Rating: 
Summary: Thought-provoking Essays: Nature, Politics, the World
Review: They say "don't judge a book by it's cover" but I did & do not regret it because that's how I discovered this very unique and compelling book. Most of the stories are tremendously enjoyable: particularly the ones about the natural wonders the author has viewed, conserving the environment, and family stories. Rarely, the author feels the need to "lecture" us about world events and politics which makes the reader feel one has fallen for a "bait and switch" tactic. It is unfortunate but the very first story uses this technique to air personal politics. Entitled, "Small Wonder", it starts out about a lost baby in Iran, who is discovered the next day in a cave, being nursed by a she-bear. How that connects to the diatribe that follows about terrorism, 9-1-1, and politics, I am uncertain. Once one gets past the first story, the rest of the book is truly a work of art. Ms Kingsolver would be pleased that *her* book was prominently displayed at a major national bookstore & is the reason I found it. Her essay, "Marking a Passage" is a wonderful story recalling her experiences at an old bookstore, which catered to customers preferences & eccentricites, but which sadly closed forever. It is particularly nostalgic for her because that one bookseller, rcommended the author's first book to everyone who walked in the store. Some of her best "essays" are stories about 'real life' experiences, such as her daughter's chickens or her visit to Japan and the cultural barriers she overcame with wit and humility. Two stories which begin as "Letters", one to her daughter and one to her mother, are very effective and revealing - each has a universal message and appeal. Recollections of family life and descriptions of precious time together viewing the Grand Canyon, hunting, as only a bird-watcher can, to catch a glimpse of a "scarlet macaw" in Costa Rica, and setting a crab free on Sanibel Island in Florida are among my favorites in the book. Another masterpiece is the story, "A Forest's Last Stand" in which Mayan Indians in the Yucatan, near the city of Merida, learn to build an ecosystem that sustains the life of trees, along with sustaining the lives of the human beings who are the descendants of the original inhabitants of the region. Near the end, the author *again* feels she must jab the reader with her views on US politics within and outside our borders, in the story entitled "And Our Flag Was Still There". Ms Kingsolver would be better served, saving her opinions on imperialism, the Middle East, wars in Central America, and the Gulf War, the Bill of Rights, and her feelings about "the rockets red glare" for her next book. Unfortunately, in today's US climate, I do *not* think *that* book would be a bestseller. It is much easier to scatter opinions and controversial ideas in an essay format in a book which has the appearance to be about *anything* else *but* that, uch easier to take the unsuspecting reader unaware. The best features about this book are it is about the neighborhood, the country, and the world, from a natural, environmental, and family perspective. The reader does not have to agree with the author's politics to enjoy the majority of the book. Erika B. (erikab93)
Rating: 
Summary: Pretty but preachey
Review: The first time I read a Kingsolver novel I remember thinking, wow, here's a writer to watch. Her first novel had that special spark, and I could tell her next book would be even better. Then came Animal Dreams, and I remember being so moved at this astonishing story of flawed humans trying to love in the midst of an environment in peril--great stuff. In High Tide in Tucson, her ability to write accessible, heartfelt, fresh essays was encouraging. I rushed to buy Small Wonder, eager to see what she had to say now. Unfortunately, the essays on the natural world very quickly began to appear to be jumping off places for political statements. Sometimes parallel themes are a revealing way to explore a subject, but mostly I was left feeling that there was no cohesive thematic resolution to them. Kingsolver delivers poignant factual accounts of American society that are deeply unjust, and she is one brave writer who does not "look away." However, instead of illustrating that social change can come about in new ways, her words made me feel hopeless and guilty of crimes so entrenched in American society that they can't possibly be undone--by me or anyone else. I couldn't help thinking that the author lives a lifestyle most of us dream of, and that perhaps she might want to take that into consideration. Much as we'd like to, we can't all emulate her ways. Television to me is educational and entertainment, and hasn't ruined my intellect. Does a 99 cent hamburger ruin the environment and promote slave labor, or is it a cheap way to fill a child's belly when you work so much you have no time to cook? If buying a new car is an implied waste--hers is over ten years old and still runs fine--can she please tell me where she bought hers, so I can get the same model?!? I came away from these essays wondering where is the hope she "rages" for? Kingsolver on love, family, the natural world, and other cultures, is pure treasure. I want to understand her politics, but the book reminded me of a grade school teacher wagging her finger at students who make unforgivable mistakes sometimes out of ignorance, and sometimes because it's so difficult to live in this costly, complicated world. If we don't have the money to buy land on which to grow our own food, are we bad parents? I don't think so. Those of us who are single parents, work two jobs, well, we simply do the best we can. I wish she had more compassion for that aspect of society. Kingsolver claims to have begun Small Wonder on September 12, 2001. If the material steeped a while longer than eight months, would it have come across kinder? I'll read her again, but this book is clearly not up to her usual standards. Sorry.
