Rating: 
Summary: An Enlightening Book
Review: When my mother first recommended this book to me I didn't even want to look at it. But from the moment I picked it up I was intrigued. Not that there was anything particularly interesting about the first chapter, but there is something about the language that is gripping. Maybe because it seems so personal, I don't know. But this book was such an excellent read I chose it for my Independant Study Unit ( Although finding secondary sources i.e. essays, were impossible to find)
Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely Wonderful
Review: I was assigned this book to read while I was a sophomore in college. It was the Fall of 1990 and the class was "Landscape and Literature". (And the professor was Martha Ackman, and she was great!) It was an interesting class, but I really enjoyed the reading material. At this point, Bean Trees had been around for a couple of years, but I had never heard of it, nor had I heard of Barbara Kingsolver. This novel was so absorbing, I didn't feel it was an assignment at all. I spent a great, warm October weekend sitting on my parents porch and reading this book. I also think that this book has one of the best opening paragraphs in contemporary fiction. I won't give it away, but do yourself a favor and look for it at any bookstore. This novel is funny, sad, and touching. It was my introduction to Kingsolver, and I am glad I got a head start on her before many others did. This is a book that you'll ant to hold onto, to give to friends, to discuss... Taylor Greer is one of the most engaging heroines in literature, and her unconventional story is infused with a real contemporary feel. What does that mean? I just mean that Kingsolver disucsses issues and people that many authors don't in popular american fiction (native american issues, central american politics, refugees, mixed marriages and Protestantism and catholicism all merge in one novel), and as a result, Kingsolver holds up a mirror of our world where we can see ourselves and society much clearer than before. I know that I sure did. Ten years later, I still can remember this book so vividly, it's never left me.
Rating:
Summary: Absorbing and fun read
Review: This is one of the best books I've read in years. The characters are believable and endearing, there is plenty of action, and the ending satisfies. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: I am a frastrated parent
Review: My son is a junior and he had to read this book in his English class. He hated it so much that he could not make himself open it. I could not find an audio cassette for him so I ended up reading it for him every night (so that he does not fail). I have to tell you that I am a book lover. I cannot fall asleep without a book in my hands. But I hate this book too! First of all, the poor language. I don't know what kind of English kids can learn reading it. It's a language of poorly educated americans. The contents are not very exciting either. Bad choice!
Rating:
Summary: Who takes abandoned Native American children in?
Review: Taylor Greer is a small town girl trying to get away from it all. The Bean Trees is about her journey away from home, and the people she meets and befriends along the way. I liked the Bean Trees because it was a good realistic view on how people live their lives. It had things out of a real person's life: loss, gain, problems, and resolutions. It also had enough going on so that I wasn't bored and waiting for things to happen. I found the story line to be similar to the Adam Sandler movie "Big Daddy". A kid gets dropped off to a free spirited type of person and is expected to take care of the child, then they end up falling in love with the child, and don't want to give them up. The difference is that Taylor is a female, and it takes place in the southwest and not New York. I like the fact that Taylor is a strong willed woman. I think that is what makes her really intersting and fun to follow. This book is good for any independant woman with a free spirit.
Rating: 
Summary: The Bean Trees
Review: Taylor Greer encounters many obstacles in her journey headed to nowhere. She leaves her hometown looking to start a new, when a lady puts a child in the front seat of her Volkswagen and walks off. Taylor has no choice, but to take care of the child at least for a little while. But Taylor ends up loving the child more and more each day. Along her journey she meets many interesting people; Maggie- a woman that fixes cars for a living , Lou Ann- an overprotective mother and Mrs. Parsons- an old, blind woman that babysits small children. Taylor picks up a few jobs here and there, until she meets Lou Ann and moves in with her. Taylor's mission in this book is to find the child's relative's, but she never does. That's why I gave it two stars. I don't really like how the book ends, because it leaves you wondering. This book is slow paced and easy to read, if your looking for something simple it's nice.
Rating:
Summary: A Good Book
Review: Looking for a summer beach book? Look no more. Kingsolvers' The Bean Trees is an easy book to read, but with a great theme. Kingsolver makes the point that family is the most important thing in your life and your family is the people who love and care for you. Though most of the characters are likeable, the book has an almost to perfect and happy ending. (But that all changes in the sequel, Pigs In Heaven) The Bean Trees is not the Kingsolves' best book (see the Posinwood Bible). But is certianly flows and Kingsolvers' poetic wrighting makes this a great book, one you'll want to read again.
Rating:
Summary: A great novel by Kingsolver
Review: This book was very interesting. It constantly brings up the death-rebirth-life cycle, and reminds the reader that one cannot grow up without someone to care for. It was interesting because the unexpected seemed to happen. I don't really want to tell more to give it away, but it was an excellent book. I had to read this for my English II Honors class at my school, and some students, didn't like it, mostly because they dislike books that they are pretty much 'forced' to read. But if you were to just say 'I'm going to read a book to day' out of the blue, pick this one, it's relatively short, I read it in a few hours, and it's satisfying to the mind.
Rating:
Summary: This book was as mediocre as my efforts in school
Review: This book belongs in the fireplace of Mr. Beaty. Though no flames come out, it's the thought that matters. This book is horrid. It lacks literary value. Any hidden meanings must have been merely coincidental, considering the probable intellect of the author. It's rather unfortunate that it somehow worked its way into the curriculum of some schools. It's sad to think that impressionable students are forced into reading and assessing this book by people that probably thought it was wonderful. I highly anti-suggest this book.
Rating:
Summary: Worst Book Ever
Review: This book is the worst ever, next to "Jimmy James: Macho Business Donkey Wrestler,"(translated to Japanese and back again). The Bean Trees is a disturbing look at the daily life of poor southern people. It paints the perfect picture of the stereotype of the urban hillbilly. This fades away when the main character decides to leave for a new life, she changes her name, is handed a baby, and makes fun of native americans and old sick people. When she finally arrives in New Mexico, the feminist side of the book begins to shine. Taylor houses with a woman who compared her ex-husband's amputed leg to the male genetalia(I think you know what I mean). During her stay, the next-door neighbor, an old woman stuck in her ways, makes fun of illegal immigrants. Nice lady, really she was. Anyway Taylor wants to have an affair and they all end up going someplace, I won't tell you where, but it ends poorly and is not nearly brought together like it could have been. My advice is to read the cliff-notes version so you will know all the main points and you won't have to take the test in Barnhardt's class.
|
