt that the philosophies of love were a bit too subtle for me; the idea of a pure love is, in my opinion, utterly fantastical.
October 16, 2014
Sweet read indeed! Beautiful writing and lovely story. Ms Buck was way ahead of her time.
February 6, 2019
I hadn't read anything by Pearl S. Buck in a long time and it was a thoroughly satisfying reunion. I found it interesting that the main character was written as an "old" woman/widow when she was only in her 40s. It was written in the early '70's but I don't think that was the general rule even then. As a truly older woman/widow I could relate to the death of a spouse or loss of a beloved leaving room for a person to grow and become even beyond her own expectations. While there is sorrow there is also freedom. The goddess does indeed abide!
Thanks, Sarah, for enjoying this book so I could experience it too.
Thanks, Sarah, for enjoying this book so I could experience it too.
November 23, 2021
I am a big fan of Pearl Buck but I found this to be my least favorite book that she wrote. Its did not make sense that at 42 Edith had two grown children and 4 grandchildren and that she did not seem to have any interest in them. She wanted to break away from the way her husband had dominated her life and pursue her own wants and needs, yet allowed the men in her life to make decisions for her and would not or could not communicate what she wanted. I found her to be very annoying at times. The philosophizing about love was both interesting and tiresome.
July 4, 2022
A universal plot in outdated language with wonderful style.
January 31, 2024
4/5
Quando olhei para o título deste livro não fazia ideia daquilo que me esperava; quando decidi abri-lo e folheando-o por entre amareladas páginas, cheias de tempo de espera do seu momento de glória - percebi que já não havia forma de voltar atrás; foi quando o fechei que senti que não mais me poderia desconectar do seu valor e importância - não só no aspecto literário, como também na minha perspetiva pessoal e, acredito e arrisco, na perspetiva de Pearl Buck e aquilo que terá sido a sua vida.
A sua estonteante capacidade de resumir o muito que diz, assim como a fluida forma como insere os discursos das personagens - plenos de paixão e de boa formação, não me permitiram retirar os olhos do livro enquanto viajava entre casa e trabalho. Desconhecia Pearl Buck! Infelizmente! Dei uma palmada na minha testa quando percebi que não só não é desconhecida como fora vencedora do Nobel da Literatura em 1938. Fez tudo mais sentido! É um livro de quem sabe fazer e sabe involucrar de ouro cada palavra que oferece.
Em "A Deusa Permanece" o amor prolonga a vida de quem está para morrer: "Prolongo-me no teu amor! É tempo de morrer!", eternizando-o. É também fonte de muita inquietação e de dúvida, de sofrimento e de transformação.
No papel principal tem-se Edith, mulher bonita, abastada, educada, inteligente e filha de um notável homem da Ciência, que acabara de ficar viúva. Acompanhamos o seu processo de luto e a sua redescoberta enquanto mulher individual e enquanto pessoa que ama. Será o amor estático e finito?
No seu período de luto e de descoberta, Edith descobre em si uma mulher de quem procura gostar - confrontando-se com imensas dúvidas e reticências. O jovem Jared, que num nevoso inverno lhe bate à porta e Edwin, já em idade avançada, que nunca escondera a sua admiração por Edith, exploram um lado sentimental que Edith não havia experienciado nunca em vida.
A experiência de Edwin e a juventude de Jared trazem dinâmica ao livro e aos diferentes modos de sentir e de amar, na prudência e na sabedoria, na finitude e na destemidez.
Confesso que a decisão tomada por Edith nos últimos momentos do livro para com Jared me deixaram de coração muito apertado. O próprio relato do tio do Jared em relação ao que se privou em vida no que concerne ao ato de amar, em prol de uma boa educação para o sobrinho, deixou-me muito emotivo.
Este livro foi publicado no ano anterior à sua despedida terrena - talvez por isso sinta que Edith também tem muitos momentos de introspeção da autora.
Quando olhei para o título deste livro não fazia ideia daquilo que me esperava; quando decidi abri-lo e folheando-o por entre amareladas páginas, cheias de tempo de espera do seu momento de glória - percebi que já não havia forma de voltar atrás; foi quando o fechei que senti que não mais me poderia desconectar do seu valor e importância - não só no aspecto literário, como também na minha perspetiva pessoal e, acredito e arrisco, na perspetiva de Pearl Buck e aquilo que terá sido a sua vida.
A sua estonteante capacidade de resumir o muito que diz, assim como a fluida forma como insere os discursos das personagens - plenos de paixão e de boa formação, não me permitiram retirar os olhos do livro enquanto viajava entre casa e trabalho. Desconhecia Pearl Buck! Infelizmente! Dei uma palmada na minha testa quando percebi que não só não é desconhecida como fora vencedora do Nobel da Literatura em 1938. Fez tudo mais sentido! É um livro de quem sabe fazer e sabe involucrar de ouro cada palavra que oferece.
