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andrea_marie3's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
guppyur's review against another edition
3.0
Let's get this out of the way upfront: this book isn't going to be to everyone's taste, and that's okay. Prodigal Summer is three intertwining stories in one, with three primary characters. Chapters are told from each of their perspectives, more or less alternately; they all take place in the same area and sometimes affect each other, but interactions between stories are strictly on the fringes.
This is not a book with a complex narrative. It concerns rural Zebulon County, which according to Wikipedia doesn't actually exist -- that's okay, it's a stand-in for rural farming counties all over -- and families who live in it, and their relationships with nature and with each other. The three perspectives belong to Deanna, a wildlife-loving park steward; Lusa, a city girl who married into a farming family before the narrative opens; and Garnett, a cantankerous old man in an ongoing row with his neighbor. My favorite was Lusa, my least favorite Deanna; I'm sorry to say my interest in Deanna never did grow much. The others I enjoyed steadily.
It's so difficult to know where to begin describing Prodigal Summer. It's about families, writ small, and ecology, writ large. The stories are simple, but affecting. The prose is thoroughly Kingsolver, richly written; one earlier reviewer described it as "a book to feel," and I think that's a perfect description. The cover art is perfectly suited: this is a novel about abundant, exuberant life.
This is not a book with a complex narrative. It concerns rural Zebulon County, which according to Wikipedia doesn't actually exist -- that's okay, it's a stand-in for rural farming counties all over -- and families who live in it, and their relationships with nature and with each other. The three perspectives belong to Deanna, a wildlife-loving park steward; Lusa, a city girl who married into a farming family before the narrative opens; and Garnett, a cantankerous old man in an ongoing row with his neighbor. My favorite was Lusa, my least favorite Deanna; I'm sorry to say my interest in Deanna never did grow much. The others I enjoyed steadily.
It's so difficult to know where to begin describing Prodigal Summer. It's about families, writ small, and ecology, writ large. The stories are simple, but affecting. The prose is thoroughly Kingsolver, richly written; one earlier reviewer described it as "a book to feel," and I think that's a perfect description. The cover art is perfectly suited: this is a novel about abundant, exuberant life.
elizabethng2's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
drusmilford's review against another edition
2.0
Takes place in Appalachia. LOTS of description of flora and wildlife. Wished it was more exciting.
botanigal's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
littlefish13's review against another edition
5.0
Barbara Kingsolver is such a magnificent storyteller. I'm always struck by how easy it is to believe her characters and really become a part of the story. I didn't love the ending, but I think that has as much to do with the fact that I just didn't want the story to end.
slymberis's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
ohsovalentine's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Once again Kingsolver hits it out of the park and I need to prep for a book coma! 3 distinct love-ish stories that come together magically but leave room for you to finish the tale of coupling, family and growth. Oh, and you'll learn a lot about flora & fauna while you're at it!
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Pregnancy
tanzipanzi's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and that surprised me. I’m not one to enjoy literary novels, and I have to admit this took me a really long time to get through but I’m glad I persisted (I’m talking like 8 months of “reading” it, but when the timing is right it’s a book you don’t want to put down). If you let the words sit with you and can stay focused enough to be absorbed by the story, you’ll be rewarded with a descriptive and cleverly written interwoven accounts of three families living in Appalachia. The connection to nature and the metaphorical language is poetic and beautiful without being overly unattainable for the average person, and quite frankly, it’s hot.
This was recommended to me by a friend who described it as the sexiest thing she’s ever read even though it’s only describing nature, and that was enough to pique my interest. I’d recommend reading it and letting yourself get full absorbed and transported to another life.
This was recommended to me by a friend who described it as the sexiest thing she’s ever read even though it’s only describing nature, and that was enough to pique my interest. I’d recommend reading it and letting yourself get full absorbed and transported to another life.