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Summary: An analogy between a country and a family
Review: Barbara Kingsolver's prose sounds remarkably like poetry in many places in this novel. Her sweeping phrases carry the reader to heights and depths of emotions while reading about the Price family. Nathan, the patriarch, takes his family to the Congo in the late 1950's against the advice of his church and his friends. He is obsessed with the idea of saving souls in a land of which he has no understanding. His misguided religious fervor blinds him to the perils to which he has exposed his family. He rules his family with the hand of a tyrant, using Bible verses as punishment and criticism of his wife and four daughters. Each chapter is narrated in turn by the five Price women. They all have distinct personalities and each views the events in their lives in a different way. Kingsolver compares their struggle for independence with that of the Congo. She compares the tyranny of Nathan with that of despotic leaders of the Congo. Her political views are very apparent, but this does not detract from the power of this book. Oprah recommends it and so do I.
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Summary: Absolutely Enthralling!
Review: Wonderfully written. Enjoyed every minute of it. Found myself asking for "more please". Barbara Kingsolver keeps her characters TRUE all throughout the book. Each and every personality stays complete and strong - while growing up! The brilliance and depth of Adah is Amazing! This book is absolutely the only way I would visit the Congo! Thank you for the journey! I only hope it continues....
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Summary: Africa through new eyes
Review: Praise, not criticism, to Barbara Kingsolver for wearing her politics on her sleeve. It's a rare gift to a reader that she can express them with such openness, pain and beauty.Having been a white African for seventeen years, I consider myself blessed to be able to read in it another dimension. With every page, my eyes were prised open a little more. Thank you!
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Summary: All I love is lost
Review: I do not wish to share with you here my explicit feelings on Kingsworthy's writing ability, or give you a factual accounting of the plot of this book, but would like to share the indelible mark it left on my emotions. Throughout the first half of this powerful novel I felt my blood boiling from the tyranny, stubborness, calousness, and ignorance of Nathan Price, the central male character in the story. He is at once noble and pitiful in his righteousness. My jaw would clench and my brow furrow in a reader's fury over being powerless to step into the story and change what was readily identifiable as a crash course towards disaster for the Price family at this man's hands. During the middle portion of the book, I felt apprehension mount as the awful, gut wrenching climax approached. As a parent, I could not help but feel sympathy, sorrow, and anquish for what Orleana Price and her daughters went through either at the hands of Nathan or because of his indifference towards his family. When the fatal strike came, I was left in tears. Towards the end of the book, I was boored with the political commentary, but yet ached to see the surviving characters blossom and grow, to give me the reader a sense of hope amidst despair. Alas, all I truly walked away from the story with was profound sorrow from the oft dwelt upon guilt felt at the loss of an innocent child. Perhaps, as a father, I was too disappointed in the shortcomings of Nathan Price, or maybe I too readily imagined the pain at losing one of my own children. I feel sorrow for the lives of the other children lost in the story, but the eternal quest of Orleana for forgiveness from her lost child cuts too close to the bone and leaves me longing to hold my own forever close to me.
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Summary: ONE OF THE FINEST NOVELS OF OUR TIME!
Review: This is the heart-breaking story of an overly zealous, misguided missionary who sincerely felt he was doing the Lord's work in the Congo. He put his entire family at risk while he tried to jam what he felt was the Lord's will for these people down their throats. This tale is also political in that it shows, in no uncertain terms, the negative role the United States played just when the Congolese were attempting to achieve independence from Belgium. Shame on us for thinking we're the saviour of the world, and thanks to Barbara Kingsolver for her courage in the writing of this book! The most dramatic and heart-rending moment for me was when the youngest daughter was bitten by the deadly mamba snake (probably the deadliest snake in the world), and died very soon afterwards. The missionary father eventually descends into a world of madness, and the mother and remaining daughters leave for the states. It is a story that is still with me, months after having read it. Not for the Danielle Steel crowd, but definitely for those who appreciate fine literature.
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Summary: tremendous high points, some noticeable low ones
Review: I don't want to take pot shots at some of the smaller flaws (Rachel's narration, some of the shoddy narration for the first quarter or so of the book, an overwhelming amount of Kingsolver's political analysis) because overall I was very impressed with the book. It's been a while since I've read such an ambitious book with such an epic scope, so I have to hand it to Kingsolver who did spend 20 years doing the research. If anything, the sheer heft of the book gets in the way -- the first 100 pages are SLOW -- then the narrative picks up. After hundreds of pages, we have an abrupt transformation to post Africa and what each child is doing. The last 100 pages or so are not nearly as vivid as the middle. A bit anticlimatic in fact. She's best when she's describing day to day routines and behaviors -- not as good when she's adding her political views. Despite some flaws, it's quite an accomplished book in lots of ways, especially the creation of such memorable characters like Adah and Nathan. At least it's a "pop" book that has some depth and texture. Those who rip it apart should try some Richard Paul Evans first and then go back to appreciate Kingsolver's enormous tapestry.
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Summary: Epic on a personal Level
Review: This novel is the epic transformation of single family into many individuals. Kingsolver brillantly writes each chapter from a different character, sometimes muddling the chronological order of events, but purposely and artfully so. At the end of the novel one becomes so engrossed in the story of these characters that one feels inclined to pick up the pen and continue the story somehow, or perhaps rewrite the mistakes they made...
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Summary: You'll learn about Africa, America, and yourself.
Review: This is one of the great books of our generation. It can be read quickly like a Grisham novel, but I guarantee that a thoughtful read will challenge your beliefs. I have taught junior high Social Studies for many years, but Barbara Kinsolving has managed to make me rethink a lot of what I took for granted in this brilliant novel. The story begins slowly, but stay with it, because the payoff is incredible. An evangelical minister takes his wife and four daughters to central Africa for one year. Political events cause the family to stay much longer. The book can be a page turner if that's all you're looking for...but if you read it carefully, you'll learn a lot about Africa, about America, and about yourself. TATA JESUS IS BANGALA! I can see the handsome face of the young Nathan Price shouting his faith in the voice of Charleston Heston, and the old Nathan still believeing and not understanding why he was unable to communicate his stern fundimentalist god to the people of the Congo. I will lend my copy to many friends. After that, it will hold an honored place on my bookshelf. Mike Dowling
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Summary: a superbly written book
Review: The Poisonwood Bible the superbly written book by Barbara Kingsolver is one of the best books I have read in years. Nathan Price has dreamed of going to Africa as a missionary for years and willingly has his wife and four daughters accompany him despite the risks. The book is told in five distinct voices, that of his wife and four daughters. The reader begins to know and care deeply about each child. Each is profoundly affected by Nathan and her own experience of Africa. They are faced with dangers as venomous serpents, drought, and army ants. Africa for ever alters each family member and this dysfunctional family will be forever changed. The lessons learned while coming of age in the midst of revolution are significantly different than those for middle class America. Love and beauty for each of the surviving sisters has a different meaning. This is a wonderful book crafted by an excellent author. I expected it will be required reading for years to come. It is not for everyone. I have lent it out only to have it returned unread. So considered your likes in reading material. It is lengthy. The second half of the book moves at a slower pace than the first. There are those who may disapprove of even the faintest criticism of the religious.
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Summary: Reader
Review: I have been disappointed with Oprah Book Club choices in the past. I was not disappointed with this book. I read this novel after returning from a research trip in Kenya. The historical references are fascinating and are able to give the reader a historical perspective on how Africa as a continent was and still is suffering. Many of the problems the characters experience are still true 40 years later.
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