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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
Overall, I did enjoy reading this book. I thought that the exercise of writing the book from 5 different perspectives was well executed -- there were definitely distinct voices, world views, self-awareness and levels of emotional/intellectual development that characterized each woman's chapters.
I enjoyed the way that Kingsolver played with language in so many different ways in this book - on the individual character level, there's the 5-7 year old little girl's voice, the presumed-handicapped girl who doesn't speak but who plays with palindromes and books like they are alchemy, and so on. The chapters are written from first person, so Kingsolver puts words in as they are heard by that character - when the littlest hears people talking about things she's not familiar with she hears "make amens" instead of "amends" and "Circus Station" instead of "circumcision." One girl corrects her sister repeatedly on her use of the wrong words - like "progeny" vs "prodigy."
Then there's human language -- the different languages spoken, Kalinga, English, French. There are people learning languages and even a bird who picks up a lot of language. There is emphasis on body language and the language of the way the women move and use their bodies in Congo (rewrapping & tying their skirts, for example).
Kingsolver's themes, however, come across a bit heavy-handed. For example - I can't help but think that the whole "twins" situation was a bit overplayed as a metaphor - for so many things: for the relationship of Orleanna and her husband, the relationship of the people of Congo, the relationships between nations. One starves the other, til, one day - the other wakes up and realizes her power and does what she needs to do to assert herself.
I found the treatment of racism less than subtle, as well - it was rather amazing to me that one of the daughters could be part of the same family and still be living in Africa and yet be of the opinion, 30+ years later, "Well there wouldn't be anyone we know left in that village..." and only naming off the white people who she knew had left or died.
It's as though Kingsolver is trying to excuse racism as a character trait/flaw - something you're born with, which is an intrinsic part of who you are regardless of your surroundings -- which I just refuse to believe. I don't think that racism is an intrinsic part of anyone's character, nor do I believe that it's a sign of low intelligence.
Since I got my MA in Latin American Studies, not African Studies, I can't really speak to the inaccuracies that might be reflected in the language, interpretation of events or anything else. However, knowing what little I do about that period of African history and current events - I can't help but think that the Price family lived in an extremely privileged bubble -- not just during the Mission period of the story but after, as well - not having suffered more than hunger throughout brutal civil wars and during a period when thousands lost their lives, they never saw the bodies and seemed to avoid all but the horror of their own dysfunctional family and righteous indignation of injustice.
I enjoyed the way that Kingsolver played with language in so many different ways in this book - on the individual character level, there's the 5-7 year old little girl's voice, the presumed-handicapped girl who doesn't speak but who plays with palindromes and books like they are alchemy, and so on. The chapters are written from first person, so Kingsolver puts words in as they are heard by that character - when the littlest hears people talking about things she's not familiar with she hears "make amens" instead of "amends" and "Circus Station" instead of "circumcision." One girl corrects her sister repeatedly on her use of the wrong words - like "progeny" vs "prodigy."
Then there's human language -- the different languages spoken, Kalinga, English, French. There are people learning languages and even a bird who picks up a lot of language. There is emphasis on body language and the language of the way the women move and use their bodies in Congo (rewrapping & tying their skirts, for example).
Kingsolver's themes, however, come across a bit heavy-handed. For example - I can't help but think that the whole "twins" situation was a bit overplayed as a metaphor - for so many things: for the relationship of Orleanna and her husband, the relationship of the people of Congo, the relationships between nations. One starves the other, til, one day - the other wakes up and realizes her power and does what she needs to do to assert herself.
I found the treatment of racism less than subtle, as well - it was rather amazing to me that one of the daughters could be part of the same family and still be living in Africa and yet be of the opinion, 30+ years later, "Well there wouldn't be anyone we know left in that village..." and only naming off the white people who she knew had left or died.
It's as though Kingsolver is trying to excuse racism as a character trait/flaw - something you're born with, which is an intrinsic part of who you are regardless of your surroundings -- which I just refuse to believe. I don't think that racism is an intrinsic part of anyone's character, nor do I believe that it's a sign of low intelligence.
Since I got my MA in Latin American Studies, not African Studies, I can't really speak to the inaccuracies that might be reflected in the language, interpretation of events or anything else. However, knowing what little I do about that period of African history and current events - I can't help but think that the Price family lived in an extremely privileged bubble -- not just during the Mission period of the story but after, as well - not having suffered more than hunger throughout brutal civil wars and during a period when thousands lost their lives, they never saw the bodies and seemed to avoid all but the horror of their own dysfunctional family and righteous indignation of injustice.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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
What a book, it’s over 600 pages it felt like there wasn’t enough
Besides this being my mother’s favorite book, it is still very special all on its own. The story told within the story of this book is absolutely beautiful, devastating, frustrating, and heartbreaking. I loved the character development (or lack thereof when pertaining to Rachel) of each of the sisters, as well as their mother. I was counting down the pages until they all turned on that bastard, Nathan Price. And I enjoyed getting to spend the majority of their lives with these characters. I loved them even when I didn’t like them and certainly when I didn’t agree with them. The messages interwoven through this book are profound and will stick with me. The loss experienced through the lens of these characters is something I know all too well and was easily able to relate to their struggles with grief. I thought Barbara Kingsolver captured the complexity of the emotions, and the patience, that women have, so so well. Maybe not five stars because this book was so painfully long and at times, went from recalling their day to day life, to skipping years entirely. Nevertheless, a masterclass of storytelling and emotion evoking.
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is Kingsolver at her best—using a known plot (in this case, the history of the Congo) to show how individual people are impacted and complicit in its lights and darks. The denouement does drag a bit, though.
I felt it could have ended about 100-150 pages earlier, but overall an interesting story.
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A brilliant epic of diverse narrative voices that opens both beautiful and tragic windows onto African history. I was a little disappointed that the poetry of the opening was not characteristic of most of the text, it began to drag towards the end, and the ending had less closure than I’d hoped for.