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Summary: Kingsolver Strikes Again--If You Give it Time
Review: Kingsolver's Poisonwood Bible may not be her best work, but if you hang in there for awhile, you'll find the same character development and character voice you loved in Animal Dreams. Kingsolver is fabulous at giving her characters a voice--remember Cody in Animal Dreams? Sorting out the many narrators and understanding their voice in Poisonwood takes awhile, but the journey is worth it. A friend of mine who has spent many years in Africa found each characters' reaction to the sometimes horrific events of the book to be real. With Africa and all that was happening when the book is set, you either groove into it and stay like Leah, are changed forever like Adah, pretend it never happened like Rachel and the mother, or you don't make it out alive, like little Ruth May and the tyrannical father. Although I find Kingsolver's politics obvious (and similar to my own), I think even the most conversative may find it gives them something to think about. Not bad for a piece of fiction.
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Summary: A lovely book
Review: After reading this book I have been thinking a lot about green mamba snakes, driver ants, malaria and all the other killer animals, insects and diseases that reside in Africa. This book made me thankful that I live in the land of twinkies and wonderbread.
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Summary: you need more stars...
Review: This was extraordinary work from Ms. Kingsolver.
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Summary: Great literature
Review: One hundred years from now, if high school students AREN'T reading Barbara Kingsolver in their American Lit classes, I'd be very surprised. This is the stuff of which great literature is made. Up until the last 1/4 - 1/3 of the book, I would have given this book 5 stars and rated it as one of the best books I've ever read. Once in the home stretch, however, the treatment became a little heavy-handed. Up to that point, the book was quite effective in delivering Kingsolver's message. All in all, this remains one of those books that leaves you feeling more enlightened for having read it. Bravo, Barbara Kingsolver!
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Summary: The Poisonwood Bible
Review: I can't say enough good things about this novel. It has become my all-time favorite book, and I read many, many books. The characters are engaging and fully developed, different and unique. The story is vast and microscopic. You laugh and cry in full empathy with the story tellers. Barbara Kingsolver has a truly wonderful voice and tells truly wonderful stories, this is her best. It is a novel that will stay with you forever, in your heart and mind. AND my husband loved it as much as I did.
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Summary: The Best I've Read in a Long Time
Review: I really liked this book. I was told by many people that thefirst 100 pages or so are boring but I should stick with it. I foundjust the opposite, the first 100 pages really sucked me into the book. The last 100 pages were boring but interesting... Despite that, I really loved this book. It held my interest and makes me want to visit Africa. I would however, make it a shorter, round trip visit!
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Summary: A well-executed and interesting novel.
Review: Ms. Kingsolver adeptly manages to convincingly narrate this story in five different voices, each with its own perspective. This alone is quite an accomplishment, but Ms. Kingsolver does not stop there. She has written a beautifully detailed story rich with history, geography and cultural detail. This is easily her best work so far.
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Summary: Gorgeous
Review: The best book I have read in years. Unlike a lot of other reviewers I found the early chapters a struggle but it really came alive in the latter half. I think this was because Kingsolver's writing style, while unrelentingly beautiful, takes a little getting used to after reading Stephen King. I found Leah's story particularly compelling. The whole thing really made me think about the world beyond the Western one. I finished it a week ago and I still can't put it out of my brain.
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Summary: A multi-voice book that allows you to be part of the family
Review: I picked up this book because the title intrigued me. The book speaks to the reader from the 5 voices of the mother and daughters. It is an amazing evolution that takes place. Each daughter view the Congo and the father in a completely different way. From embracing the experience to counting the days that they can return to the US. I find my self with conflicting views of the father who is heavy handed and dogmatic. I find my self siding with one of the daughters and eagerly wait for her to continue talking. It is like you become a part of this family and live the trials and few joys of their lives in the Congo.
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Summary: Fantastic
Review: What a good read! This book kept up an interesting plot while also remaining deeply satisfying in terms of literary QUALITY. Kingsolver's best work to date.
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