Pearl Buck

As a child, I tried to read books authored by Pearl Buck (1892-1973, an american writer).  I really tried to read them.  I didn't got hocked even if I tried numerous time with numerous books, in the hope to read at least one.  I tried hard but I was not able to read more than a few lines or a few pages. I was always hitting a passage that ruined everything.  It was like hitting a wall.  I was becoming upset when I hit some passage.  I was also frustrating over those passages, for a reason or another.  Everything was fictional. I guess I was not ready for fiction that was based on real life.

It was not a total waste.  At the time, I pick up a few elements that was prevalent in Pearl Buck's fictional world: China seems to be one of her interest.  I learned about the tradition of the small feet in women and how to do it.  There was also some stories about homeless children that doesn't knew that ice scream would melt in their pocket.  They were trying to save ice scream for later and it all melted.  At the time, I was thinking it was scandalous and a waste to put ice scream in pocket.

NOw that I am an adult, I know that I wouldn't be able to read her again.  I was not able at the time and it still hold true.  I tried too hard as a child.  It ruined everything for me.  The themes were more aimed for an adult.  Maturity and knowledge about the hardship of the world is needed to read Pearl Buck.  On the other hand, I am more curious about the author, the person behind the book.  I don't know anything about Pearl Buck.  I don't know about her life experiences.  I only know she is an author and that she write books where China have a big place.  It is mysterious for me.  I can't resist that kind of mystery, especially about an author.  I wonder about her creativity, her motivation to write and if her life had an impact on her writing.  Maybe that Pearl Buck is more interesting than her litterary work.