Rating: 
Summary: A beautiful, hard to put down tapestry.
Review: I had been avoiding picking up this book for a long time, because I tend to shy away from the Oprah choices, because I always thought the book club was gimicky. Several of my friends, though, continued to recommend it to me, and I thought there must be something to their choice if this title kept coming up over and over again.On a broader scale it is the history of Africa over 30 years, and even if you aren't interested in the history of Africa, or even history at all, you can't help but find yourself drawn in because you see the effects that all the political goings on has on Africa's people. On a smaller scale, it is the story of the Price family, missionaries from Georgia landed in a small, remote African village. Nathan Price is a vehement, hard headed minister, bent on saving all of Africa with traditional values and traditional messages. Orleanna, the mother, Rachel, the vain, ill-tempered teenager, Leah and Adah, the genius twins, and Ruth May join him in the new land, and each of the 'chapters' is told from one of their unique perspectives. This book is so beautiful, and learning about life in Africa from each of these different characters is absolutely riveting. I stayed on way too late 2 nights in a row to finish this book, but it was absolutely worth it.
Rating: 
Summary: A learning experience, but too long
Review: I felt this book was worth the read, but it was long, slow, and contrived. It was interesting, though, and I felt like a more informed person after I had finished.
Rating:
Summary: Very emotionally involved story
Review: I am not a reviewist per se, other than I very much liked how the book was written, what the story told and especially the characters on both sides of the story. You could certainly feel yourself trying to experience every single thing the characters did. It was breath-taking and wonderous. How easy you find yourself hating one character to only change your mind again and again. I think the book was brilliant and have personally recommended it to all my friends, as well as loaned my copy out.
Rating:
Summary: More of a Kingsolver fan than ever!
Review: I've already told everyone I know how worth reading this book is! Here's my opportunity to tell people I don't (know)! Read!
Rating:
Summary: An Incredible Journey into the Congo
Review: Admittedly, I love reading novelists who incorporate real history into their stories. This story of a Missionary's family who goes into the Belgian Congo to spread the Word - told from the various points of view of the women in the family - how they deal with their journey and how it affects their lives after leaving the village is an incredible tale of survival, insanity and a culture that is so very different from our own. Worth every page it is written on!
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent, but it ran out of steam...
Review: I was fascinated by this book, except for the last 100 pages or so, which I found miserably boring in comparison with what had come before. It was interesting to find out what happened to the women after leaving the jungle, but did we really need to go into that much detail about it? I found myself losing interest very quickly...other than that, however, the novel was engrossing and suspenseful. I found all of the characters, especially the four daughters, to be well-written and psychologically realistic (I found myself loving Adah, hating Rachel, annoyed/charmed by Ruth May, and ambiguous about Leah...) However, I would have enjoyed hearing some of the story told from Nathan's point of view. I felt that, as it is now, the novel seems overly "feminist" in that it is told by five women, all of whom feel persecuted by the main male character in the novel. Although I dislike Nathan and do not sympathize with him, I think that allowing him to tell his side of the story would have made him seem more of a realistic, three-dimensional character and would also have strengthened the book as a whole.
Rating:
Summary: Just about perfect
Review: It's been a long time since a book left me speechless by the end. Historical fiction is especially hard to pull off, and Kingsolver nails it on every level: lyrical writing, incredible detail, mesmerizing characters and compelling themes. Believe the hype -- this is a fabulous novel.
Rating:
Summary: First 85% of this novel is 5 stars!
Review: I won't bother repeating what's been said in the other billion reviews of this book, but my one comment is that I adored this book and might have potentially rated it a 5* (rare for me) if not for the last two chapters, which dragged and ruined the great reading experience I was having. I'd still highly recommend it just for the pleasure of the storyline, the charming and interesting characters, and the flowing writing style. Then rush through the ending just to finish what is otherwise a great book.
Rating:
Summary: Gripping
Review: This is one great book. Barbara Kinsolver has done it again! This is a story of a family of a mother and her three daughters and their religious crazed father. The father picks up his family and makes them move to Africa so that he can preach and "save" the people from burning in hell. It is a wonderful story of how a city family adapts to the jungles in Congo. It is very suspensfull and at at the same time very heart warming. It is very emotional to follow the relationship between the daughters and their mother. The narration and description are wonderful. I actually felt I was in the jungle - it is that intense! Great book - a definite MUST READ.
Rating:
Summary: On of the Best Books I've Ever Read!
Review: My mother read this book last summer while I spent a month camping in South Africa. As I told my parents story after story about my time spent with the native peoples during the ride back from the airport, my mom kept saying how similar this book was to my experiences. After reading it, I understood what she meant. Reading this book took me back to Africa and my many late night discussions with a few devout Christians on the trip. It was amazing how our individual views were so mirrored by the views by the girls in The Poisonwood Bible. It was as if Kingsolver had spent time on our trip doing research. This book is a must read for anyone who is either for or against missionary work, as well as anyone who enjoys immersing themselves in native cultures during their travels. It is full of history and controversy, and is deeply thought provoking. A wonderful book to be read time and again!
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