The Bean Trees : A Novel

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Summary: The world's introduction to Barbara Kingsolver
Review: The story of how Taylor Greer got her name has nearly passed into literary lore. Determined to get out of Kentucky without getting pregnant, Marietta Greer drives a decrepit heap of an old car due west, determined to rename herself after the town where the car stops, she coasts to a stop in Taylorville and thus became Taylor Greer. In short order, she is given a baby she names Turtle, makes it to Tucson, rents a house near Jesus Is Lord Used Tires, makes some interesting friends including a battered divorcee with a pissed-off ex and a little girl of her own, faces motherhood issues - and somehow does it all with whimsical humor.
The Bean Trees spawned an entity called Barbara Kingsolver, a gift to readers and other writers. Start with this one, and then read everything else she's written. She's a national institution.

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Summary: I am not quite sure what to think....
Review: After reading some fairly difficult novels of late, something light was exactly what I needed. And light was what I got with this book. This is the sort of novel that takes no more than two hours to read, and once you finish it, it will probably be cast totally from your reading memory. It is nothing highly special or new, yet it is a fun and attention capturing read, but hardly material you would think to return to. It reminded me of Oprah's now famous 'Where the Heart is', although I prefered this one significantly more. It, like Where the Heart, is the story of a Southern American women, highly uneducated, somewhat lumped with a child, travelling and eventually finding a place to call home. An educated man, driven from society takes both character's interest, with differed results of the success of the character's wooing abilities. I felt that where this novel was a success was the writing ability of the author, and the compassion that seeped into what could have been, a totally simplistic and stale story. Yet, Kingsolver, a writer with immense potential, made this story hugely heart warming, the characters naive, but innocently so, as opposed to annoyingly stupid. Perhaps a better book for young adult readers, but still interesting for the majority.

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Summary: Thoroughly enjoyable!
Review: Not sure what to expect from this book (I knew nothing about it), I was pleasantly surprised. Well-written, like Jackson McCrae's THE BARK OF THE DOGWOOD and yet earthy like Steinbeck's EAST OF EDEN, this first novel by Kingsolver came highly recommended by a friend of mine whose book club read it. I won't go into the story here as others have done that already, but suffice it to say that you won't be disappointed in this tale. It wasn't that fast-moving at first, but it picked up steam as I read and by the end I was thoroughly hooked!

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Summary: The Bean Trees
Review: I had to read this book for a school assignment and at first didn't care to much for it. But Barbara Kingsolver really shows as one of the best. The plot is about a young woman by the name of Marietta. She doesn't like life in her hometown of Pittman, Kentucky. So she buys a car and heads west for a new life. She changes her name to Taylor and hopes for a great start, but as soon as she gets going she runs into to trouble. Taylor is given a baby girl who she names Turtle. All Taylor knows about Turtle is that no one cares about her and she had been abused. Taylor then takes on a life filled with many ups and downs. This book is full of vivid and clearly made characters that are so human that they will pull you in their world. This book becomes very attaching and gets very hard to put down. Once you get in to this book, you won't stop until it is over. And when it is over it leaves you imagination wondering for answers. Barbara Kingsolver had the perfect recipe for creating this book and it shows throughout the entire novel.

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Summary: Like a kind friend smiling at you.
Review: I was moving from Tucson to Buffalo, perched in a Pennsylvania motel, when I "found" Barbara Kingsolver on a Public TV program about her. Friends couldn't understand why I hadn't already discovered the loving quality of her writing, but I'm hooked now. Last weekend I had to do some travelling, so took along "Bean Trees" for the flights. I laughed and laughed and rolled my eyes and just marvelled at her gentle, but probing, irony, her insight into those large and little cruelties that all of us share in life, and her straight-on, look-you-in-the-eye attitude about just how you have to deal with the next day. This is an easy read but is in no way a small book. I was there with Taylor in Oklahoma, I wept for her for the burden of the abandoned child that she so lovingly accepted, I wanted to meet Mattie right then(!), and I missed the desert that I loved, just because she reminded me of its power just as if she'd been talking next to me. If you don't know, or aren't sure about Kingsolver, borrow a copy of her "Animal Dreams". Read the two pages that make up the chapter "The Flood". You'll know.

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Summary: The Bean Trees
Review: This was a great book, although it's not my favorite. The main character is Taylor Greer, who has lived her whole life in Kentucky with her mom. Determined not to get pregnant like some other people she knows, she leaves Kentucky to travel as far as her car will take her. On the way, she meets an Indian woman who unexpectedly gives her a child whose past was filled with horrible events for someone as young as her. Taylor becomes attatched to this toddler, whom she names Turtle, but must rise to the challenge of parenthood. Accompanied on her journey by charming and loving friends, Talyor watches Turtle grow older, alerting Taylor to the situation of legal adoption if she wants to keep Turtle. This story is a touching one of friendship, determination, and unconditional love. The thing that is most memorable about this book, though, is it's many philosophical ideas that Taylor receives from other characters in the story. For example, one character tells Taylor, "Whatever you want the most,it's going to be the worst thing for you." Kingsolver has cleverly interwined deep ideas to create a more meaningful story. This book is a good read for a rainy day if you have a few hours. If you are interested in this story, there is also a companion book to it called Pigs in Heaven, also a very good book.

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Summary: okay i suppose
Review: I could hardly get through it. Though the story is ok, it takes too long to tell. The author also seems to have some sort of obsession with phallic structures. She uses them to describe things that shouldn't be described with them. Actually, the only reason I remember any of it is because of these stupid descriptions. Wow, I don't think that this book is worth reading at all.

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Summary: An Exciting Read
Review: Unique in that the narrator and heroine, Taylor/Marietta isn't the typical flawed protagonist who learns self-confidence by getting a makeover or landing her dream man. In this book, Taylor already has a self-confidence that borders on cockiness and is full of spunk. She's a sweet, straight-talking narrator the reader grows to love. Her frankness is something readers will aspire to. Taylor travels to Tucson, takes charge of a young Native American girl, befriends and encourages an insecure new mother named Lou Ann, and meets Estevan and Esperanza, a couple from Guatamala living illegally in the states. The novel has a feminist slant, and is empowering that way. I got a bit bored with the subplot featuring Estevan and Esperanza, but for the most part was captivated. Told in the voice of Taylor, the novel is humorous and uplifting. The conversations are realistic and familiar, very real. Brimming with advice and inspiration.

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Summary: A RIOT of a book!
Review: the way words are used.... AMAZING! The thunderstorm sent shivers up my spine!

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Summary: An exceptional read.
Review: "The Bean Trees" by Barbara Kingsolver is a story of determination, love, motherhood and responsibility. In this truly touching and uplifting story of exploration and growth, a wayward spirit finds her path, and learns to live and let live. Although at first I was skeptical as to the subject of the story, thinking it was just another girly book, I came to very much enjoy the way in which this book was written, with deeper meaning around every corner and description in that down-to -earth, no-nonsense manner that really made me pay attention. The female-empowerment tone to this book makes it an even more attractive read to women, and talks the reader through difficult, shocking and amazing challenges.
Not content with her life in Pittman County, a small town in Kentucky, fiery Marietta Greer breaks free from those low expectations and travels away from home looking for herself,not knowing where she is going or when she will get there. Her somewhat slow start to life swiftly accelerates as she comes upon a baby girl, meets amazing people and forges her path in life. This marvelous novel's pace accelerates until it reaches a dramatic close, a close leaving me satisfied...but still wanting more. The pain of a small-town existence as well and the vastness of the world outside are expressed in harsh relief in this truly excellent book. Kingsolver's storytelling made my heart go out to little Turtle, my pity to Lou Ann, and my contempt to Angel. I really connected with these characters, as I, the reader fell into the story, submerged in the rich adventures, only able to extract myself at the climactic finish. This book is also a harsh exposure to the horrors of immigration. I found myself horrified by the depth of abuse Esperanza and Esteven endure, as I connected with such dynamic characters as Mattie. As I read this book, I found myself questioning my morals the whole way, my eyes opening to a bigger scheme of things, a place where beans grow on trees and tire shops are named Jesus Is Lord.
"The Bean Trees" is so choc-full of emotion it will leave you dizzy as you are caught up in the whirlwind of life that is Miss Taylor Greer's.
I recommend this book very much; it is a captivating and interesting read, a joy to experience.