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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
this book brought me back to that place when i felt like i could sit and read for hours, entirely caught up in the little world that Kingslover laid before me. a small mammoth at nearly 600 pages, but a seriously good book and worth the time.
The Poisonwood Bible
Barbara Kingsolver
“Illusions mistaken for truth are the pavement under our feet. They are what we call civilisation.”
Late 1950s early 1960s in the Belgian Congo: a volatile time. Especially for the family of the white American missionary, Nathan Price.
The book is incredibly complex and utterly brilliant. The epic story covers a symphony of issues from race and misogyny to religion and geopolitics. It is beautiful and appalling at the same time with such a depth to each character each sharing how this alien environment is shaping and moulding them - all woven within the accurately portrayed historical context of the region.
We follow in intricate detail the experiences of the women of the Price family - Nathan’s four daughters and their mother. We are offered an intimate and precise insight into these five minds, and their perceptions and understanding of this new primitive world they find themselves in.
While some in the family are able to adapt and thrive, others are not. Nathan Price is determined to bring the word of the bible to this tiny African village, despite the protestations of not only some village elders but also his own flesh and blood.
Tragedy strikes, and life becomes unbearable, shattering the Price family and sending each of them spinning off to find their own paths through life - albeit with fresh perspectives born of their individual and collective Congolese experiences.
My only very slight criticism - and this takes nothing away from the brilliance of the book, is that towards the end there is a heavy focus on the political and historical backdrop that although is necessary to an extent, I feel it became somewhat overbearing and the overarching story centring on the experiences of the Price family stalled a little.
No doubt in my mind that this is an important and excellent story, expertly exploring so delicately many hugely profound social, cultural and political issues that transcend the era in which the story is set.
Another book that will stay with me - this could never be anything other than a 5 Star read.
Barbara Kingsolver
“Illusions mistaken for truth are the pavement under our feet. They are what we call civilisation.”
Late 1950s early 1960s in the Belgian Congo: a volatile time. Especially for the family of the white American missionary, Nathan Price.
The book is incredibly complex and utterly brilliant. The epic story covers a symphony of issues from race and misogyny to religion and geopolitics. It is beautiful and appalling at the same time with such a depth to each character each sharing how this alien environment is shaping and moulding them - all woven within the accurately portrayed historical context of the region.
We follow in intricate detail the experiences of the women of the Price family - Nathan’s four daughters and their mother. We are offered an intimate and precise insight into these five minds, and their perceptions and understanding of this new primitive world they find themselves in.
While some in the family are able to adapt and thrive, others are not. Nathan Price is determined to bring the word of the bible to this tiny African village, despite the protestations of not only some village elders but also his own flesh and blood.
Tragedy strikes, and life becomes unbearable, shattering the Price family and sending each of them spinning off to find their own paths through life - albeit with fresh perspectives born of their individual and collective Congolese experiences.
My only very slight criticism - and this takes nothing away from the brilliance of the book, is that towards the end there is a heavy focus on the political and historical backdrop that although is necessary to an extent, I feel it became somewhat overbearing and the overarching story centring on the experiences of the Price family stalled a little.
No doubt in my mind that this is an important and excellent story, expertly exploring so delicately many hugely profound social, cultural and political issues that transcend the era in which the story is set.
Another book that will stay with me - this could never be anything other than a 5 Star read.
I wavered giving this novel 2 or 3 stars because I LOVED the novel when it only concerned itself with the lives of the Price family in the Congo, but I was so bored with it I almost didn't finish it when it moved onto the grown-up children's lives.
To me, the most interesting part of the novel was the first two-thirds. Excellently written and the storyline engaging and gripping. I didn't care about their lives after they left.
You might feel differently. Read it for yourself. It's still a worthwhile read.
To me, the most interesting part of the novel was the first two-thirds. Excellently written and the storyline engaging and gripping. I didn't care about their lives after they left.
You might feel differently. Read it for yourself. It's still a worthwhile read.
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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
Lyrically wrought and darkly moving, Kingsolver crafts poetry while relaying some of the darkest crimes committed by America and Belgium in the Congo through the eyes of her characters who are forever changed by their time in Africa.
dark
emotional
hopeful
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:
No
Yet another Barbara Kingsolver win. I have nothing to add. Just trust me - read it. Take it slow. I’m a slow reader, and I felt a lot of pressure to read it fast (that’s our culture). Please trust me when I say it’s worth taking it word by word, savoring each one.
This is one of my top ten books of all times. Perhaps I identified with it in some way as my dad is somewhat of a crazy Southern Baptist preacher (although not nearly as crazy as the dad in this story is...). Great read! Beautifully written! Told believably from the perspective of the different children. Fabulous book!!
I had mixed feelings about this book but thought it was pretty good.
2.5?? This oscillated wildly from intriguing and well-written to basically insufferable, pretty much every couple of chapters, and I think it’s what made it so difficult to actually be attached to this book or anything happening in it. Also it was a goddamn SCHLEP, almost 600 pages and the last 1-200 are just Leah griping about how bad she feels to be white and describing her mixed children with various shades of itemized brown. Oh yeah and everyone sucked.
Unlike other negative reviews I can’t say I had any beef whatsoever with the anti missionary anti imperialist messaging. If you’re uncomfortable by the intensity and frequency of it, you literally were not paying attention to the book. Or any history lol.
Unlike other negative reviews I can’t say I had any beef whatsoever with the anti missionary anti imperialist messaging. If you’re uncomfortable by the intensity and frequency of it, you literally were not paying attention to the book. Or any history lol.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
relaxing
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Racism
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Death, Miscarriage, Slavery, Excrement, Pregnancy, Colonisation, War