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Summary: Wonderful,thought provoaking read
Review: I have read most of Barbarba's earlier books, and found them funny and loving. I picked up this book, out of couriousity and started on the winding emotional and historical journey of the Piosonwood Bible. Wonderfully written, albeit somewhat different form her earlier works, but no less touching. She opens the readers eyes to a different world, where you will question the Industrialized nations' commerical,obsession with "things". The characters are amazing...heroic...weak...human. Do yourself a favor pick this up today.
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Summary: too short! deceptively enchanting
Review: Amazingly, it seems so simple yet delivers you into so many deep psyches and situations. With deceptively simple diary-style entries, tells us what it means to be human in many areas including religion, family, imperialism, gender, youth, sibling rivalry, happiness, tolerance. Perhaps the strongest accomplishment is the way it shows several characters, not just the five narrators, as the center of their own universes while intricately ensnared in each others'. Finished it in two plane flights and am considering a re-read once I have lent it around.
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Summary: Some books reward you when you keep reading...
Review: I read *The Poisonwood Bible* because my Reading Group chose it, and the first chapter really didn't grab me. I'd read the back cover, and I thought I knew what the book was about--and as the review/summary at the top of Amazon's page says, in literature, "men who drag their families to far-off climes in pursuit of an Idea seldom come to any good." It seemed obvious where the story was going to take me.But I persevered, and the story began to draw me in, and I found out that I was wrong. Yes, some things turned out as I expected (to me, Ruth May's fate wasn't the surprise that the author seemed to have intended), but then--but then it went on from there. I read a lot of books, and with so many of them, the patterns of the stories are established so early, and the author doesn't even seem to attempt to be surprising. With this book, the author gradually reveals a stubbornness, a determination to tell a story that is nothing like the reader was expecting--and all the more powerful for that. Ultimately, it's quite terrific. I disagree with the reviewer who complains about Kingsolver's politics. Her view is startling, refreshing, and educational for someone who doesn't know all that much about the specifics of politics in the Congo during this time period. The book is also written in such a way that if you don't agree with Kingsolver's political bent, the context of her characters opinions is deep enough that you understand *why* they hold these opinions--even if it is uncomfortable to read how lightly the United States seemed to treat the problems of central Africa during this time period. This book is a joy to read. A consummate piece of writing that reminds you how good it is to spend your night involved with a book rather than glassily dozing in front of your tv.
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Summary: What you've heard about this book is true
Review: I was reluctant to buy this book, given that it strayed so far from her stories situated in the Southwest that I've loved so much. After hearing from friends for the past few years how wonderful it was, I finally picked it up -- and have been truly rewarded! It's an amazing book -- one of the rare books that creates a real dilema when you are nearly through with it: "What am I going to do when I finish this book?" If you are discouraged from reading this book by the thought that this is just another of the "Americans-go-to-Africa..." genre, set that thought aside and prepare for a whirlwind of a journey. Kingsolver delights the reader with her poetic, playful and truly witty prose, and her accute sense of observation of human nature.
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Summary: Proceed with caution, but do proceed
Review: I advise caution, for there is a heavy load of doctrinaire politics interlarded in this book (and I can't judge its accuracy) but it turns an otherwise gripping novel into sermonizing at times, wrong even if it's right. Then there is the characteristic modern bias against missionaries. The author achieves this by picking the worst possible case, a demented Baptist evangelist who is not like most of the Baptist clergy I know. (Of course we do have a notorious one just a ways away from here in Topeka!) In my Episcopal Church here we have black people at every service who have come from Africa and the Caribbean with fond memories of and firm loyalty to their Church and its missionary background. If it weren't for missionaries we of British background would still be dyeing ourselves blue and worshipping mistletoe (for which I can think of better uses). The novel itself is generally written with extreme competence. I particular favor palindromatic Adah. Do read it, but Kingsolver has planted some green mambas in the chicken house.
