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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
Tried starting this book a few times, but I guess it was never the right time. That is, until I moved to Arizona and read the chapters about Arizona and got hooked.
The depth of thought that Kingsolver shows to even the things I disagree with is impressive. She doesn't dodge hard conversations in this work.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Her style just wasn't catching me when I tried to read this. I still have the book, though, and may pick it up another time.
This might be my favorite book of all time. Seriously. Barbara Kingsolver knows so much about our planet, family, peace, and how to write well, among so many other things. I could read these essays over and over again.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Hate crime, Sexual assault, Grief, Mass/school shootings, Sexual harassment
So much love, wisdom and thoughtfulness in these essays. I read them one a day.
Some of these essays are worthwhile for the perspectives Kingsolver offers on issues that are still very relevant to our world and country today. However, many of the others are just her tooting her own horn and writing about what society should do from a very white, very privileged position. Her fiction is great, but I think I'll steer clear of her non-fiction from now on.
This book came out at a time when it was what I desperately needed to read, and I have come to regard at as something like a personal bible. There is so much beautiful writing, and the voice is so vital and personal...and I can't even talk about how much I love it.
I found this book of essays terribly preachy in tone. The weird thing is, I agree with a lot of Kingsolver's points! We should be more environmentally aware; a lot of TV really is crap; etc. But the tone of the book put me off to the point where I almost found myself wanting to argue the opposite just to be contrary.
I have read some of Kingsolver's fiction and enjoyed it a lot more than this. I'd recommend [b: The Poisonwood Bible|7244|The Poisonwood Bible|Barbara Kingsolver|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1412242487l/7244._SY75_.jpg|810663] over Small Wonder any day.
I have read some of Kingsolver's fiction and enjoyed it a lot more than this. I'd recommend [b: The Poisonwood Bible|7244|The Poisonwood Bible|Barbara Kingsolver|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1412242487l/7244._SY75_.jpg|810663] over Small Wonder any day.