The Living Reed

The Living Reed
Pearl S. Buck
pages : 478

This novel is probably the 5th or 6th book of Pearl S Buck that I have read. I found this book with another book of hers in a thrift store in Erie. This is my first book of Pearl S. Buck, which does not tell a story about China. The Living Reed is about Korean independence from Japan. The story started with a well-known family of Kim. The father, Il-han came from a rich family who worked for the kingdom. His father was a king advisor while he was the right hand of the Queen. He had two sons; one was brainwashed by his tutor to fight for the country and separated himself from his family. The second son was a teacher, married to a Christian wife and killed while rescuing his wife and daughter in a church fire.
This book is divided into three parts. The first is about Il-han, his family and his connection to the Queen. The second part is about the second son, Yul-han and his determination to be a Christian. The third part was about the first son, Yul-chun, his journey to China, his love life, his long lost son, his suffering and his dream to see Korea independence. At the end of the book, Yul-chun died while welcoming the Americans who he believed were coming to save them.
Il-han, Yul-chun and Yul han had similar dream, which was to see Korea free from Japan. They also believed that America was the only country who could help them.
Some important parts about this story, America played an important part in giving South Korea its independence from Japan. After the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, American soldiers came to South Korea to take over the country from Japan. However, America did not helped North Korea as it was decided to be given to Russia by the agreement between Japan and Russia which was famous as 38th parallel. The other important part was about Christianity in Korea. Many Korean including Yul-han converted to Christianity because they believed, they had to be like their savior, the Americans who were mostly Christian.
I did not enjoy this book as much as the other books as this book packed with many-detailed history of Korea. Nevertheless, this book was able to bring me to a place where I have never been before in Pearl S Buck’s novel.
I am a big fan of Pearl S. Buck. My first encountered with Pearl S. Buck’s books was The Good Earth. I enjoy the way she described the scene and the daily life of people in China. However I am not sure Pearl S. Buck knew the real life and tradition in China. Even though, Pearl S. Buck lived in China for 40 years. She was an outsider and she could have a wrong perception of the tradition and culture of people in China at her time.

To know more about Pearl S. Buck, click here.