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Summary: The Circle of Life Completes
Review: In the Poisonwood Bible Barbara Kingsolver exemplifies the art of storytelling. Others writers write prose, Kingsolver writes life. When reading this, it is impossible to not feel for all of the characters; it is impossible not to identify with them. The book has been criticized for dragging on and covering too many years in too little time--this is nonsense. If Kingsolver did not continue the stories of these women, if she ended with their escaping Kilanga, the book would lack closure. Instead, she continues their journey and in many ways, the last parts of the book are the most compelling. It allows readers to see where these fascinating characters go and what they do. The circle of life completes--brilliant. One criticism, no room for a sequel!
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Summary: A wonderful book, so hard to put down
Review: I actually didn't want to read this book, I thought it was very religious related. And it was, but it was so GOOD. I started reading it and I could hardly put it down. It is like savoring a candybar, so delicious. This is a must, absoulutely have to read. It is a long book, but I found myself wanting more you get so involved with the people in this book. I am a Barbara Kingsolver fan for life now.
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Summary: This is an excellent book.
Review: The Poisonwood Bible is one of Oprah's better selections this year. It is the story of the Prices a white family running a church mission in the Congo during the early years of Congo's independence from Belgium. They experience poverty starvation, violence, and religious strife between black and white people. There are 4 sisters at the beginning of the who learn to assimilate to the culture and language in the Congo. Their mother is the victim of an abusive husband who doesn't care about his family. He only cares about preaching the word of God Thus the children are forced to learn to fend for themselves. This book is filled with African words that are enjoyable to learn. The lives and personalities of the sisters Leah, Rachel, and Adah are transformed after living in the Congo. The death of the youngest sister causes everyone to go their separate ways. All 3 sisters go on to have successful careers as a result of the work ethic they learned living in Congo. One sister becomes a teacher. One sister becomes a doctor. The other sister finds happiness in running a hotel. This book is impossible to put down.
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Summary: simply stunning
Review: what can I say? Kingsolver astounded me in this novel - poetry, history, growing up, all combined in one spellbounding book. This novel is a treasure - I read it for english class and couldn't put it down and when I had to review it I raved on for pages - I have read this book over and over and each time I find something else, another facet to the plot, nother way to understand it. Simply amazing....
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Summary: a page turner but.......
Review: When I started this book, I just couldn't put it down. The story was so interesting and the depiction of the Congo and the missionary family intrigued me. The author is truly poetic and weaves a wonderful story with beautiful imagery. I also thoroughly enjoyed the way she narrated the story, from the viewpoint of several characters (the mother and daughters). It helped keep the story moving and strong, plus you were able to really delve into understanding the characters more deeply. I have to agree with a few of the other reviewers, sometimes the narration was either shallow and annoying, or wierd and dark at times, but I believe that was the authors way of really showing character development. Some people are shallow and annoying, or dark and irritatingly artistic and deep...and a couple of these characters were at times. BUT, than I got to the last 1/4 of the book, and found myself skimming!!! I loved the beginning, how could that be? Kingsolver, just went on too far to tell the after effects of the Congo's experience on the girl's entire lives. It became a bit boring actually...quite a contrast to the start. I also have to agree with the other reviewers that mentioned the overuse of political narrative about Africa and it's history. It wasn't necessary and I found myself drudging through the last quarter of the book because of it. I am not a big fan of a lot of history in my fiction novels...sorry. All in all, I think it was a good read, and also quite deep and thought provoking, but watch out...the end may get too long for you too. It is still worth reading...I recommend it.
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Summary: A Very Powerful Book
Review: This was one of the most powerful books I've read so far. It's engrossing, thought-provoking, and covers a multitude of issues from faith to justice to guilt to redemption to what happened (and I'm assuming is still happening) in Africa... etc. etc. However, I found this book to be very depressing (maybe this is one reason it's so powerful), especially the last third of it. I also found the family a little dysfunctional (the father in particular) and not representative of a lot of people. For one thing, I found the fact that the mother and the oldest daughter didn't see each other for thirty-five years until the end of the book a little odd. Anyhow, it's a good read with wonderful prose, if you are willing to get depressed for a while.
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Summary: Instant Classic
Review: I only opened this book based on the recommendation of a trusted source. I was immediately hooked. Kingsolver is an amazing storyteller. The Poisonwood Bible is a gem.
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Summary: Fear and Dread
Review: I bought this book as part of a "book study" group at my church. It was not my idea, but I went along. And since I paid an astronnomical price for it, my Depression mentality required that I read it anyway. What a mistake. My background has colored and biased my views towards the book, the author and each of the principal characters, Especially Nathan Price. I have cousins and Baptists at that, who went off as missionaries to darkest Indonesia during this same time frame, late 1950's and were they ever a bunch of screw-ups like Nathan. Of all the "off-brand" religious dimwittery to foist off on people, the SOuthern Baptist brand has got to be the antithesis of that which is good about the United States, then or now. The damage these people did to the host peoples and to the United States is probably incalculable. But what is done, is done. We may hope to make amends either here or in the next existence, but amends must be made. I was born and reared in the Deep South and have the requisite Confederate ancestors and accent. I must say that this is a terrible book. It exposes too much truth. I am reminded of William Faulkner for he always "talked out of school" in much the same way that Kingsolver does in the "Poisonwood Bible". The title is certainly appropriate. Read this work, if you must, but do not say I did not warn you.
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Summary: Excellent!
Review: A very well done novel! Both engaging and informative. Kingsolver takes the reader on a journey into the Congo of old via a missionary family whose patriarch is determined to bring Christianity to a people whose belief system expands beyond the confines of that doctrine. His determination to deliver the word of the bible to the people of the Congo results in the total destruction of his family. The novel is revealed through the voice each family member. The characters' evolution is dynamic, realistic and certainly indicative of the skills of a talented writer. Kingsolver intertwines political, cultural, biblical, and historical information in a manner that educates as wells as enlightens. She deserves kudos for challenging the universal applicability of Christianity and examining the virtues of belief systems that sustains its people however non-Christian the beliefs may be. The Poisonwood Bible contains powerful symbolism delivered in prose that is both concise and colorfully descriptive. An excellent novel that deserves all the exposure it can get. Enjoy!
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Summary: The Poisonwood Bible
Review: Fantastic! Once I started it I couldn't put it down. A great description of life in the Congo and, at the same time, great insights on people's minds and reactions to events. Not boring at all!
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