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4.15 AVERAGE
4.15 AVERAGE
I found myself holding my breath as I read, scared for the lives of the little girls living in the Congo with their crazed missionary parents. After this incredible narrative I was fascinated with the history of the Congo and read King Leopold's Ghost.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-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:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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:
Yes
I couldn't enjoy this as it seemed so full of guilt.
This book made me furious. It was well written: I just couldn't stand the characters. Maybe it was the Bible thumping misogynist preacher's attitude and behavior that just did me in and made me angry. I remembered half way through that I read this book once before and finally remembered coming away from it angry that time, too! May I never pick this book up again.
This is a reread, and what a revelation. It’s an immersive experience no matter what, but a different one now than when I first read it as a mother of young children.
Africa is a cipher to Westerners, but maybe it shouldn’t be. We can’t bend this continent to our will, though we can destroy her trying.
Africa is a cipher to Westerners, but maybe it shouldn’t be. We can’t bend this continent to our will, though we can destroy her trying.
A rare and beautiful gift for women trying to understand the world we live in. Kingsolver gives us insight into the colonizer mindset promoted by evangelical Christians through their missions in Africa. Two major issues entwine, misogyny and American imperialism, in this highly entertaining story of one man's crusade and the women's wellbeing he sacrificed for the ego trip of conquering people he saw as heathens. If you're interested in Africa and how white people rationalized their invasion, and how Christianity was used to advance white supremacy, this is a great place to start.
What a well-written book. I love how Kingsolver has captured the distinct voices of each of the characters. The history is quite interesting... and makes you think.
I loved this line:
"Illusions mistaken for truth are the pavement under our feet. They are what we call civilization."
I loved this line:
"Illusions mistaken for truth are the pavement under our feet. They are what we call civilization."
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes