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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
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
I have previously read a couple other books by [a:Kingsolver Barbara|14255573|Kingsolver Barbara|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] and thought they were alright, but not great. I chose to read this book because the reviews were so good. It turns out the reviewers were right, this is a really good book.
This book is written very well and the author does a good job drawing out emotions from the reader. She has such different characters and causes you to have empathy with all of them in different ways, despite all their flaws. She does a good job on gently touching on political/environmental/religious issues- really demonstrating humanity and the errors and misunderstanding that come with being human.
I give the book four stars rather than five because of two things: Despite that this was a solidly very good book, I just cannot call it a favorite. I am not sure what about it makes me be like, not quite a favorite. The second reason it took over 200 pages for me to get into the book. The slow development of the characters and their initial experiences in the Congo. In some ways this was necessary- but I still question if this section was too long. It felt a little redundant, but then again, maybe her point was the slow transition of the characters.
I would recommend this book.
This book is written very well and the author does a good job drawing out emotions from the reader. She has such different characters and causes you to have empathy with all of them in different ways, despite all their flaws. She does a good job on gently touching on political/environmental/religious issues- really demonstrating humanity and the errors and misunderstanding that come with being human.
I give the book four stars rather than five because of two things: Despite that this was a solidly very good book, I just cannot call it a favorite. I am not sure what about it makes me be like, not quite a favorite. The second reason it took over 200 pages for me to get into the book. The slow development of the characters and their initial experiences in the Congo. In some ways this was necessary- but I still question if this section was too long. It felt a little redundant, but then again, maybe her point was the slow transition of the characters.
I would recommend this book.
This is absolutely one of my favorite books of all time! A fascinating and engaging read, Barbara Kingsolver manages to weave metaphor and meaning into every page! It really is one of those books that you can appreciate because you can tell that every word has a purpose, and none are there simply to fill space. I was constantly amazed by powerful sentences and phrases, thoughts from characters, and the plot itself. I would recommend this book to everyone - it's an amazing read that you won't regret!
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Epic, moving, and unique. I loved the different voices of the five women telling this story.
Incredible book. Deep characters, immersive setting, and endless meaning.