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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
“Everyday Mama said, You’re going to crack your head wide open, but no sir. I broke my arm instead.” Ruth May forever!!
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Amazing, amazing, amazing. I am telling everyone I know to read this book. I can't explain how wonderful this book is. It is so deep and complex and ambitious and beautiful. Just read it.
The best parts of this book is when the sisters are children. Once the novel moves to their adulthood, it gets a little boring. Although I initially thought this was an exceptional book, towards the end I couldn’t wait to finish it.
**This review contains spoilers**
The Poisonwood Bible took me over a month to finish, which is a long time for me. I appreciate Kingsolver's research about the Congo's political system in the 60's, (she even included a bibliography at the end,) but I just didn't feel close to this book.
Everyone that reads any of my reviews knows I'm a feeler. I like behavioral nuances, dialogue, poetic writing, descriptions, and interactions because they help me experience. I did find these in 'Poisonwood' at times, especially in the section towards the end when the sisters described each other as they'd aged. It's hard to say anything negative about this book though, because it was well-written; each sentence was important.
I felt frustrated that Kingsolver spent so much time building towards Orleanna and Nathan's separation, but when it happened, I'd barely realized it. It's as if I built up to something, didn't get to witness it, and then picked up afterwards. For an author that describes how someone cooks a meal, I would have hoped to also read about how a family makes the decision to leave their husband/father.
Either way, I am glad I kept with this book. The beginning and pre-ending were strong, and I enjoyed reading about how the characters moved on after they'd separated. It takes a strong writer not the rush the ending, and Kingsolver is clearly a pro.
The Poisonwood Bible took me over a month to finish, which is a long time for me. I appreciate Kingsolver's research about the Congo's political system in the 60's, (she even included a bibliography at the end,) but I just didn't feel close to this book.
Everyone that reads any of my reviews knows I'm a feeler. I like behavioral nuances, dialogue, poetic writing, descriptions, and interactions because they help me experience. I did find these in 'Poisonwood' at times, especially in the section towards the end when the sisters described each other as they'd aged. It's hard to say anything negative about this book though, because it was well-written; each sentence was important.
I felt frustrated that Kingsolver spent so much time building towards Orleanna and Nathan's separation, but when it happened, I'd barely realized it. It's as if I built up to something, didn't get to witness it, and then picked up afterwards. For an author that describes how someone cooks a meal, I would have hoped to also read about how a family makes the decision to leave their husband/father.
Either way, I am glad I kept with this book. The beginning and pre-ending were strong, and I enjoyed reading about how the characters moved on after they'd separated. It takes a strong writer not the rush the ending, and Kingsolver is clearly a pro.
Oh brother ...as one of the characters would say, if you said this was a book about a missionary family in Africa with much death and suffering I would have avoided this ....but it is great,the characters are so good and varied ,the narrator was brilliant at putting across different personalities and perceptions, very much enjoyed.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This novel really captures the culture and realities of life in Africa. Even though the book is set in the 60s, not much seemed to have changed between then and my time there in the 90s. Scary.
dark
emotional