Pearl Buck is an author many readers admire. Her books often take place in China and tell stories of families, traditions, and societal shifts.
If you enjoy books with similar settings and a focus on people navigating different cultures, you might be interested in discovering other authors. This article will introduce you to some writers who explore themes similar to Pearl Buck.
Readers who enjoy Pearl Buck’s thoughtful storytelling and nuanced portrayals of family dynamics might appreciate Amy Tan. Tan often writes about Chinese-American families and cultural identity.
Her debut novel, “The Joy Luck Club,” focuses on four Chinese immigrant mothers and their American-born daughters. Each mother shares stories from her past in China, revealing hardships, dreams, and secrets.
Their daughters grow up caught between two cultures, trying to understand the experiences and sacrifices of their mothers. Tan clearly illustrates the complexity in mother-daughter relationships shaped by both personal history and cultural expectations.
Readers who enjoy Pearl Buck’s thoughtful portrayal of Chinese culture and strong, emotional storytelling may appreciate the novels of Lisa See. In her novel “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan,” See introduces us to two girls, Lily and Snow Flower, in 19th-century rural China.
Their friendship develops through secret writings in a unique women’s script called nu shu, hidden within the folds of a silk fan. They face the hardships of foot-binding, arranged marriages, and family traditions.
The novel emphasizes the bond between women living confined by rigid societal expectations, revealing the quiet strength beneath their struggles. See captures cultural detail and personal experiences that readers familiar with Buck’s works may find intriguing and meaningful.
Ha Jin was born in China and is now based in America. His thoughtful novels often explore the lives of everyday people affected by history, tradition, and cultural change. Readers who appreciate Pearl Buck’s vivid portrayals of life in China might enjoy Ha Jin’s novel “Waiting.”
The story is about Lin Kong, an army doctor separated from his traditional village wife. Every year, Lin returns home hoping she will grant him a divorce. He waits patiently through decades, caught between duty, love, and longing.
The novel is layered with themes of personal freedom, sacrifice, and the quiet frustrations of ordinary lives amid changing China.
Readers who appreciate Pearl Buck’s insightful stories about cultural identity and family bonds might also enjoy Jhumpa Lahiri. Lahiri’s fiction captures everyday lives shaped by cultural contrasts and deep emotional ties.
Her debut collection, “Interpreter of Maladies,” offers nine stories about Indian and Indian-American characters navigating life, love, and belonging.
In one story, a young Indian-American couple visits India and encounters unexpected truths about themselves through their conversations with a local tour guide. Lahiri sensitively portrays how people struggle to understand themselves and each other amid cultural divides.
Her precise storytelling and emotional depth create characters who resonate long after the book ends.
Readers who appreciate Pearl Buck’s thoughtful exploration of human emotions and cultural tensions may find Kazuo Ishiguro equally rewarding. Ishiguro has a subtle yet powerful storytelling style, quietly revealing complex characters through their thoughts and memories.
A great starting point is his novel “The Remains of the Day,” which follows Stevens, an English butler reflecting on his many decades of service at Darlington Hall.
Stevens embarks on a road trip to reconnect with a former colleague, Miss Kenton, while revisiting memories of personal choices and loyalty set against the changing landscape of post-war England.
The novel skillfully captures themes of duty, regret, and the quiet struggles that define a life.
Books by Mahasweta Devi offer powerful glimpses into the lives of marginalized communities in India. If you’ve enjoyed the empathetic storytelling of Pearl Buck, you might appreciate Mahasweta Devi’s tales too.
Her novel “Mother of 1084” centers around Sujata, a mother shaken by the sudden death of her son Brati, a young activist involved in a political uprising.
As Sujata begins to learn more about her son’s hidden struggles and ideals, she also confronts uncomfortable truths about her own sheltered existence.
Through Sujata’s eyes, Mahasweta Devi exposes social injustice and the strength of those who fight against oppression, themes that resonate deeply in Pearl Buck’s narratives as well.
Yiyun Li is a Chinese-American author known for stories of quiet intensity and rich characters, qualities readers of Pearl Buck will appreciate. In her novel “The Vagrants,” Li explores life in a small Chinese town after the Cultural Revolution.
The story follows a community shaken by the planned execution of a young woman, Gu Shan, who once was a celebrated communist figure.
Through the eyes of various townspeople—including Shan’s anguished parents, a lonely young girl named Nini, and the brave, outspoken teacher Kai—Li paints a layered, poignant picture of grief, loss, and resilience.
If you’re drawn to Pearl Buck’s insightful portrayals of Chinese society and compelling personal stories, you’ll find plenty to connect with in Yiyun Li’s precise yet heartfelt storytelling.
