Rating: 
Summary: A bit like a roller coster
Review: I am a huge Barbra Kingsolver fan, she is truly a magical writer. But I am at a loss of words about this novel. At times it is brillant, other times it slow. She spends a little too much time on developing stituations that tend to go no where. I think she was really trying to pursuade the reader to take a careful look at out how we are destroying our ecosystem. At times, it gets a little to 'environment' for my taste. I gave the book a solid 4 stars because it is a great read, but it is not her best work. I my opinion, the posion wood bible is still her best novel ever.
Rating: 
Summary: Moths, Coyotes & Chestnuts...
Review: Brilliantly written, this book displays the development of the writer's capacity more so than any previous novel. A character novel to the core, this story unfolds the lives of its three main protagonists with such diversity a reader can identify with each one. The grumpy elderly man hoping to preserve his legacy, the stong-wiiled woman looking to establish her strength and independence alone in the Appalachians, and the young widowed scientist learning to find herself in a world compeletly alien to her have a story for each of us. The theme of the story is also reflected in the format in which it is written--a level of skill rarely seen in even the most accomplished writer. The thought put into this book is thoroughly evident, and the story beautiful.
Rating: 
Summary: B-O-R-I-N-G
Review: Unlike Kingsolver's other books, this book is preachy and dull. In spite of herself, Barbara Kingsolver is a good enough writer that some parts of the book are great and you'll find yourself laughing out loud or nodding in amazement. However, most of the story is a real yawner. The three main characters never feel quite right. Would the real Deanna fall hard for Eddie Bondo, the mystery man from Wyoming? And as to her studying coyotes in the Appalachians, well......I just couldn't buy the turkey dinner part-it made me grit my teeth. And Lusa Landowski is wrong, all wrong. For one thing, she's supposed to be Jewish/Arab. The spelling of Landowski then (her grandfather was a Polish Jew) would be Landowsky with a "y", not an "i". Lusa's muttering of Yiddish phrases and her love of Arabic food hit a false note as does her supposed Arabic family. Arab families are generally large and caring, but in Lusa's case, they don't exist. Another major detail that just isn't here-we see hardly anything at all about the goats that bring about a major of Lusa's salvation. (Maybe goats care for themselves?) The old man is the most finely drawn, although his alter-ego, Nannie Rawley, is much more interesting. However, these two have been neighbors forever and yet they are such complete and total strangers. No way. The nature scenes in the book are very clear, almost too much so. Hey, after a while mushroom spores got boring beyond belief! I found myself skipping over blocks of text. Final words-re-read Rachel Carson's Silent Spring is you want reasons for not using pesticides. Want a sexy love story? Rosemary Roger's old classic titled Sweet Savage Love will do it. Skip this turkey and wait for a Barbara Kingsolver's next book.
Rating:
Summary: Too Preachy
Review: Since "Poisonwood" was the only book by Kingsolver that I had read, was really looking forward to this one. Very disappointing, however. I felt like a 4 year old being given a lesson on ecology. The characters in the book were wonderfully drawn and I was very interested in the complexities of their lives, but the lecture on almost every page about conservation was a little annoying. A little goes a long way, especially if your audience is already pretty well versed in the subject.
Rating: 
Summary: A huge disappointment
Review: I was highly anticipating Kingsolver's latest, based on my reception of her earlier novels. Unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed. I did not find any of the three main characters particularly intriguing- I was most interested in a side character, Nannie Rawley, whom I was never able to learn much about. I found Deanna's character to be unexplainably mean, at times, and found her much of her behavior inconsistent with the personality Kingsolver tried so hard to establish. Lusa's character disappointed me, as well, and I could not buy into the vague reasons why she stayed on at the farm for so long. She seemed like a coward without anything to be afraid of. I wasn't at all impressed with the things she did. To me, the story dragged on kind of slowly, and I never really came to care about any of the characters. The one good thing I got from this novel was a great lesson about the interconnectedness and value of all parts of our environment and every creature that inhabits it (which Kingsolver discreetly slips into all of her novels, and which was blatant here). If you love Kingsolver, I suppose I'd suggest you read it. However, if you're new to this author, don't pick this one up.
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully written story
Review: Okay, so it's not the Poisonwood Bible--but why do we want her to write another Poisonwood Bible? I enjoyed Prodigal Summer and learned quite a lot about ecology in the process. Granted, I do eat organic produce and would label myself as an environmentalist...if you are not sympathetic to these views, you might not like this book. I enjoyed all three stories, and I especially liked the characters of Nanny and Deanna. I didn't want the book to end, and when it did end, I felt that their stories were incomplete--I wanted to know what would happen with Deanna and Lusa. If you like to read lyrical prose about nature and creation, combined with a good story, this is your book.
Rating:
Summary: ONE OF HER BEST
Review: A stalwart Kingsolver fan from her earliest books, I was enchanted by her latest. From her powerful characters to her mesmerizing rural setting, this book amazed me from start to finish. Reading her books are like panning for gold. If you take your time, you will always find a nugget. She manages to subtly link three story lines with characters that were so real and engaging, I didn't want the story to end. Her delicate descriptions of the Kentucky mountains, coyotes, and moths gave me a new appreciation of this wonderful planet we take for granted. If you're looking for an action-packed thriller, don't bother reading the book. BUT if you want a warm, wonderful story with characters you feel like you know, pull up a chair, turn off your phone, send your kids outside and READ THIS BOOK!
Rating:
Summary: Kingsolver does it again
Review: I must admit I am biased, being a big fan of Kingsolver's work. This is just as good as her other books (except for perhaps The Poisonwood Bible, which was in my opinion the pinnacle of her writing). I very much enjoyed this book. Not being of a scientific mind myself, I found that Kingsolver's writing made it interesting, and it was not too technical. It was key to the development of the story, and far different than any other book out there. My only quibble with the book is that for some reason Kingsolver seems to be man bashing in this book. All of the female characters are sensistive, strong, intelligent, and always right, while the male characters have a tendency to be bumbling idiots, oblivious to the nuances of nature, both human and wild. I think I would have like to see more well-rounded characterization in that area, but otherwise, this is a fine work.
Rating:
Summary: Captivatingly written
Review: I have long been a fan of Kingsolver and am so glad that she seems to just get better and better. After Poisonwood Bible I didn't think it possible, but I enjoyed Prodigal Summer even more. The story pulls you in, especially her descriptions of the forest and nature in spring. I felt I physically responded to the book. While reading it I was torn between wanting to consume the whole story, and wanting it to last much longer. I loved the 3 main characters and the way she weaved them together. One of my favorites of the year.
Rating:
Summary: Harlequin Romance
Review: Very disappointing. The only thing that kept it from being a true HR was the nature info in the story. BK is sliding down in her writing. Just because she's well known now, doesn't mean everything is good - as this proves.
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