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oversherin's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-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? Yes
4.5
I loved this book. Barbara Kingsolver's always feels very real to me and I love the worlds she paints. It was interesting reading this book in 2024 and revisiting the conversations we were having about climate change in 2012. Her discussions about how we talk about climate change, science, and religion across different groups of people still rings true. While climate was a huge focus of the book, I think it really shines in the relationship between Delarobia and her mother in law. The conversations about gender dynamics and marriage were complex and profound. My only complaint is this book is quite long and I think it could have packed a stronger punch if it was a little more concise. But I loved living in the world!
Side note: I listened to the Recorded Books audio book and the narrator was lovely for most characters but Dr. Byron's accent really threw me off. But overall, it was well read.
Side note: I listened to the Recorded Books audio book and the narrator was lovely for most characters but Dr. Byron's accent really threw me off. But overall, it was well read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage
savaging's review against another edition
5.0
I don't even care that this digressed at times into a manual on How to Have Hard Conversations About Climate Change. I loved this book. I loved its characters. I cried a few times.
maryeverettb's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
5.0
bandgeek3997's review against another edition
4.0
This is really about 3.5 stars for me, but I'm nice and round up.
The story centers around a woman living in Southern Appalachia, and despite claims at a younger age to getting out of there and moving on, she makes a couple mistakes that keep here exactly where she's at. On her family property, millions of butterflies settle on their mountain during their migration period. Normally, they go to Mexico, but because of the environmental issues there, the butterflies randomly choose the Turnbow farm.
In all honesty, it was an environmental message the entire time. I understand that it's an important thing to take care of the earth, but being hit over the head with it for like 400 times got old. I spent a lot of the book wondering when it was going to end.
The story centers around a woman living in Southern Appalachia, and despite claims at a younger age to getting out of there and moving on, she makes a couple mistakes that keep here exactly where she's at. On her family property, millions of butterflies settle on their mountain during their migration period. Normally, they go to Mexico, but because of the environmental issues there, the butterflies randomly choose the Turnbow farm.
In all honesty, it was an environmental message the entire time. I understand that it's an important thing to take care of the earth, but being hit over the head with it for like 400 times got old. I spent a lot of the book wondering when it was going to end.
jrmarr's review against another edition
4.0
I find this book incredibly difficult to describe - part story of transformation and coming to terms with your past; part education in the impact of climate change on the smallest of creatures; part tale of small town life and the ever-present gap between the poor and not-so-poor. All of these coalesce in a tale where the characters (however conflicted and conflicting) reach out from the page and grab at your heart strings. A very good read.
caitlin_huxham's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
helenmeigs's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book on a cross country train trip and thoroughly enjoyed it.
claire_dc22's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bibliobrandie's review against another edition
2.0
I love Barbara Kingsolver, so giving her book 2 stars was painful. This book just didn't work for me. What I love most about her writing, her vivid, flawed and wonderful characters, was missing from this book. I agree with what another reviewer said: Flight Behavior feels like it was written not so much for the characters as to be the vehicle for a message: global warming is real and it's not just about changing temperatures. I believe that global warming is real but if I wanted to read about it, I'd probably have picked a non-fiction book. I felt like I was being hit over the head with the message and I didn't like the characters enough to really enjoy the book.