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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
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:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Colonisation, War
I made at least 3 attempts to read this book. Always got stopped in the same place. However, when I decided to listen to it, could not stop until I was done. A fabulous book
…back in the days when print was scarce, only one printing of the Bible was widespread at any given time, and people knew it by heart. Its mistakes became celebrated. In 1823 when the Old Testament appeared with the verse "And Rebekah arose with her camels"—instead of damsels—it was known as the Camel's Bible. In 1804, the Lions Bible had sons coming forth from lions instead of loins, and in the Murderers' Bible of 1801, the complainers in Jude 16 did not murmur, they murdered. In the Standing Fishes Bible, the fishermen must have looked on in such surprise when "the fish stood on the shore all the way from Engedi to Eneglaim." There are dozens of these: the Treacle Bible, the Bear Bible, the Bug Bible, the Vinegar Bible. In the Sin-On Bible, John 5:14 exhorted the believers not to "sin no more," but to "sin on more!"
adventurous
emotional
sad
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
I liked The Poisonwood Bible more than I expected to. I had heard that it was dry and preachy, and had too much of an agenda to be enjoyed as a work of fiction. I found none of those things to be true. For days I was swallowed up in the lives of Orleanna Price and her daughters, and I felt their joys and their heartbreaks poignantly. To me, it was very much like reading Little Women, though I wouldn't go so far as to say that I loved it as much.
There is some "preachiness" in the novel, but I don't think it's unwarranted considering the circumstances that Kingsolver was trying to portray. It fit the feeling of the times, and I didn't feel that it was overbearing in the slightest.
I was most impressed by Kingsolver's ability to write each character with a distinct voice. The novel flowed well, and the narrators were able to cohesively tell the same story without blending. The one thing I would have liked to see would be more of a history on the Reverend Price. I understand that he is just supposed to be the "bad man", but I want to know more of what made him that way. I found myself wanting I wanted him to be more complex than he was.
I was considering giving this book only four stars because of the flatness of Nathaniel Price and the time needed to get through it (it's the kind of book you need to ponder), but it was so engaging and well-studied that I have to give it five. If you have a few good days and a brave soul, I would definitely recommend this book.
There is some "preachiness" in the novel, but I don't think it's unwarranted considering the circumstances that Kingsolver was trying to portray. It fit the feeling of the times, and I didn't feel that it was overbearing in the slightest.
I was most impressed by Kingsolver's ability to write each character with a distinct voice. The novel flowed well, and the narrators were able to cohesively tell the same story without blending. The one thing I would have liked to see would be more of a history on the Reverend Price. I understand that he is just supposed to be the "bad man", but I want to know more of what made him that way. I found myself wanting
Spoiler
to know what he was really thinking when they lost Ruth May to the snake. Was he grieving? Did he spend his final years in the Jungle blaming himself, or was he really only concerned with the "salvation" of the natives?I was considering giving this book only four stars because of the flatness of Nathaniel Price and the time needed to get through it (it's the kind of book you need to ponder), but it was so engaging and well-studied that I have to give it five. If you have a few good days and a brave soul, I would definitely recommend this book.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death
The Poisonwood Bible is such a beautifully written story that I simply got lost in it. Kingsolver makes you love and hate the characters, love and hate the Congo, love and hate the situation this father has put his family in. Following the lives of the wife and daughters of this all important, self absorbed Baptist Preacher was upsetting, delightful, infuriating, fascinating, terrifying, and just plan lovely. 5 stars all the way.
adventurous
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Didn't expect the ending of this to go so fast like we got to 60% and the years started zooming. I read this because of Demon Copperhead and I knew I read this book for school but I remembered absolutely none of it. If I did read this in school I probably would have been radicalized ngl. This is so educating in how Africa is viewed through not even a white lens but an American lens. The religious irony of the father is so spot on. I would read an entire book on Adah's point of view she was so interesting to me the entire way through
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective