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Summary: THE BEAUTY OF "NATURE" BY KINGSOLVER
Review: If you ever wanted to get a greater appreciation of nature, predators and their prey, and survival of the fittest, then you'll probably really enjoy Kingsolver's latest book. I was totally in awe of her knowledge, most of which I'm sure did not come just through research. The jacket cover mentions that she earned a graduate degree in biology before becoming a full-time author. This is quite evident throughout and it becomes obvious to the reader that this is a labor of love on her part. Let's put it this way -- if ever I was a contestant on the millionaire show and a biology question came up, I'd want Barbara Kingsolver as my "phone a friend."What is a prodigal summer? The author describes it as the "season of extravagant procreation" and, from that point, the story begins. This procreation will be experienced by all different forms of life found within these pages. Kingsolver, who so beautifully told her Poisonwood Bible story through the eyes of the four daughters and their mother, uses this same writing style once again in Prodigal Summer. This time though, the chapters aren't headed with the characters' names but instead are indicated by their particular field of interest. The Predators section describes Deanna Wolfe, working for the forest service and living by herself in an isolated cabin. She has also penned a thesis on coyotes and it's her dream to come across this predator in her small world in the Appalachian Mountains. Moth Love is devoted to Lusa Landowski, a young, beautiful city girl who has studied entomology and is now a bug expert and lover. She also inherits a farm and has to decide whether to stay in Zebulon Valley and commit to that lifestyle or return to Lexington, Kentucky. Old Chestnuts explores the relationship between Garnett Walker, an 80 year old widow, and his love affair with the chestnut tree. During his lifetime, he is trying to recreate this almost extinct tree type within his Zebulon Valley region. Added to this mission is his love/hate relationship with his neighbor, 75 year old Nannie Rawley, and owner of an organic apple orchard. Midway through the book, the connections between these individuals begin to surface as you know they would. Just as subtly, the connections between the underlying characters and their particular love of nature is explored. How to poison things without using poison? How predation is a sacrament? How birds never doubt their place at the center of the universe? How moths speak to each other via scent? How every quiet step is thunder to beetle life underfoot? These are just a fraction of the questions Kingsolver poses -- all the answers lie within these pages. Barbara Kingsolver once again leaves the reader with food for thought. I guarantee that, after reading this book, you will never look at a moth the same way as you did before and probably won't kill another spider. For as she explains, "every choice is a world made new for the chosen." So if you, as the predator, choose not to kill a lesser life form, there begins a new life for that "prey" or that chosen species. Since I would never categorize myself as someone who is "into nature", on an enjoyment scale I would only have rated this book with four stars. The fact that it is so well-written, with fabulous character development, well-researched content, and extraordinary subject knowledge by the author, it positively deserves a five star rating.
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Summary: Another masterpiece
Review: When you've written some fine works of fiction in the past decade, how do you follow up? I can't imagine the tremendous amount of pressure that Ms. Kingsolver was under after the triumph of Poisonwood. I shouldn't have worried. Kingsolver has returned to her roots--the backwoods of Appalachia, to present a loving, respectful portrait of a community in conflict, and in love, with nature. Through the three intertwined stories that comprise this novel, she exposes us to a multitude of viewpoints (as well as points of view!) in terms of what it means to be an environmentalist, what it truly means to love the land. The other main thread that runs through this book, and which is integrally bound up with the whole question of nature, is the celebration of fecundity, sensuality, and the glory of the sexual. This book was a sensual delight, and is not for those whose sensibilities are offended by frank discussions of the joys of sexual intercourse (of human, animal, and plant persuasion). This book is one of the most erotic that I have ever read, a true feminine perspective on the instinct to have contact with other human beings. Brava, once again, Ms. Kingsolver. Thanks for the gift of this book.
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Summary: Prodigal summer
Review: Yuk. Trying to get past the first 1/3 of the book. Am amazed and boggled by the love scenes between the supposedly together older woman--a naturalist, loner, thinker who is so unhinged by the presence of a young, virile man that she loses her senses. Oh well. Would be ok in a romance novel if the sex scenes were racier, I guess (not quite my genre--but I imagine it would be a lot more fun to read this sort of stuff in that realm). And, hey, I like to read about women of her age enjoying herself, etc--but this is just too quick, strange and unexpected. In this story, its just totally wierd. Like they are coyotes or something. I guess that's the point. Will try to read to the end. Might not make it.
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Summary: Disappointing
Review: Lacking a passion for either coyotes or moths, I was unable to finish this. As a rule, I believe that readers who don't finish a book should not review it so do not weigh this review too heavily. The Poisonwood Bible, Kingsolver's last book, was an incredible work of literature and one of the best books I've ever read. I opened Prodigal Summer with high expectations of being treated to an equally compelling novel, and I think many fans of the earlier book will do the same. If you intend to read this, throw those expectations out the window and perhaps you'll see more merit in it than I did. This is just my opinion - I'm sure that other readers will have differing opinions, and I look forward to reading them here. If I've erred in my assessment of Prodigal Summer after reading about half of it, please write a review...do I need to give it more time?
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Summary: Her most fragrant book to date.
Review: Barbara Kingsolver might could've just hung up her shingle as brain surgeon. She's rewired my brain on how I think of scent in general and honeysuckle in particular. The book is fecund, like ecology, everything interconnected.Can't stop thinking about it.
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Summary: Another magnificent book from Kingsolver!
Review: Prodigal Summer is a passionate adventure weaving together three stories about a corner of Appalachia called Zebulon Mountain. Wherever YOUR secret outdoor place was as a child--a backyard thicket, a neighbor's stream, or a nearby apple orchard--reading this book is like opening up someone else's magic world. I cared deeply about the characters, who are opinionated, alive, flawed, and compassionate. Kingsolver is an astute naturalist, with a strong moral sense of how man and beast should interact. She is such a lovely writer I found myself re-reading sentences just for the sheer joy of it. If you have ever listened to the cricket chorus on a summer eve, been in love, or held your breath when a butterfly landed on your sleeve, this book is for you.
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Summary: Each page an over-abundant joy
Review: Each page of Kingsolver's new novel, is full of the rich details readers have come to expect. The description of the scenery alone, makes this piece a must read. Kingsolver really does create a painting with words that we can walk thought, smell, touch, even taste. Added to that background, are believable characters; women, who are strong but not hard, men, who are stubborn but not distant. The book explores humans in a way that celebrates both thier souls and their animal essance. It also tackles the most delicate of human emotions, love. Love that is not always conveniet, pretty, or romantic...but without question alluring.
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Summary: Perfect Mediocrity
Review: This book was, well... just okay! It explored many different emotions and experiences. I do recommend it if you have alot of spare time but if not read something more worth your while like Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes!
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Summary: One of the best I've recently read
Review: What an enjoyable book. Something I enjoyed about this book was it's representation of the idea that we are all interconnected - not only are the characters in it connected in ways we can't see at first, but there are several discussions about how farming, forestry, and ecology work that demonstrate how much one action (for instance, killing off a species or using the wrong pesticide) can affect the social, physical, and emotional environment around you, and, in turn, those around the ones you've affected. It also seemed to talk extensively about the biology of human interaction - for instance, the woman who was constantly flirted with at a picnic, and then realizes that she must be putting of some serious pheremones, as she was ovulating for the first time in years after going off the pill following her husband's death - and how much things we have little or no control over can affect our day to day (sometimes hour to hour) actions and moods. There was also a very even handed approach to several issues of ecology, in that they were debated without clear winners. Discussions between characters didn't seem forced into, and seemed to see several sides of the same issue, rather than making one person an ignorant loudmouth in order to enhance the other side of the arguement. It also showed, very plainly, the complications of love. How people can fear it, love it, be confused by it, and follow it at all costs - and give you a little insight into why. On the surface, many would see certain relationships in the book as taboo or just plain weird, but the progression of these characters paint such an understanding, detailed and vivid picture that you find yourself following it almost without question, as Kingsolver has shown us all the complications (and the characters seem to have some understanding as well) of the relationship, and are entering it realisticly. At the very least, more realisticly than many characters one sees these days. All in all, this was refreshing, fun, sad at times, and something to look forward to. I couldn't wait to pick it up again and see what was going on. I hope I'll be reading other books by her soon.
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Summary: Best I've read in a while
Review: This book has 3 great stories that are intertwined so creatively. I really enjoyed this book, and have not read one this good in a long time. Barbara Kingsolver definately weaves her ecological opinions into her stories, but I believe they fit right along with the stories. This book was so good, it actually made me want to move to West Virginia and live on a farm! And I am a total city girl! I highly recommend it.
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