This is a lovely read, it is shorter and more light-hearted than Good Earth. While not one of Ms. Buck's best works, it is still a enjoyable read with a woman who thinks at first she is unlucky, but then comes to realize how lucky she is to have such a open-minded and progressive husband.

This is a lovely novel, beautifully written and insightful on romantic love and on duty in the Chinese culture of the early 20th century...but it lacks the "great" quality of The Good Earth, which is on my top ten list of all time! I liked the characters here but do not feel attached to them as I finish the book, which is disappointing. A nice read but not one of Mrs. Buck's best. For really super reading with a bit more dimension, try Peony and The Three Daughters of Madame Liang, among others!

Pearl Buck captures the feelings of confusion and love that help the young couple meld the cultures of their worlds. Wonderful story, written from the wife's perspective.

I highly recommend this book! I've always loved Pearl S. Buck, since reading The Good Earth, and now I've got back into reading her other novels. This one is a good illustration of the struggle between old and new ways, Chinese vs. Western.

i loved this book as a teenager, seeking my own identity as an asian american woman in the heartland. the wife's attempts to win over her husband, and his consideration of her sacrifices(eg releasing her bound feet)were powerful symbols of growing love, compassion and marital relationships. however, i have noticed a strong theme in pearl buck's stories about the chinese/asian man yearning for, and idolizing a white woman. the asian women in these stories were often regulated to superstitious, old-fashioned stereotypes, either doll-like submissive maids or man-eating seductresses. the later type usually so because they were afraid of asian men's questionnable masculinity. that said, the white women in these books were usually very beautiful, pure, rational and were placed on a pedestal to their adoring asian lovers. pearl buck could tell very poignant and universal stories about women and love, but much of it was also detailed through prejudiced, and stereotyping western eyes.