Em "A Deusa Permanece" o amor prolonga a vida de quem está para morrer: "Prolongo-me no teu amor! É tempo de morrer!", eternizando-o. É também fonte de muita inquietação e de dúvida, de sofrimento e de transformação.
No papel principal tem-se Edith, mulher bonita, abastada, educada, inteligente e filha de um notável homem da Ciência, que acabara de ficar viúva. Acompanhamos o seu processo de luto e a sua redescoberta enquanto mulher individual e enquanto pessoa que ama. Será o amor estático e finito?
No seu período de luto e de descoberta, Edith descobre em si uma mulher de quem procura gostar - confrontando-se com imensas dúvidas e reticências. O jovem Jared, que num nevoso inverno lhe bate à porta e Edwin, já em idade avançada, que nunca escondera a sua admiração por Edith, exploram um lado sentimental que Edith não havia experienciado nunca em vida.
A experiência de Edwin e a juventude de Jared trazem dinâmica ao livro e aos diferentes modos de sentir e de amar, na prudência e na sabedoria, na finitude e na destemidez.
Confesso que a decisão tomada por Edith nos últimos momentos do livro para com Jared me deixaram de coração muito apertado. O próprio relato do tio do Jared em relação ao que se privou em vida no que concerne ao ato de amar, em prol de uma boa educação para o sobrinho, deixou-me muito emotivo.
Este livro foi publicado no ano anterior à sua despedida terrena - talvez por isso sinta que Edith também tem muitos momentos de introspeção da autora.
July 26, 2018
On love and loss
If you like your novels full of action, this may not be the one for you, but if you enjoy getting to know the main characters and are up for a little philosophising, you are in for a treat.
This is a book about love, about an emotion that is generally called by a single name, making it sound deceptively easy to describe and yet is as varied as the people who experience it. It is also about loss, which is similarly difficult to define.
The protagonist, middle-aged widow, Edith, discovers how complex love is through three key relationships - with her late husband, an older intellectual whom she has know for years and a brilliant young man she meets entirely by chance - and in the process learns much not only about love and loss, and how they differ from relationship to relationship, but also about herself and the men she loves - and about human nature in all its diversity.
I was wrapped up in Edith's emotions until almost the end, when suddenly I was catapulted out of her world, as I became conscious of the need for resolution, rather than philosophising ad infinitum, hence the deduction of one star.
If you like your novels full of action, this may not be the one for you, but if you enjoy getting to know the main characters and are up for a little philosophising, you are in for a treat.
This is a book about love, about an emotion that is generally called by a single name, making it sound deceptively easy to describe and yet is as varied as the people who experience it. It is also about loss, which is similarly difficult to define.
The protagonist, middle-aged widow, Edith, discovers how complex love is through three key relationships - with her late husband, an older intellectual whom she has know for years and a brilliant young man she meets entirely by chance - and in the process learns much not only about love and loss, and how they differ from relationship to relationship, but also about herself and the men she loves - and about human nature in all its diversity.
I was wrapped up in Edith's emotions until almost the end, when suddenly I was catapulted out of her world, as I became conscious of the need for resolution, rather than philosophising ad infinitum, hence the deduction of one star.
January 10, 2008
Nicely written book about enduring love.
December 8, 2017
Un poco flojo para lo que estoy acostumbrada a leer de esta excelente autora, pero igual nos presenta una percepción de lo que puede tener una persona entrada en la viudez.
May 26, 2025
Gostei muito da escrita, genuína, fluída, expositiva e desprovida de romantismos exagerados ( esperava o contrário de um livro escrito nesta época). Contudo, em termos de conteúdo propriamente dito, esteve aquém.
December 23, 2021
Could not put it down
A story about love, but not a romance novel, this is Buck the philosopher at work. These few pages contain questions of a life's purpose and a response to death. There are more questions than answers, which makes this book a candidate for conversation. Worth reading twice.
A story about love, but not a romance novel, this is Buck the philosopher at work. These few pages contain questions of a life's purpose and a response to death. There are more questions than answers, which makes this book a candidate for conversation. Worth reading twice.
March 28, 2014
A touching read. A woman's life and the decisions she has to make expressed so beautifully and frankly.
September 7, 2015
Timeless
Writing such as this timeless, I like no steamy sex, enough of that these days it seems. Onto more books.
Writing such as this timeless, I like no steamy sex, enough of that these days it seems. Onto more books.
February 13, 2017
Great exploration of different loves...
December 24, 2018
I really enjoyed The Good Earth so was looking forward to this book. I didn’t care for the self-involved character, though, so didn’t appreciate the book as others have.
May 2, 2020
Apparently 42 is ancient, way too ancient to consider marriage. This is terrible and also interesting as a time capsule of how attitudes have changed.