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Summary: life altering
Review: Very rarely does one have the opportunity to read a book which so alters her thoughts and feeds her brain. There are lessons to be learned, here. Just when I thought I knew everything! A main theme is the pride which seems to so inevitably go before each fall. I felt that Ms. Kingsolver was sometimes telling me, "You are spoiled. Stop buying all of those things and do something charitable and worthwhile." Everyone hates the father in this book. He is just so bad. Enjoy.
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Summary: rich in history and character developement
Review: The Poisonwood Bible is by far one of my favorite books of all time. I have worn out one copy from repeated reads. This book is absolutely engrossing. You get completely lost in the historical aspects of the congolese. Character developement is exceptional. I love the changes in point-of-view, which transforms great characterization into the exceptional. You love the women of the Price family instantly. Very heart-wrenching, and a must-read for anyone.
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Summary: Not the usual missionary in Africa tale
Review: The novel deals with a family in the Congo during the 1950's. While Nathan Price is a hard-driven missionary, his wife and children are all marching to different drummers. This is set against the backdrop of a totally hostile environment; there's revolution brewing in the Congo and the very land itself is toxic to the inexperienced Americans. (...) The story is told through the eyes of the four daughters, ranging in age from 5 to 16. The two middle daughters are twins, one being a girl with disabilities who later turns out to be quite a interesting person, despite or even because of the disabilities. The four voices are each distinct, but they are slightly unbelievable. I couldn't put the book down. The disasters are epic, the problems strange and monumental. The characters are very unusual.
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Summary: eating chocolate slowly
Review: The Poisonwood Bible was enchanting. The realism and frank viewpoint moves slowly, but the annecdotal and entrancing subject matter keeps it moving quite steadily. It's like eating chocolate slowly. The story is told through the eyes of the four daughters, ranging in age from 5 to 16. The two middle daughters are twins, one being a girl with disabilities and slight dementia. Once in a while, the mother will also have a chapter or so. The story is told and continues from every viewpoint, and so each chapter, though having a different narrator, is a continuation of the story instead of a repetition. The story is spellinbinding. It incorperates a viewpoint of history unbeknownst to (majority, to be politically correct) of the modern world. The indepdence of the Congolese from the Belgan government is not only told from the eyes of the mother, who understand the political element, but the eyes of the five year old, who sees the trauma and celebration indepdence can cause. This book, in some reviews, was called to feministic. Though, yes, it is told from the perspectives of five females, and yes, it is written by a female author, I think this a false alligation. Having read the novel, it's interesting how this patriachial family is really ruled by the women in it, despite the father's (who is an angelican protestant minister) moving the family to the Congo. It's a rude awakening of the dedication of some people, who will risk their own, and their entire family's life for one cause, be it religious, political or any other form. This is the theme woven throughout the pages of this novel. I believe this book can be thought about and read by both clergy and atheists, for its "stand back and look at things" viewpoint can lean either way, and being a person with little religious background, I not only depended my understanding of religion, but also saw the other side of things too. I'd like to add, I'm 13 years old.
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Summary: Compelling read
Review: I had heard a lot about Kingsolver and was very disappointed in the first book I read--I don't recall the title but it was one of the 'Turtle' books. I found it boring and too predictable. Other readers encouraged me to try this one and I am very glad that I did. Kingsolver's telling of this tale of a missionary and his family in the Congo is a rich mix of a troubled family (abusive father) and their experiences in a troubled Congo (early 1960's). Having each of the four daughters speak is very effective--with the possible exception of the annoying eldest daughter. Her labored malapropisms get pretty wearing after a while--or perhaps I simply have a difficult time tolerating her selfishness. I find the mother's, Ada's and Leah's voices rich and compelling. The mother's unsentimental account of how/why she came to stay with an abusive husband for so long is believable and real-seeming. And her telling of what brought her husband, Nathan, to that state is believable while not forgiving him for the resulting behavior. I actually listened to an audio version of the book. The reader on my Brilliance version is excellent--particularly in her portrayal of the mother. I am usually able to alternate between listening to NPR and an audio book but I found I didn't want to stop this tape--I was very drawn into the story and the characters.
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