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elizapease's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Really a masterpiece. This book transfixed me from beginning to end. I felt the entire time as though I was in the Congo with the Price family, enduring their fathers abuse, their mothers neglect, and sisterly in-fighting. Kingsolver’s use of prose is phenomenal. Each character is rich and dynamic. They feel SO real. Kingsolver masterfully develops the Price family throughout the novel, creating an epic that spans decades, continents, and planes of existence.
I was especially impressed by how ahead of its time this book was - considering it was written in the 80’s, it’s commentary on capitalism, nationalism, communism, and the treatment of Africa by the United States is quite searing and insightful. Kingsolver writes with such incredible empathy about people from all walks of life.
Be warned: this is not an easy read, in content or difficulty. But it is so so worth it. Breathtaking. This book will stick with me forever.
I was especially impressed by how ahead of its time this book was - considering it was written in the 80’s, it’s commentary on capitalism, nationalism, communism, and the treatment of Africa by the United States is quite searing and insightful. Kingsolver writes with such incredible empathy about people from all walks of life.
Be warned: this is not an easy read, in content or difficulty. But it is so so worth it. Breathtaking. This book will stick with me forever.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Terminal illness, Child abuse, Religious bigotry, War, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Grief, Emotional abuse, Colonisation, and Death
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