Pigs in Heaven

Rating:
Summary: A boring and depressing book
Review: Pigs in Heaven, a novel by Barbara Kingsolver, is a dramatic story of a family's stuggle for one child. The struggle revolves around Turtle, a Cherokee girl, who has been adopted by a white woman. When Turtle witnesses an accident on vacation, she reports it with her mother. Fame follows soon after her story is confirmed true. This fame leads us to the noble Annawake Fourkiller, who feels she has proof to prove that Turtle has been adopted illegally. Unfortunately, it is this consistent politically correct theme that got on my nerves. It took away from the true struggle of a the girl's identity and her family. Instead of bringing the Cherokee Nation and the girl together, it seems that Turtle just floats farther and farther away from the plot. And while I gained insight on this transcultural adoption fight, I felt emotionally drained by the end. Somewhere in the middle of the book, I concluded the ending. While the ending brought everyone together, I felt it was a big let down. This is a good book if you feel like reading a depressing book.

Rating:
Summary: Two words "Soap Opera"
Review: I will commend Ms. Kingsolver for being a talented writer but this is novel. did not show her talent at all. For example, Taylor just finds Turtle in her car plus, the Child Welfare Department makes up fake adoption papers to boot. Next, Alice walks out on her husband without even telling him where she is going or what she is doing. Lastly, the characters are one-dimensional. The reader doesn't really get to actually analyze the inner feelings of the character. The first unbelieveable plot twist is that Taylor just found Turtle in the car. Is this reminiscent of a soap opera or what? Then, the Child Welfare Department puts its neck on the line and makes up fake adoption papers. There are not many people which will put their necks on the line for an utter stranger. Second, Alice just wakes up one morning and decides to leave her husband. She just walks out and meets Taylor in Las Vegas. Unbelieveably, she has enough money to fly all the way there and some left over to give to Taylor when Kingsolver makes it seem like Alice is poor. The pieces fall too easy for my tastes. She has money to fly there and give $1200.00 to Taylor plus, enough money left over to be able to go to her cousin Sugar's house. Lastly, Kingsolver really doesn't develop the characters enough. For example, the reader really doesn't gain any insight to the real Taylor. There is more to a mother than her love for her daughter. I didn't really like this book due to the pieces falling together too easily and everyone being related to each other. I would recommend this book to anyone who is a great fan of shows like "Another World" and " Sunset Beach."

Rating:
Summary: Well developed, yet unrealistic characters
Review: Although Kingsolver's Pigs in Heaven is a brilliant combination of humorous dialogue and actions, the characters are unrealistic. During the short time the characters are introduced to the reader, not one has to face the consequences of spontaneous actions. For instance, as the book opens, Alice decides to walk out on her husband Harland who is briefly introduced, then never heard from or about again. If life could only be so simple. In addition to being unrealistic about consequences, some characters were also underdeveloped. As soon as the reader becomes interested in the character and individual conflict, the plot shifts to a different focus or problem. For example, Kingsolver wonderfully grasps the reader's attention with the unusual, yet interesting character of Barbie, then abruptly moves on to another scene after she mysteriously disappears and is never heard from again. While switching from conflict to conflict, and character to character it's easy for the reader to loose interest in the various sub-plots. However, Kingsolver kept the reader's interest with the unusual qualities and natures of her characters. A prime example of an unusual character is Barbie, a young woman who dresses like, acts like, and even legally changed her name to resemble the children's toy Barbie. Though strongly resembeling a soap opera, this novel undoubtedly tugs at the reader's heart with the undying love exemplified between friends and family. In particular, Taylor, a young mother, found and kept a Cherokee baby who she proceed to build a family and life around. After finding the baby, Taylor is forced to learn love on two seperate levels. The first level of love is motherly, where she learns to care for and nourish Turtle. On a second level, Taylor and Turtle together have to learn about tribal devotion to the Cherokee Nation. Through this love Kingsolver perfectly captures the underlying theme and moral lesson of the novel, "Do right by your people or you'll be a pig in heaven."

Rating:
Summary: Great book, humorus yet serious...
Review: Barbara Kingsolver's book, Pigs in Heaven, is a view of life and the curve balls that life throws at us. Her storytelling reveals that a simple act of good will and good-nature can lead to devastation. It is the story of a custody battle between a single woman and the Cherokee nation. The story is well written, and adds a good amount of humor into an otherwise touchy and serious issue. Kingsolver's writing style gives the reader a great deal of information about the characters, unearthing personal conflicts, desires, stresses and more. However, some of the decisions and actions of the characters made them seem unreal at times. Many times Taylor's decisions seemed illogical and quite frankly, dumb, and take away from the interest of the story. These dumb decisions occasionally remind the reader that it is a story, and therefore prevent the reader from truly getting buried in the story. Turtle's character really made the reader feel like they were living her dilemma. At many times I felt as if I was experiencing Turtle's fears, her thoughts, and her words. Jax was a unique character. For a person to be truly at such peace with life that he can look upon any situation, grave or not, and make a joke or humorous anecdote from that situation, is quite a talent. His witty nature and his ability to calm any situation paid off several times throughout the story. But his incident with his landlord only emphasized the point that Jax is human, and he does make mistakes. Annawake is the most annoying character. She is irritating and I have developed true anger towards her. The fact that she is using Turtle's case to soothe her personal vendettas outrages me, and quite frankly, I feel that, if for no other reason than that, Taylor should have won the battle for Turtle. Annawake was after Turtle solely to avenge the adoption of her brother, and not because she wanted to help the Nation. However, the mention of unbelievable and truly fictional characters brings one specific character to mind. Enter Barbie. There are many eccentric people in the world, and even a few who seem too strange to believe, but this character, who molds and shapes her every action to conform those of the doll of the same name, are just too hard to believe. Her character seemed just as fake as the doll, making the reader wonder why and how Kingsolver concocted such a character. But, despite these few imperfections, Pigs in Heaven is fantastic reading. Its revelations about the Cherokee Nation and the true problem of invalid adoptions are fascinating. At the same time, the excitement and liveliness of the characters and their individual stories make the book almost come alive, keeping the reader both engrossed and entertained. I would definitely recommend this book to most readers who like a good story to curl up with when there is nothing else to do.

Rating:
Summary: A ghetto book about nothing
Review: Pigs in Heaven, by Barbara Kingsolver iz uh book dat will keep its readers attention throughout da story. Each character in da book possesses very unique an' unusual characteristics. dis here allows fo' an interesting story dat keeps ya reading. Kingsolver used her writing talents ta create characters dat gots uh great influence over its readers. When reading dis here book ah felt dat ah could relate wiff da thoughts an' actions o' certain characters. Thus, dis here book improves da way its readers th'o't o' themselves an' o' da peeps around dem. ah also enjoyed reading Pigs in Heaven cuz it allows da reader ta gain an understanding an' appreciation o' da Cherokee Nation in Heaven, Oklahoma. Kingsolver explicitly describes da history an' culture o' da Cherokee tribe in great detail. da reader iz introduced ta certain members o' da tribe an' traditional events such as hog fries an' stomp dances. Thus, he/she has uh sense o' feeling "included' within da Cherokee tribe an' they customs. Pigs in Heaven deals wiff da theme o' interconnectedness an' how one event can create uh chain o' different events. Each one o' deez events can significantly effect da lives o' many individuals. However ah feel dat dis here theme iz over exaggerated ta da point where da story line actually seems unrealistic. Aside from dis here, da book iz very interesting an' ah would strongly recommend dat it be read. fo' as ya read further into da book ya'll notice dat Kingsolver attempts ta convey important messages while resolving da books conflicts. An example o' dis here iz dat in order ta live uh life o' happiness ya mus' put da negative aspects o' yo' past behind ya. Overall, Pigs in Heaven consists o' important lessons ta be learned, an' it contains valuable components dat iz forever placed in da minds o' its readers.

Rating:
Summary: Not too shabby or rich.
Review: Pigs In Heaven is a plain book that contains a few themes rooted throughout the book. I found this book to be dull at times, however informative at other times. Sometimes, this book is dull and boring. However, it is interesting in how it incorporates some human emotion into the book that also explains the reasoning behind the actions that characters take. I did not appreciate the method that this book introduces various characters as the mood from chapter to chapter would shift. After reading some of the book, the mood from chapter to chapter became somewhat ignored as I tried to find something interesting between those dull chapters. Although I found this book to be quite interesting at times, I was amazed at how beautifully written the book was to incorporate all the characters at the end. The ending to the book is very fairy-tale like as everyone was content with how everything was resolved. Overall this book was interesting to read, but dull at times. 3 star ending or 4 star ending? I would give it a 3. Is it worth reading? I would say yes, as this book is very well written although it lacks action at certain points. Concluding, this book has it's good points and bad points, and they even out.

Rating:
Summary: This book is long, but worthwhile to read.
Review: Rave Reviews go to Barbara Kingsolver's Pigs in Heaven. This book is truly one of the best books, that I have read in all of high school. Although the book has a slow start, after a few chapters, you want to know more. Taylor's relationships with her daughter, mother, and boyfriend are all interesting and unique in their own ways. They aren't the most typical relationships, but that is what makes Pigs in Heaven such a great book. It brings to mind a lot of questions about right and wrong. Should a child be raised by someone of their own culture and background or is it acceptable to be brought up with the love and care of a parent, who may not be of the same ethnicity? No one person can answer this. It is not spelled out in black and white. Reading this book made me think and I couldn't wait until I got to the end so I could find out what was going to happen to Turtle. In the end the answer is not completely defined, but gives you something to ponder. The way the characters are portrayed also impressed me. For example, the loneliness and inability to have successful relationships were traits clearly shown by Alice. Her marriage to Harland gives insight into her lifetime of love troubles. By the time I was finished reading, I had a feel for each of the character's personalities. Reading this book may take awhile so it would be in your best interest to pace yourself and take your time. Although the book is long, it is definitely worthwhile to read. I enjoyed reading it for its uniqueness and because it made me think. It is definitely more fun to read something that's challenging like this book, as opposed to something that's read just to get through it. Hope you enjoy the book.

