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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
The first half was far better than the second. The characters, especially Rachael, got stale and preachy during the second half. I think Kingsolver should have stopped with them leaving the jungle.
challenging
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
I just. Whew. This book has everything I love. Multiple narrators. Questioning beliefs. Big, angry hurt at the state of the world. Love not in spite of misgivings but because of them.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
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:
Yes
4.5 stars. I read this when it was first published and it holds up.
I tried to read this when it came out and didn’t get very far but I’m glad I tried again. It sure is thought provoking! It took a lot longer than I thought to finish because it took a while to digest. I really like her style.
I liked the different character's voices and always enjoy Kingsolver's writing. Definitely an undertaking to read though!
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
SUCH a good book. It's quite dark through most of the book but you get to the end and realize it's about the power of forgiveness. The history she gets into is some I'd never known a lot about. The Congo, who controlled it, Mobutu's reign, etc. And the way the Western world has treated African nations over the course of centuries. As much as it is about forgiveness, it's about complicity. How much responsibility do we need to take for what our fore-fathers did? And what do we need to do to make it right? Through 4 daughters, Kingsolver seems to be presenting 4 possible answers to that question.
I knew very little about colonialism in the Congo going in, and I liked the 5 perspectives on the American and Belgian control. However, I can't help but to think there was a lot of the story missing here, and it was a slow 500+ pages.