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Summary: A book of man's hidden sins
Review: While reading, "The Poisonwood Bible" I became even more aware of the faults and prejudices of Man. America's influence on the world in the 1950's and the result that took place in the Congo was mind-boggling. As a 17-year old High School student i recommend this book for all ages.
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Summary: A Engaging Parable for a Real Problem
Review: I have read all of Barbara Kingsolver's novels and, in my opinion, this one is her best. Five different female perspectives are given of a family's Baptist missionary conquest in the Belgian Congo. Their experience in a remote African village affects the characters, all in different ways, for the rest of their lives. Generally their accounts are dark and somewhat frightening but cleverly Kingsolver uses the voice of Rachel, the eldest daugther, to provide satirical comic relief. The Poisonwood Bible has been frequently criticized for evolving from a well developed and interesting story into a political diatribe. I thought, however, that perhaps Kingsolver was attempting to draw parallels between the actions of one man's religious mission and the intrusion of global superpowers in Africa. Both were manipulative, self serving, and had calamitous results. I believe Kingsolver's intention was to describe the effects of foreign interference on a small scale to illustrate what a disasterous impact western influence has upon Africa on a macro level. Kingsolver was able to combine a powerful fictious story and use it to help the reader understand the travesty of what much of Africa is presently enduring and why. The read is engaging and exciting while, at the same time, informative and enlightening.
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Summary: A rare piece of literature mixed with...
Review: The Poisonwood Bible raises Barbara Kingsolver's writings to a new level from her previous books, as she weaves a powerful story of a missionary family going to the Congo in 1960 with the trials of survival, a domineering and crazy father, and ultimately the realities of the United States in international politics. Finally Kingsolver even includes philosophy about the human presence on the earth and environmental politics. Yet all of this is done through a compelling story of the mother and four daughters, all affected in very different ways through their experience in Africa 'of old' and Africa after 'independence'. This is a MUST READ for individuals who like a good story woven with history in a sensitive way. The story never suffers for the history, philosophy, or environmental aspects. But I came away thinking very seriously about each of these.
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Summary: Kingsolver has outdone herself!
Review: "The Poisonwood Bible" is a powerful and moving novel. It explores the depths of the problems that Africa has faced and is still facing. Kingsolver has written a very different novel here than her others, and yet what makes it different is what makes it so good. This novel is powerful on many levels. The narration is shared by the women of the Price family, each with their very different voice and take on life. While this book has its emotionally difficult moments, I believe that the overall message of hope and redemption makes it all worth it. I would recommend this novel to anyone with an open mind who is willing to be taken on one families journey through the heart of Africa.
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Summary: Beautifully and thoughtfully written
Review: While on a larger scale, this book was about the independence of the Belgian Congo, at its heart, it pleads for the independence of the human spirit. It is all about rising above oppressors, be they real or imagined, alive or dead. The author is able to portray, in vivid detail, how each person in this book is able to cope with their individual demons in their own unique way. The style of writing was risky, in my opinion, but fit so well with the characters in this story. For example, we never see things from Nathan's perspective, but of course this story is not about him but the effect he had on others. Also, Kingsolver is able to narrate for each of the characters so exquisitely, not by which words she uses, but the way she uses them. I also found it interesting that we were led through the story by Orleanna until the death of Ruth May, when we no longer hear her voice. This had a profound way of making the reader feel even more deeply for the personal struggles that character was dealing with after the death. Lastly, we also do not hear from Ruth May again until the end, when the family seems to have made some sort of peace with her death. This novel was incredibly moving, with beautiful and horrifying descriptions.
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Summary: Far Reaching
Review: Barbara Kingsolver's THE POISONWOOD BIBLE is a far reaching novel of epic proportions. Orleanna, Leah, Ruth May, Adah, and Rachel are all engaging characters. Kingsolver's research is apparently meticulous, and her prose is smooth. The one drawback to this novel, I felt, is the setting. Kingsolver seemed to focus so intensely on an accurate portrayal of the exotic locale that it was possible to forget the characters for a time, which is unfortunate. Overall, this is a tremendous read, although I wouldn't suggest trying to read it in one night -- it takes a bit more time to digest the implications of the situation Kingsolver examines with her stellar prose. I commend her for resisting the urge to lecture about hipocracy and religious and family values; her work is richer for it.
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Summary: An ambitious effort
Review: As an avid reader of Kingsolver's books I was already prepared to like the book. I was not prepared for the subject matter. I was the same age as one of the daughters in the novel and could relate to the times. My own church had missionaries in the Belgian Congo at that time and I could relate to the situation. I was completely captured by the rather unusual personalities of each main character. Ms. Kingsolver, as usual, left out the father as a speaker in the novel. I would like to read his thoughts. I was swept up in the action and absorbed in the descriptions. I no longer thought of my life as sparce. It is so completely rich after reading about what the girls had. It was an excellent read and my book club agreed.
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Summary: GOOD SOCIAL VALUE
Review: Definitely a good read. With all its faults of unevenness (first part better than second part; detachment from main characters; some faltering pace in narrative), I found this novel quite challenging and profound. It tackles certain problems with strength and passion, while dealing with others in a sensitive and thorough manner. The reader is kept thinking, assessing the context and the results of white-man tinkering in other's affairs - with all the longterm consequences we can easily see to this date. A book to enjoy and discuss in the evening...
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Summary: One of the best books I have ever read!
Review: I absolutely loved this book! Whenever anyone asks me if there's a book I recommend, this is the first one that comes to mind. The story is told from the perspective of a mother and her four daughters. The various perceptions that each had about same event was fascinating! It is the kind of book that you get wrapped up in! I felt like I had really gone through something when I'd finished:D
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Summary: NOT KINGSOLVER'S BEST WORK
Review: I have read most everything that Kingsolver has written and even got to see her in person and hear her lecture. She is a fascinating woman and I found her very real and enjoyable. I loved the first 2/3 of the Poisonwood Bible. I found the interaction of the family with the native peoples of the Congo compelling to read, and Kingsolver's descriptions were, as expected, very enlightening. I was disappointed in the ending of the book, however. I thought she could have given her characters more ability to rise above the trauma they had experienced in the Congo, make their way back to a meaningful return to modern life, and benefit from the experience rather than being so permanently scarred by it. I felt the characters ended the story long before Kingsolver did. I am once again sorry to see so many reviews published from magazine and newspaper editors that see each book as the author's best work and appear to be selling the book to their readers. The Poisonwood Bible, in my opinion, is definitely not Kingsolver's best work to date. I have found Kingsolver's other books to be fascinating and great reads but this one was way too long and the characters got buried in their struggles. Nonetheless, I will continue to read any short stories that she writes, since in these books she shines.
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