Naguib Mahfouz was an Egyptian author who explored profound themes of family, tradition, and societal change in his novels. Readers who admire Pearl Buck’s vivid stories set against rich cultural backgrounds might find similar resonance in Mahfouz’s work.
His novel “Palace Walk,” set in Cairo during the early 20th century, brings you deep into the intricate dynamics of one Egyptian family.
Through the patriarch al-Sayyid Ahmad and his complex family relationships, the book skillfully examines the tensions between tradition and modernity in a society caught between old ways and evolving values.
Mahfouz builds characters with such depth and realism that you become deeply connected to their struggles, hopes, and desires.
Readers who appreciate Pearl Buck may find Khaled Hosseini equally captivating. Hosseini is an Afghan-American author whose storytelling centers around life in Afghanistan, family dynamics, and personal redemption.
In his novel “The Kite Runner,” he portrays the friendship and betrayal between Amir, a privileged Afghan boy, and Hassan, his loyal servant’s son.
Through the backdrop of Kabul, Hosseini shows how childhood decisions can shape entire lives, leading Amir on a journey back to his homeland years later to confront his past choices.
The narrative captures powerful emotions, complex family bonds, and the constant search for forgiveness and meaning.
Readers who enjoy Pearl Buck’s insightful storytelling and rich narratives may appreciate Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, a Nigerian author known for her vibrant portraits of family relationships, cultural identity, and social change.
Adichie’s novel “Half of a Yellow Sun” vividly portrays the lives of several characters during the Nigerian Civil War, among them twin sisters Olanna and Kainene. The book explores their struggles and loves against the backdrop of conflict, loss, and hope.
Through nuanced character development and compelling storytelling, the author invites readers into an emotionally powerful glimpse of personal and political upheaval.
Barbara Kingsolver is an American author who explores deep cultural and family themes, often set against vivid backdrops that span continents.
If you admire Pearl Buck’s insightful stories about cultural identity and family roots, you might also enjoy Kingsolver’s novel, “The Poisonwood Bible.”
In this powerful book, Kingsolver follows the Price family from Georgia, whose missionary father takes them to live in the Congo in the late 1950s. Amid political turmoil and culture clashes, each family member confronts her own sense of identity and beliefs.
Kingsolver’s portraits of complex family dynamics and the struggle to connect across cultural boundaries resonate deeply for anyone touched by Pearl Buck’s storytelling.
Books by Anchee Min often explore the lives of women in historical China. If you’ve enjoyed Pearl Buck’s “The Good Earth,” you might find Min’s novels equally captivating.
Her book “Empress Orchid” tells the story of a young woman named Orchid, chosen at seventeen to be a concubine in China’s forbidden city. Orchid rises from obscurity to immense power, facing court intrigue, betrayal, and personal sacrifices.
Min writes with authenticity and sensitivity about Chinese history, creating vivid characters and emotional depth similar to Pearl Buck’s powerful portrayals.
Readers who enjoy Pearl Buck’s engaging portraits of cultural clashes may also appreciate the novels of Ruth Prawer Jhabvala.
Jhabvala, born in Germany and later making her home in India, captures the tense dynamics between different cultures and classes in her novel “Heat and Dust.”
This is the story of two women: Olivia, a British colonial bride in 1920s India, and decades later, her step-granddaughter, who moves to India to uncover family secrets.
Through parallel narratives, the novel explores their journeys toward love, freedom, and self-discovery against the vibrant and challenging backdrop of India. Jhabvala’s careful storytelling reveals both the charm and contradictions of cross-cultural encounters.
Readers who enjoy Pearl Buck’s thoughtful storytelling might also appreciate the works of Katherine Paterson. Paterson writes heartfelt stories that explore human emotions and relationships.
Her book “Bridge to Terabithia” introduces readers to Jess Aarons and Leslie Burke, two unlikely friends who create a magical kingdom in the woods called Terabithia.
Through their imaginative adventures, the pair confront personal challenges, family struggles, and the strength of friendship. Paterson captures the depth and tenderness of childhood friendship as well as the courage needed to face loss.
Books by Isabel Allende often explore family ties, historical events, and cultural traditions. Her novel “The House of the Spirits” follows several generations of the Trueba family in Chile.
Through triumphs and tragedies over decades, we see the complicated relationships between parents, children, and grandchildren. Allende weaves history and politics into her story naturally, much as Pearl Buck does.
Readers of Buck might appreciate Allende’s blend of emotional family drama, colorful characters, and a deep sense of place.