November 28, 2025
No sé si me encanta que Pearl S. Buck escriba lejos de los paisajes chinos, pero sin duda esta es una de sus novelas más llevaderas. Nos presenta a Edith, una señora de las cuatro décadas que recién enviudada le caen encima dos pretendientes: Edwin, un vejete que le da seguridad, y Jared, un colágeno que le puede dar aventura y revolcones.
Claramente se nota escrita por una mujer porque no lleva esta situación a lo morboso, sino a la contemplación y la complejidad que le enmarca el sentirse todavía amada y deseada. La primera parte me pareció la más emocionante porque se le junta el ganado, es la más honesta por su capacidad de empatizar con Edith, que para mí era un: date hermana, no te cause preocupación.
Y básicamente así se resolvería mejor la novela, pero pues no tendría chiste. Quizá por eso la segunda parte, cuando ya tiene todo servido en bandeja de plata, se vuelve un poco redundante ese pesar que arrastra. No quiere ser feliz, no se lo permite por las convenciones sociales. Lo que me gustó es que no se manejara en el dramón innecesario, sino con un total temple y asumiendo responsabilidades. Todos los personajes son muy maduros.
Me encantó la aparición de un personaje jochis, de nuevo, sin llevarlo al prejuicio o caricaturizándolo, sino con una responsabilidad auto impuesta. Todo esto nos deja ver una sociedad norteamericana que presenta una cara a la sociedad pero tienen sus maneras de arreglarse en lo privado, donde todo puede ser, o no, permitido. La resolución es aceptable, aunque uno quisiera más aventura, más pasión.
Claramente se nota escrita por una mujer porque no lleva esta situación a lo morboso, sino a la contemplación y la complejidad que le enmarca el sentirse todavía amada y deseada. La primera parte me pareció la más emocionante porque se le junta el ganado, es la más honesta por su capacidad de empatizar con Edith, que para mí era un: date hermana, no te cause preocupación.
Y básicamente así se resolvería mejor la novela, pero pues no tendría chiste. Quizá por eso la segunda parte, cuando ya tiene todo servido en bandeja de plata, se vuelve un poco redundante ese pesar que arrastra. No quiere ser feliz, no se lo permite por las convenciones sociales. Lo que me gustó es que no se manejara en el dramón innecesario, sino con un total temple y asumiendo responsabilidades. Todos los personajes son muy maduros.
Me encantó la aparición de un personaje jochis, de nuevo, sin llevarlo al prejuicio o caricaturizándolo, sino con una responsabilidad auto impuesta. Todo esto nos deja ver una sociedad norteamericana que presenta una cara a la sociedad pero tienen sus maneras de arreglarse en lo privado, donde todo puede ser, o no, permitido. La resolución es aceptable, aunque uno quisiera más aventura, más pasión.
February 21, 2023
I remember studying agape love in college and thinking about the different ways we love each other. This book does the same thing from The perspective of a young widow. She realizes after her husband dies that she is not even really sure who she is being defined by her husband and children. I’ve noticed my identity morphed when I got married and then again when my children were born. This book dives into it all, empowering a woman to take her own path.
The path is a revelation as she explores relationships with two men who are very different. Her love brings out the best in them, stretching their dreams and intellect, encouraging them to explore. She also shows how the ultimate love is to sometimes part ways.
The path is a revelation as she explores relationships with two men who are very different. Her love brings out the best in them, stretching their dreams and intellect, encouraging them to explore. She also shows how the ultimate love is to sometimes part ways.
November 23, 2018
This novel is about love and romance but in the most elevated emotional forms. I believe the author asked herself about the whys and ways of love and again answered herself in writing it in its most profound forms.
The main character is a widow, 43 years old Edith Chardman, who has some kind of a relationship with a philosopher, Edwin, who was Edith’s teacher once, although there is a major age difference of about 40 years between them. He loves and adores her.
Edith is well-to-do and doesn’t do much as to work of any kind: however, she is well-read, well-educated, and bright. While she is in a skiing town where she has a house, on a very snowy day, a 24-year-old lost skier, Jared, who is looking for a place to stay rings her door. Jared is a young, handsome, brilliant scientist and innovator.
The story gives the details of Edith’s relationships with both these men while examining love in its intellectual, emotional, physical, and platonic forms.
I enjoyed reading this book greatly, partly due to Pearl Buck’s exquisite writing style and insight into the main characters, although I couldn’t wrap my head around its ending when Edith made Jared go and marry someone else because she thought that union was in his best interest. This may be because the author wanted to insert into the plot a kind of true-to-life logic.
The main character is a widow, 43 years old Edith Chardman, who has some kind of a relationship with a philosopher, Edwin, who was Edith’s teacher once, although there is a major age difference of about 40 years between them. He loves and adores her.
