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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
I am never disappointed by Barbara Kingsolver's writing. She has incredible insight into human nature. This is a masterful tapestry of life and love and the world we are responsible for protecting.
More like 3.5 stars. Of the three storylines, I really only liked Lusa's. The Deanna/Eddie relationship was just strange, not believable. Garnett was a stereotype of a grumpy old man. And the endless biology lectures were forced and preachy.
My favorite Kingsolver! It makes you want to go buy a farm in the Adirondacks.
Beautiful writing, if a bit preachy about ecology at times. It reminded me a lot of a 20th century, Appalachian "Girl of the Limberlost," probably because of all the moth themes.
While I enjoyed this book, it wasn't my favorite. Kingsolver always does an amazing job at bringing the feel of nature into her books and this one definitely excelled at that. I didn't appreciate the over emphasis on sexuality in this book which occasionally very raw and animalistic/devoid of feeling. I found that the book excelled where she was successfully able to combine the human/emotional element with the natural.
I couldn't even get through this book (somehow made it halfway). It's a cheap romance that I'd expect to find in the dollar bin. Never been so disappointed in something I really wanted to enjoy. Trust me, read just the first chapter and you'll see what this is all about. The beauty of the nature that the author tries to describe is lost in all the awkward romance. Eddie Bondo, Eddie Bondo, Eddie Bondo. Why does his name have to be said like that over and over? Cant he just be EDDIE or ED! I'm fair to all books, but i'm sorry, this is just plain bad.
This is one of my favorite reads of all time. I think reading it now, in a liminal state, unsure of my future, made me connect with the characters in a more personal way. I highly recommend this book for any nature lovers or for someone trying to figure out their place and purpose in this world. The last paragraph of the book is one that brought me to tears, and one I'll often revisit.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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:
No
I loved the way that the story expertly and naturally taught about predators, eco systems, and ethics as part of a beautiful story. The characters were fully fleshed out & each was quirky and lovely in their own way. I love thinking about the continuation of the story: Deanna & Lucca becoming friends and Crystal & Lowell getting to know their grandfather and Nana…The eventual success in breeding American Chestnuts that are blight resistant…. This story will stay with me. Barbara Kingsolver has done it again.
The thoughts of the main characters on things like the interconnectedness of nature, invasive species, natural pest control, etc. echo a lot of my own opinions and made me realize how little I get to have these types of conversations in my daily life now that I am no longer a biology teacher. The themes of the book, combined with likable characters and an overall hopeful tone, really made this one resonate with me in a way I wasn't expecting.
I also wasn’t expecting to love coyotes as much as I do now!
I also wasn’t expecting to love coyotes as much as I do now!
Usually, I don’t read novels twice, but I honestly couldn’t remember if I’d read this one. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down — even though I knew the general shape of the story. Its themes are prescient and even more important these days and oh, so beautifully written. Highly recommend!