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allisonla's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book. the author did amazing job capturing the distinct personalities of the girls and it was such an interesting way to revisit the history of that part of west africa. Jeff enjoyed hearing the familiar cities and names as I was listening to the book in the house.
pattyo1984's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book just prior to leaving for Taiwan. One of my friends told me I should not read it. Another told me I had to read it. I am glad that I did read it. It is beautiful and I sometimes wonder how my daughters will carry their experiences into the rest of their lives.
Best read of 2001! Loved her way of relating experiences to reality. Love "the things we carried" -- 5 voices were so powerful.
Best read of 2001! Loved her way of relating experiences to reality. Love "the things we carried" -- 5 voices were so powerful.
mycouscous's review against another edition
5.0
A stunning and beautiful book about the consequences of a missionary family from Georgia moving to the jungles of the Congo. I originally read this in grad school, but picked it up again when I was asked to moderate a meeting of our library's book club. (I had to revisit it so I could be on top of my game!)
The Poisonwood Bible incorporates so many layers of symbolism and voice. The five narrators are so different, yet each is authentic and believable in its own way. Kingsolver masterly approached the moral questions by giving each voice its own unique angle. Her incorporation of the tempestuous history of the Congo and the subsequent mirroring of the conflict within the Price family itself are feats unto themselves. There are no easy answers (if any at all) in this story. Highly recommended.
The Poisonwood Bible incorporates so many layers of symbolism and voice. The five narrators are so different, yet each is authentic and believable in its own way. Kingsolver masterly approached the moral questions by giving each voice its own unique angle. Her incorporation of the tempestuous history of the Congo and the subsequent mirroring of the conflict within the Price family itself are feats unto themselves. There are no easy answers (if any at all) in this story. Highly recommended.
margidee's review against another edition
5.0
It took me awhile to get through but, like Demon Copperhead, once I got to a certain point I found that I really couldn’t put it down. As someone who was raised traditionally Catholic, drifted away, and is now trying to redefine my faith on my own terms, I loved the theme of applied religion throughout the book, even after the siblings grew up and experienced their own lives. I think it also provided a really insightful look at the “other side” of African colonization that we don’t often hear in the first person, whether religious or political.
erinrouleaux's review against another edition
4.0
I had a hard time at first because I felt it wasn't challenging enough. Towards the end I couldn't get enough. Very similar to Things Fall Apart - but she tied in the mother/daughter relationship and also tied in where the American was left with Africa instead of the African with Western Civilization.
Kind of how I felt about living in S'pore except that I wasn't over there the majority of my life. If I had been, there would have been no turning back.
Kind of how I felt about living in S'pore except that I wasn't over there the majority of my life. If I had been, there would have been no turning back.
theparallax911's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.25
My second Kingsolver novel. She lives up to the epic, character-driven, time-expansive framework that many authors struggle to execute. Kingsolver opens the door to another world and the reader is invited to tumble down, losing his/herself in complex characters, emotionally-captivating relationships, and social commentary just thrumming all throughout. Brava!
susburg's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
kylelavallie's review against another edition
3.0
I genuinely enjoyed learning as much as I did about the Congo and the despicable actions of the US and other colonizers. The lenses through which I learned it all also provided interesting perspective as it relates to gender, race, ability, and religion. That said, what brought it to three stars for me was the pace. I felt like it crawled to the climax, then descended quickly to a slow pace. Ruth May and Adah are the only characters I liked throughout the whole book. Overall, very interesting book, just not my cup of tea.