Reviews

• Burying the bones. Interessante. Intelligente. Dà una descrizione precisa della Cina del tempo, Ben scritto. Migliore, sicuramente, dei libri dell'autrice biografata (Pearl Buck)

• Outstanding biography of Pearl S Buck in China. Her childhood was almost Chinese - brought up by her ayah, speaking Chinese - her parents involved in their lives. I found the feminist text fascinating too - her returning to the US and fighting for women's rights.

• I read Pearl Buck's 'The Good Earth' twice over 40yrs ago, so fascinated was I by her knowledge of her adopted country and her own indomitable character. Hilary Spurling's 'Burying the Bones' is an amazing account of Buck's life in China, her uneasy relationship with her father Absolam and Lossing her husband. Most of all, it gives an insightful look into the character of Pearl Buck as well as the bloody history of China at that time. Spurling has brought both author and country to life in this fascinating book. Sadly, China & its ruthless tyranny of its own people and distrust of 'farangs' seems little improved in the years in between. I urge anyone interested in China and its long & bloody history to read this remarkable book.

• I thought this a wonderful read. I expected something good from Hilary Spurling and was delighted. I feel I have a good idea of what Pearl Buck was like, and, even more important, what her value as an author was and is; not least I feel I have learnt a lot about what the Chinese have endured, and for an understanding (if it is possible at all) of such a vast number of people and the kind of authoritarian political system they were subjected to, this must be important. It is also important not to shy away from the appalling treatment of women in such societies. I think Spurling was quite right to spend more time on Buck's younger life as this is what formed her and is so strange to most of us. The later years of her life didn't need to be spelled out in such detail, though I 'd love to know what happened to her children. It was sad to read of yet another old, rich woman abused by those who should have cared for her; even though I think much trouble was caused by her own vanity and insecurity - though not surprising, given what she had earlier endured. Buck was an amazing writer and observer and, which I didn't know, campaigner. She deserved every prize she got, even though I don't now feel inspired to read her novels. They sound too grim and I'm grateful for Spurling's precis. It is exhilarating to learn of powerful independent people like Buck. Why I haven't given this Kindle all 5 stars is because I cannot find my way round notes. I should love to be able to do the equivalent of flip through pages to find something again. It wasn't until the end I saw why so many phrases were underlined, but I couldn't move from underlined note to the further information at the back of the book. Perhaps Kindle would kindly update its instructions to users like me who haven't worked this out? With a book it is so easy, as I can remember to look at, say the bottom of a left page near the beginning - but without that kinetic or visual memory, we need a different method. This of course is a general problem and big disappointment with all Kindle books.

• Hilary Spurling wrote an illuminating, well researched biography of Pearl S . Buck, who used to be read by Millions in mid twentieth century.

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