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Summary: For any child of an overprotective father
Review: For me, beyond all the other drama that takes place to keep the plot interesting, Kingsolver's beautifully told underlying story of a girl and her sister touched my heart. Everytime I came to another of her memories of her overprotective, somewhat overbearing father, I was struck by the way Barbara Kingsolver lays bare all the emotions of growing up that way--she is so true to life in every detail, including the strong bond she forms with her sister as a result of their shared childhood. Like so many of her books, I kept asking myself, "How does she know me?"
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Summary: Sweetening the Good Medicine
Review: Kingsolver is an author who believes in more than just telling a story. She believes a story must leave the reader with expanded knowledge. A nasty spoonful of good medicine, it would seem to some readers, perhaps reading for the escapism alone... but I have no qualms with this whatsoever. Most of this author's lessons center on environmental and human rights issues. So teach me, Kingsolver, I am always willing to learn, to expand my mind in a new direction. Why should good literature not enlighten as well as entertain? "Animal Dreams" delves into both of Kingsolver's usual areas of interest. Her main character, Codi, opens the eyes of her students in her classroom to the world beyond the classroom walls. She may use unconventional methods, including allowing her own humanity to leak out, imperfect and dysfunctional adult that she is, and expects chastisement from the powers that be... but not only do her initially astounded students accept her empassioned message, but the school board, too, offers her a permanent teaching position when she thought herself there only temporarily. Indeed, the entire novel beckons this character with the allure of putting down roots, finding home, in place and in heart. Feeling herself a misfit in her hometown and within the bewildering confines of her family, Codi is not easily convinced that she is deserving of love and respect (or forgiveness) - from her estranged father, from her students, from her community, from her rediscovered high school sweetheart. Kingsolver describes the process of self-acceptance in this character with her usual rich writing style... and, of course, fits her lessons between and into the lines as neatly as always.
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Summary: a must read book
Review: i read Animal Dreams this past summer. i thought it was really good. i liked how it was writen from both cosmosima and homero's point of view. it shwed how they both felt so you had an understanding of the whole story not just one side of it. the begining was kind of slow but it turned out to be one of my favorite books. its about codie who moves back to her home town in new mexico to teach science for a year until she figures out what to do with her life. she's never felt as if she fit in there and was always an outsider. she has kind of just erased her child hood from her memory. when she gets back she begins to fill in the gapes of her childhood and the gapes in her family tree. she begins to grow up and uncover the past.
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Summary: A Philosophical Masterpiece
Review: This book, required by my high school as 11th grade summer reading, is one of the most AMAZING books I've ever read. Changing point of views from daughter Cody Noline to overbearingly protective father Homero Nolina, this book offers an insightful peer into two completely different yet similar people. I read this book over about a 1 1/2-week period. Never once was my time wasted. Intriguing, joyous, painful, extreme - all of these words describe this work of art. I don't want to tell any of the plot, because even having some distant idea of what goes on might take away. "Probably there is no real invention in modern society, just an elaboration on nature." Talk about a quotable author, a memorable book. You feel the characters' sorrow and happiness, worries and actions, you feel the results of the actions, you feel a part of the book.
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Summary: colloquial poetry
Review: I loved this book. Kingsolver does a beautiful job of tying in unique motifs with fascinating colloquial details throughout. This book is a wonderful book for anyone because it deals with topics of self-acceptance and family roots, but I would especially recommend this book to women as it has a lot of powerful female messages. It is charming, interesting, and beautifully written.
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Summary: When home, or any other place, doesn¿t seem to fit!
Review: Cosima "Codi" Nolina is a misfit in her own mind. She was too tall as a child; her mother died when she was very young and her prominent father, a small-town doctor, drummed it into the heads of both Codi and her little sister, Hallie, that they were different from the rest. His emphasis was "above the rest." Their interpretation was "different". Yet, each daughter develops differently despite this constant message from her father. Doc Homero, as he was known, demonstrated his caring by enforcing rules, rules, and more rules. Nothing much escaped his scrutiny, including his enforced wearing of what both growing girls felt were unstylish, "orthopedic shoes." In Doc Homero's mind this was his contribution to healthy feet. Both girls longed for hugs and demonstrations of affection, which were never to happen. Doc had his own personal battles...acceptance from the townspeople who remembered where and from whom he hailed. All the more reason for Doc Homero to keep reinforcing to his girls that he was from Illinois. I'll let the reader enjoy the unfolding of this mystery! Hallie is a crusader for human rights, political justice and preservation of the land. Here the reader will clearly see Kingsolver's activist sentiments, both from the understanding of a biologist's/environmentalist's perspective and also from the perspective of a political sympathizer who has seen historical injustices, as in the United State's role in Central America. Hallie is the personification of Kingsolver's stance. Codi, on the other hand, seems to hunker down and be perpetually absorbed with her lack of fitting in. She seems to view herself as an oddity and exalts her sister's courage, drive and commitment. Codi won't even accept a teacher's contract back in her hometown of Grace, for longer than a year. And as she strikes up an intimate relationship with one of Grace's former Native American bad-boys-turned-good, she makes it clear she won't be around after school lets out for the summer. Kingsolver's writing style is very engaging, it not only absorbs the reader in the plot but provides engaging characters as well, and also it educates the reader on Southwestern Native American culture, architecture, customs and folklore. It would really spoil the discovery process for the reader to divulge how everyone and everything works out. There is humour and sadness; there is beautiful imagery; there are both warm and passionate relationships; and there is personal discovery. Beautifully done!
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Summary: One of her best
Review: I have to admit, I've been a fan of Kingsolver's for years, and Animal Dreams is one of my favorite novels. Codi returns to her hometown to watch over her ailing father, with whom she's had a rather difficult relationship. Her sister, Hallie, goes to Nicaragua to teach people how to farm the land, while facing the threat of violence. Codi is a medical school dropout who seems to wander from place to place, trying to find herself, in a sense. She is determined to stay in her hometown for only a year, accepting a teaching position on a temporary basis. Kingsolver gives us a lesson in politics, life, and love in Animal Dreams. Yes, at times she can be a bit overbearing with her political beliefs, but who can fault someone for having passion?
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Summary: A Harlequin Romance
Review: If you are the kind of person that likes Harlequin Romance novels, then Barbara Kingsolver is the author for you to check out. If you find people sleeping with Navajos exotic, then this novel is for you. Can you hardly wait for the following: Over the top symbolism? Cramming vague morals down your throat to leave you confused? Character that you can't stand? Wanting
so badly for the perspective character in the novel to die that it consumes you? If you answered yes to any of the following then Barbara Kingsolver is the author for you.
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Summary: What Happened?
Review: There is no doubt that Barbara Kingsolver is a talented writer, which i learned from reading another one of her novels, The Bean Trees. But Kingslover disappointed me with this book. After reading her other book, i expected this story to be another descriptive realistic book. What I got was the sappy story of Codi Noline's romance with an old high-school boyfriend, and the story of how she "finds her past" in the town where she grew up. The plot was not at all creative, and like every other romance novel. I would not even call this book "literature." If you want to read a good book, i would suggest The Bean Trees, also by Barbara Kingsolver.
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Summary: not into kingsolver at all...
Review: I tried to read this book, first time around I got half way through, then got bored. It was certainly descriptive, even if I could have cared less about the characters. Also, the writer doesn't write her characters to be likable. So just what is her point?
I tried to read it again, and totally didn't like Kingsolver's style of writing. She is boring! Also, she just tries to use big words to make up for lack of talent. This is pure drivel.
Try Cathie Pelletier, now there is a writer! Kingsolver is all hype.
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