Rating: 
Summary: A great book
Review: Loved the book, even though I only agree with 80 or 90 per cent of what she says. The book encourages me that maybe there is room in the media for someone who doesn't sound like a gap-toothed, knuckle-dragging flag waver. She does describe herself as a flag waver, by the way.
One customer critic complains that she found herself debating Kingsolver throughout the audio version, which is the one I "read." Isn't stimulating debate the purpose of an essay?
It seems that about two thirds of the critics here don't like what she says. Why then do they focus on denouncing her personally as radical, un-american, etc., instead of critiquing what she says?
Rating:
Summary: Another extraordinary book from Kingsolver
Review: If Barbara Kingsolver put out a new book every month, it still would not be enough for me. Still, it's probably a good thing she doesn't, or I'd never have time to read anything else! Her books have all been excellent, but those since (and including) The Poisonwood Bible are at a whole new level of depth and talent. This one continues that trend. Ms. Kingsolver speaks as though she's inside my head, thinking the same things I'm thinking, anguishing over the same things that I anguish over, finding joy in the same things I love. I feel like if someone wants to know what is inside my head, much of it could be told by their reading "Small Wonder" and also "Prodigal Summer." While she does present us with many problems, at the same time, if you look, she presents us with many solutions. Turn off the TV. (Really! You can still stay informed - these things we call books can educate you about nearly everything!) Grow your own produce, and support local farmers. If you've been driving cars that fall apart after ten years, then next time you buy a car, buy one that will last - preferably a gas-electric hybrid. Find a way to involve yourself in your community. As the saying goes, "Think globally; act locally." All is not without hope. The world needs more people like Barbara Kingsolver. I am a better person for reading her books.
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully Written Sanity
Review: Since the Twin Towers crumbled, very few have had the courage to stand up in the face of the Jingoistic, shallow patriotism and say, there is something terribly wrong here! Ms. Kingsolver, writing beautifully as always, manages to make hard fisted moral statements sound like poetry, but nonetheless she says some things that need to be said, and, most of all, need to be heard.Whether it is debunking the nonsense that it is wrong for other countries to attack the US, but fair and just for the US to attack them back, or telling the truth out loud about the US involvement in setting up the Taliban's power in the first place, she tells it truly from her heart, and she tells it right and well. She addresses many topics in this wonderful book of essays, from the death penalty to poetry, to dreadful television, and she manages each time to stand outside of the mainstream point of view and look objectively, and from that stance, to point out the absurdity, and to point out a saner direction. Ms. Kingsolver says peace not war, love not hate, sharing not profit, and these ideas are not new, just stated newly and beautifully at a time when they need so desparately to be heard.
This was a wonderful book and I wish everyone would read it and let it in.
Rating:
Summary: Eloquent and inspiring
Review: This book made me laugh, cry, and most of all think critically about issues on both a macro/global level as well as an individual/personal level. She is my favorite author but this stands out as one of her more impressive works. I found myself dog-earring pages I wanted to refer back to for inspiration and I had to stop because there were so many brilliant nuggets in the collection. i am amazed at her ability to articulate both the frightening aspects of where our world is headed as well as the sense of wonder and delight at nature - human nature and the natural environment. This is a must-read for anyone who cares about the future, regardless of your position on the political spectrum!