Rating:
Summary: For most of the time the book was appealing.
Review: Some people have complete distaste for this novel. Some people believe that it is a masterpiece, the best book that they have ever read. Me, I'm in the middle, the book had its times where I couldn't put the book down especially when I found out what Barbie did to Taylor. I wanted to see how Taylor would survive with what she had left. How would she deal with this betrayal of trust? Yet, at the same time I wouldn't strongly recommend it. Although the novel had some interesting points it had just as many slow parts. Especially during the chase scene. It seemed to drag on a lot. I would recommend this book to someone who has a lot patience. I would not recommend this book to someone who tends to enjoy action pact thrillers.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting characters make up for sluggish plot
Review: Pigs in Heaven is one of those stories told through the individual experiences of several characters. Although this style really develops Kingsolver's characters that the reader eventually cares for, Pigs in Heaven's plot leaves a bit of sparkle to be desired. Taylor and Turtle's initial flight from the law provided honest entertainment for several chapters. However, their continual refusal to give in to logic and confront Annawake gets tiring. In addition, the complex plot web is miraculously solved in one action. While this certainly wrapped up the book s problems, for one single action to completely solve 300 pages of plot buildup is a bit too unrealistic. This book could easily have been half as short, or better yet, Kingsolver could have provided better action development. What Pigs in Heaven lacks in plot development, it makes up for through its characters. Kingsolver introduces and details each character in such a way that the reader cares for even the villain, Barbie. Each has their own conflicting agenda and motives, however, since the reader becomes attached to each character, the tension of the inevitable resolution is only heightened. By the end of the novel, the reader feels that the weak ending is the only one acceptable, simply because it appeases each character, as unrealistic as it may be.

Rating:
Summary: A book in which interconnectedness describes plot and theme
Review: In her modern classic, "Pigs In Heaven," Barbara Kingsolver brilliantly portrays interconnectedness through the combination of various subplots and distinct characters. Kingsolver's efforts to exhibit the unity and interconnectedness of life is evident within her story's plots, its characters, and their binding relationships. A prominent detail of the novel is Sugar Hornbuckle. Sugar is the common tie held by many of the characters throughout the story, and in the end, she plays a major role in Kingsolver's resolution. Essentially, Kingsolver's attempt to examine the unifying forces between human beings is exemplified in the similiarities and shared experiences of the characters, of which Sugar proves to be one. For this reason, it is crucial that the novel is well-developed, even to the point of being methodic. While many of its readers view the beginning as slow and boring, Kingsolver is aware of the need to carefully and thoroughly present her characters in order to accomplish her goals of interconnectedness. Thus, the first several chapters, in particular, seem difficult to enjoy due to extensive description. However, as the story progresses, the plot develops and different circumstances begin to intertwine. It is during this process in which the novel becomes increasingly interesting. Along with that, Kingsolver's ability to incorporate casual events and dialogue into the story creates a more realistic and intriguing book without compromising the outcome. Many scenarios are created, which do not have a long-lasting effect in the novel, but they do present reasonable possibilities that could have occurred. Such additions to the overall plot separates "Pigs In Heaven" from other works. Essentially, the conflicting interests between Taylor and Annawake, which drives the story, are based on the same aspirations; both of them want Turtle to live in a loving environment. The problem is simply their difference in opinions on which environment would be better: Taylor or the Cherokee Nation. In case of Annawake, she allows her background and pride to interfere with her judgment when she seeks the possibility of destroying the relationship between Taylor and Turtle. Meanwhile, Taylor feels that she deserves to have custody of Turtle and rightfully so. Indeed, this is an immense difference in opinion; however, it is a situation which binds them. Despite their battles against one another, Taylor and Annawake possess many of the same qualities, such as their tenacity and stubbornness to get what they want. Again, a certain unity exists between the characters. Through Kingsolver's character development, it is apparent that every character has a distinct personality; however, all of them, even Taylor and Annawake, have similiarities that brings them together in life. Furthermore, there is the universal issues involving love and relationships that all of the characters must face. Consequently, these issues are all resolved in the conclusion of this story, and contribute to the inevitable outcome of the novel. In every character's situation, a common theme connects his/her life to another in the story. As a result, Kingsolver successfully depicts her theme, and the reader has characters and challenges to which he/she can relate. Besides everything else, what distinguishes "Pigs In Heaven" from other literary works is its composition in terms of its narration and the period in which it was written. Kingsolver masterfully implicates her own philosophical commentaries through the plot and dialogue, especially through the use of symbolism. At the end of the chapter entitled "A More Perfect Union," Kingsolver portrays the situation involving Taylor, Turtle, and Annawake as a problem involving a stereo, an apricot tree, and birds. She writes "High overhead in the apricot branches the taped music has reached its end, and gone quiet. One by one the birds emerge from the desert and come back to claim their tree" (78). This foreshadows the events to follow. Also, "Pigs In Heaven" has a setting in recent years, which makes allusions to Oprah Winfrey, They Might Be Giants, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, familiar to everyone. To those who enjoy a good story, written with wit and intelligence, "Pigs In Heaven" should be familiar to them.