Edith is well-to-do and doesn’t do much as to work of any kind: however, she is well-read, well-educated, and bright. While she is in a skiing town where she has a house, on a very snowy day, a 24-year-old lost skier, Jared, who is looking for a place to stay rings her door. Jared is a young, handsome, brilliant scientist and innovator.
The story gives the details of Edith’s relationships with both these men while examining love in its intellectual, emotional, physical, and platonic forms.
I enjoyed reading this book greatly, partly due to Pearl Buck’s exquisite writing style and insight into the main characters, although I couldn’t wrap my head around its ending when Edith made Jared go and marry someone else because she thought that union was in his best interest. This may be because the author wanted to insert into the plot a kind of true-to-life logic.
May 8, 2019
There are times when my need to read is really a desire to be transported from the cares of the day to another world. Buck is on my list of reliable authors who rarely lets me down. While not her best work, the writing is intelligent and thoughtful.
This is essentially a romance novel that reads almost like a fairy tale. Edith, with her extraordinary beauty and old money wealth, has lost her husband and finds herself living alone, children grown and living their own lives. Love and romance blossom anew unexpectedly. How perfect for her! It could be annoying, but it's not. I appreciate that Edith does not so much look to find herself, as to create herself anew.
This is essentially a romance novel that reads almost like a fairy tale. Edith, with her extraordinary beauty and old money wealth, has lost her husband and finds herself living alone, children grown and living their own lives. Love and romance blossom anew unexpectedly. How perfect for her! It could be annoying, but it's not. I appreciate that Edith does not so much look to find herself, as to create herself anew.
January 19, 2021
After finishing Mandala recently, which I've owned for decades, I had an interest to explore more of Pearl's offerings. Enjoyed her poems then found a used library copy of this book on amzn. As I so love, 'the dude abides'...seemed like I was destined to read this. It was a simple story but provided many insights for me, new ways at looking at a special relationship I've been in for the past few years. I am the goddess, I abide.
A poem from Pearl. 💙
Essence
I give you the books I’ve made,
Body and soul, bled and flayed.
Yet the essence they contain
In one poem is made plain,
In one poem is made clear:
On this earth, though far or near,
without love there’s only fear.
A poem from Pearl. 💙
Essence
I give you the books I’ve made,
Body and soul, bled and flayed.
Yet the essence they contain
In one poem is made plain,
In one poem is made clear:
On this earth, though far or near,
without love there’s only fear.
January 11, 2024
A very different novel from the author's previous writings
It was very difficult for me to understand the concept of the novel in the first half of the book. I finally realized that Ms Buck wrote about a truly emancipated woman. A woman who believed that she needed love from a man after her husband died but gradually she saw herself as a totally capable intelligent, creative and talented individual who ultimately found that she was quite comfortable in her own skin.
The novel probably deserves a Four Star rating but my 3 star rating is based on being disappointed that this novel was so different from my expectations.
It was very difficult for me to understand the concept of the novel in the first half of the book. I finally realized that Ms Buck wrote about a truly emancipated woman. A woman who believed that she needed love from a man after her husband died but gradually she saw herself as a totally capable intelligent, creative and talented individual who ultimately found that she was quite comfortable in her own skin.
The novel probably deserves a Four Star rating but my 3 star rating is based on being disappointed that this novel was so different from my expectations.
September 26, 2021
This Buck novel is a far cry from her China themed novels. Beautifully written and believable. Interesting characters and feeling many will relate to. The ending, however, seemed to this reader sort of . . . well, preachy isn't quite the word. Still thinking of what I expected versus what what ahppened.
June 26, 2022
This is a story of a widow in New England who loves one man who is thirty years older than she and also loves another man who is twenty years younger. The story describes the relationship with these two men and how Edith comes to terms with being alone.
A very interesting read. I had read The Good Earth a long time ago and really loved it. I enjoyed this book also.
A very interesting read. I had read The Good Earth a long time ago and really loved it. I enjoyed this book also.
April 22, 2023
one definition of love
Highly philosophical the book follows Edith through a difficult time in her life. After the death of her husband she finds two vastly definitions of love. In the end she is alone. Rather sad when you think of all that she had to give had she chosen differently.
Highly philosophical the book follows Edith through a difficult time in her life. After the death of her husband she finds two vastly definitions of love. In the end she is alone. Rather sad when you think of all that she had to give had she chosen differently.
November 27, 2017
The Goddess Abides is a perfectly beautiful, beautifully perfect novel; how could it be otherwise with Pearl Buck's elegantly simple prose, profound psychological insight into her characters, and her exquisite plot management?
February 20, 2018
This was a beautiful read. The writing was so beautiful and timeless. I loved Edith Chardman and her life was so well described by the author. My favorite book by Pearl S Buck is The Hidden Flower but now I have two favorites.
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