Sunday, June 26, 2016

Pearl S. Buck -- Pluck the Flowers

[Woman's Home Companion, June 1956
photograph by Elliott Erwitt]


Pearl S. Buck

Born June 26, 1892

First American woman to win the Nobel Prize
for literature, 1938.

"The old deep sadness of life lay in the bottom of
her heart and she knew it was there,
but she would not allow herself to sink into it.

Out of the dark and sullen bottom of a lake
the lotus flowers bloomed upon its surface,
and she would pluck the flowers."


Happy Birthday to one of my favorite authors!

Isn't hers a magnificent face?

3 comments:

  1. It is, indeed, a most intriguing face, a face that exudes confidence, strength, will, and wisdom of a woman of significance in the world of words.

    Thank you for this wonderful snippet of her work; it is something that I believe many of us have felt at different points in our own lives.

    Wishing you a beautiful week, ahead!

    Poppy

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  2. ohmygoodness.
    first... I had no idea that she was the first woman to win the esteemed prize!
    and yes. that strong and beautiful face.
    I remember reading 'the good earth' ages ago.
    but that quote is especially moving to me.
    it says it all.
    I've been without A/C since last Saturday. they just got it fixed today.
    spent the night last night with the marine. NOVEMBER... WHERE ARE YOU????
    LOLOL!
    XOXOXO♥

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  3. I've been a fan of Pearl S. Buck since I was about 10 or 11 years old. I had seen and liked the movie The Good Earth in TV back in the days when they showed old movies on regular, not cable, TV. Then when I was in fourth or fifth grade they used to have the library bookmobile come to the school once a month. There, high up on the shelf, was the book The Good Earth. I went to the check out line with it to check it out and the bookmobile lady would not permit me to. I don't remember the reason she gave, or if she even gave one. I went home and told my mom about it and my Mom wrote a note to the school that I should be allowed to check out that book. When the bookmobile came again I did come home with The Good Earth and enjoyed it very much. It was adult subject matter, but I don't remember that being a big deal with me. It was the story and the characters that drew me in. After that I read many of Pearl S. Buck's books and have re-read them several times in the over 50 years that have passed since that bookmobile day.

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