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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
slow-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
It was hard to get started with this book. I kept telling myself that Barbara Kingsolver never disappoints. About 150 pages in I finally became hooked. The story on the main character is just one of many stories intertwined in history that is relevant to today's times and events. Now I want to go read more Mexican history and more about Trotsky. Be patient with the book. It will take you to the place where human spirits soar.
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
took a little while to get into, but loved the richness and complexity of the setting across Mexico and the US in the 20th century
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Another smashing success by one of my all-time favorite authors. Her ability to capture a time and a culture is unmatched. I read this book in the time surrounding the 2012 US Presidential election and the second half of the book regarding the red scare was very pertinent. It is a shame that political intolerance and ignorance and fear and hatred are still so prevalent.
Kingsolver "compiles" an amazing story. The book takes place from the 20s to the early 50s, and is composed of news clippings, diary entries, and edits from the "archivist." The main character, Harrison Shepard (the "author" of the diary entries) ends up becoming a famous author, but then is accused of being a Communist b/c of his associations with Trotsky and Diego Riviera. It was interesting how Kingsolver portrayed cultural mentality of the red scare, as I read it I started thinking about how such rash assumptions affect a population easily swayed by fear tactics employed by political figures. I wish everyone that fears or hates another group of people blindly would read books like this and realize how important it is to see things from all sides and points of view. Kind of a big wish.