Rating: 
Summary: Pure novel in every way
Review: It's been a while since I read this one, but I will likely read it again. I recommend it to everyone. However, my sister is pursuing missionary work in Africa next year, and I hesitate to tell her to read this because the novel places the Western Christian faith into a domain and culture that is struggling as best it can under the circumstances, and outside ideologies merely fade into the background.Rich with history and cultural analysis, the novel reveals the timeless human struggle in a harsh wilderness through realistic characters in universal reality. Although I've not read any other Kingsolver, this is certainly everything a novel should be.
Rating:
Summary: Better than other Oprah picks
Review: This excelent book is a good read and will expand your world view. I learned more about religion, human nature, history and politics without even trying than i would have if I had searched out this information. But its more than that, its about a family of woman traveling into the congo, totaly unprepared. Its an adventure, a drama, and a family saga. I've read a few other Oprah book club picks that frankly did not impress me, but this book was fantastic, exighting and touching. Best of all its not one of those books were nothing much really happens, plenty happens in this great book. I checked it out at the library, but I definatly think it would be worth buying.
Rating:
Summary: perfection
Review: It just doesn't get any better than this. Kingsolver has mastered her craft and has outdone herself. The depth and beauty of this story is glorious.
Rating: 
Summary: A Modern day Masterpiece
Review: Barbara Kingsolver's book, the poisonwood Bible, lifted my spirit to an entirely new level. Opening up me deepest thoughts, this book touched my soul. Recieving the book as a present from a blind preacher on the street, has reveiled a new world to me. The world of love and respect, Barbara's book also shares similiar messages and themes. In all, since I'm keeping this short, I would like to conclude that this book is a definite must read, and not only because Oprah says so, but I do too. Believe me it's worth it, it changed my life and will do the same for you.
Rating:
Summary: Barbara Kingsolver knows how to touch my heart!!!
Review: First off, I would like to tell everyone that Barbara Kingsolver changed my life with this book. Her book The Poisonwood Bible, is like a bible to me. I was once a beggar on the streets of Chicago, when a kind man let me read this book. From that day forward I have been a changed man. This compelling story has touched my soul in a way nothing else has ever been able to do. It is a heartwarming novel that should be read by everyone in Chicago - especially you!
Rating: 
Summary: What is all the hype about???
Review: I am really throwing myself out on a limb when I say I don't see what all the buzz is on this book. EVERYONE has it on their lists, and I dove in full force. I was a little disappointed; the book was a bit long and wordy, repeating many descriptions repeatedly, and my main reason for giving the book only 3 stars is because of a writing rule most know: the ending must stay true to the character, and in numerous cases this doesn't happen here. I won't give details in case of spoiling your fun, but a handicapped twist and controlling husband simple "moving on" will clue you inas to a few un characteristic "twists". This is well written most of the time, and if you are into learning about the congo and African Culture (which was fascinating) Kingsolver does a beautiful job of this, but overall I can not give it more stars due to the inconsistancies I saw. I may also mention that in my book club, about 90% of us were disappointed with this novel. I will say though, it is written better then many things you see on the best seller list, so if you need a change, this may suit you well.
Rating: 
Summary: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Review: I really tried with this book, hoping it would improve as I got into it. Normally I will read a book in one or two weeks. Well six weeks later and still on page 130 I gave up. I kept falling asleep after about 2 pages......I can recommend it to all you insomniacs! As I said 130 odd pages and NOTHING happened, just a boring tale of boring day to day events, the characters featureless, the attitudes so predjudiced. First of all I thought the book was set in the early 1900's so out of date were the attitudes but no to my surprise it wasn't. There must be parts of America that are quite unenlightened. What a nerve to go into a foreign country and expect the people in it to go for all thay dribble, even witch doctors have more logic. Well Barbara Kingsolver I'd like my money back. I probably won't get it but I'll never buy another of hers. Never mind it seems she has a lot of relatives.
Rating:
Summary: Deadman's March of Epilogues
Review: I loved getting the feel of the land and the native people and walked away with a feeling of almost having been there. I enjoyed getting the true history from the point of view of someone there rather than all the propaganda in the news or the circled rumors of many so-called historians. For these things, I am glad I read the book, but over all I walked away feeling cheated and betrayed as the reader. I could have gotten the above from a well written journal. I found Kingsolver's continual jumping from from 5 first person points of view interesting, but not reader friendly. Everytime I took a break from reading I had to back track to see who was talking. I also found wallowing in feminine self righteousness, martyrdom and self pity, tedious and stereo typical, but I stuck with Kingsolver expecting to be rewarded for my loyalty. Finally, I got an exciting climax and the escape of the women from the tyranical father (whose point of view is never offered us.) The boys got the girls and the girl got the mom and everything was ripe for a nice epilogue and a rounding off of all interwoven themes. Kingsolver gave me my reward for readership and then she brazenly took it back and proceeded to punish me. I would have rated this much higher if she would not have contiued on to write over 140 pages of never ending epilogues. I trudged through chapter after chapter of repetitious martyrdom superimposed over the history and effect of the politics. All could have been summed up accurately in a few pages. Instead I came away feeling that the tryst between author and reader had been violated.
Rating:
Summary: Complex human story offers interesting perspectives
Review: I was fascinated by this book from start to finish. The story of the family moved me, I worried about snakes and hunger and bacterias in the Congolese jungle, like the mother. I delighted in the nature and people of Africa like some of the daughters. I could even sometimes feel the loneliness and craziness of the overreligious father. And as I was captivated, the story about Africa en the independance of the Congo slowly crept up on me, the same as the characters who were only half aware at first what they were in the middle of. It offered me a lot to think about.
I recently also reviewed 'How to be good' by Nick Hornby. There are not many parallels between these two books, only that both deal with the complexities of being good in a seemingly bad world. In Hornby's book I found this message obvious and annoying, but Kingsolver seduced me with her beautiful language into accepting her message. Thank you, Barbara Kingsolver!
Rating:
Summary: the missionary in the book
Review: I can understand where Kingslover is coming from when the author talks about the preacher. I have lived in the south for a number of years and I know how 'rednecked' some white preachers can get with their preaching. They are very unforgiving and don't hesitate to point a finger at you and call you a sinner! I have lived in Arkansas and been to churches in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississipi. Black people had it very very hard and they were scorned by the whites and beaten over the head with Bibles! (segregation) It is sad but it is true and I can fairly say that it is the author's right to bring out that kind of character of the fictional preacher in her book. Blacks have been through lots of pains growing up in the South and it just points out ignorance. I know that this is not how Christianity is suuposed to be but it is humans that are doing that, and Jesus would NEVER do that! It was hard for a black person to be a Christian in the South simply because of their skin color and there will be scars for years over that! The author is not putting down Christianity or demoting preachers but she is bringing out a character she probably has personally experienced.
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