Rating: 
Summary: Somewhat lackluster for such a brilliant author
Review: I was eager to read _Small Wonder_ after immensely enjoying Kingsolver's previous book of essays, _High Tide in Tucson_, as well as just about everything else she's written. I was disappointed to find it much less engaging. Kingsolver generally uses a very deft approach to moral ambiguities, presenting the reader with the issues and then for the most part leaving us to draw our own conclusions. In this book, however, I felt I was being beaten over the head with her ideology. Never mind that I agree with her on most points; I still didn't appreciate having her opinions stuffed down my throat. It may be that our country's current dismal outlook on the political and environmental scenes are causing her to become more angry and shrill. If so, this seems like a better way to turn readers off than on. If she weren't one of my favorite writers, I would probably have given this 2 stars rather than 3.
Rating:
Summary: It was Good and it was Bad...
Review: I read a rather interesting essay in this book about a wild Bear that had nursed a child in a remote cave in a mountainous area in Iran.
I find it unfortunate that Ms. Kingsolver (and also the Editors), do not understand that the language of Iran is not "Arabic"... It was humorous that Ms. Kingsolver says inspite of her efforts, she was not able to determine the fate of the bear because she "can't read arabic". She would still have had great difficulty finding out about the bear, even if she was capable speaking that language!
Furthermore there is no such thing as "Lorena" province in Iran -- likely it is "Lorestan" that is being referred to here (again, indicative of poor editing) - There have been many derivative articles that have now propagated the errors in this essay, and refer to Lorestan as "Lorena", among other errors. While I agree with the spirit of her essay , I find it unfortunate that seemingly educated people use their ignorance to spread falsehoods and streotypes such as suggesting that the Lori's might have ultimately killed the bear. In any case, I saw an article on this incident, written by The Herald, which indicated that the bear was left alone and not "killed" by the Lori's, for it's crime of taking a human child as its own. The Lori's are a nature-loving people that have co-existed with their natural surroundings for centuries. The continuous demonization of Iranians in this country has become tiresome, not just to those like myself, but also to those who are not ethnic Iranians. It is tragic that America's most educated immigrant population gets treated like this, even by "reputable" people such as medical doctors, lawyers, employers, and in this case, authors and editors. In any case the official language of Iran is Persian (Parsi), which is of Indo-Iranian roots, unlike arabic which is Semetic. I thought this was fairly well known among the educated. Many people, including myself, would appreaciate it if this essay and its author and editors are corrected.
Rating:
Summary: Recommended, But Be Warned
Review: Having recently read High Tide in Tucson, Barbara Kingsolver's first book of essays, I was looking forward to Small Wonder. I plowed into it, intending to read it in one- or two-hour chunks, in a few days. Big mistake. The essays in Small Wonder are depressing and serious for the most part. It starts with thoughts on September 11, 2001, and revives the theme often. While we were all obsessed with those events for some time, it was a bit jarring to return to that obsession almost three years later. Not that it isn't relevant or that we aren't obsessing about our current crisis, the Iraq War and its consequences. And not that these things aren't obsession-worthy. It was just that after the mainly upbeat and diverse essays of High Tide in Tucson, I found these dark and troubling essays tough going. Don't get me wrong. I like Kingsolver's writing and I agree with nearly everything she says. I was just overwhelmed by the sadness and gravity of the subjects. I should have read the essays in shorter spurts. Instead I overdosed myself into a funk. Fortunately, a brisk walk to the nearby creek to check up on this spring's first batch of ducklings put things back into perspective. I highly recommend High Tide in Tucson, and I recommend Small Wonder with a warning -- read in in small doses.
Rating:
Summary: Touching and profound
Review: "Small Wonder" is an excellent collection of essays that are at once touching and profound. Some of them are so real and heart-felt that you'll find yourself in tears. Others are carefully crafted insight into the human condition. And there are something like twenty-three or so of them, so if one disappoints (which it won't), don't worry--there's more. Also recommended: Jackson McCrae's "The Bark of the Dogwood."
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