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4.06 AVERAGE
4.06 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Listening to a Barbara Kingsolver novel is like being a fly on the wall for the most beautiful, everyday conversations. Prodigal Summer is the perfect warm weather novel when you’re looking for something down-to-earth and heartfelt.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn't love this book the way I loved Demon Copperhead and The Poisonwood Bible, but it was still a good read. The science Kingsolver inserts is (as always) interesting, and I liked how the stories tied together in the end. I would recommend this book, but not nearly as much as I'd recommend the two other Kingsolver novels I've read.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-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
I loved the exploration of nature and predator and prey and the line level writing was often beautiful...but I didn't care about any of the characters and I hated the romance storyline so much.
Prodigal summer, the season of extravagant procreation. It could wear out everything in its path with its passionate excesses, but nothing alive with wings or a heart or a seed curled into itself in the ground could resist welcoming it back when it came.
Thanks for this day, for all birds safe in their nests, for whatever this is, for life.
There is nothing like a Barbara Kingsolver book, especially one of her Appalachian books, to just burrow directly into my heart. This book reads like a fiction version of the concepts she explores in Animal, Vegetable, Miracle--our relationship with nature (land and animals), our family roots that tie us to a specific part of country, and so on. Nature is at the heart of this book, but there are some truly beautiful human relationships explored as well. This book, quite frankly, is about sex--not in a "sexy" sort of way although I found myself squirming a bit more than I usually do in a Kingsolver book (frankly, I was fanning myself after just reading the first chapter). It explores humanity in its many forms, not just the complexities of human relationships, but our more base animal instincts, specifically the sexuality and urge towards procreation or simply physical touch that arises in the spring/summer.
From growing up in the Appalachian mountains myself, I recognized a lot of these characters and saw parts of each of them in myself. Those unfamiliar with Appalachian culture and mountain folk, might be under-impressed, put off, or confused by some of the choices, language, and beliefs of these characters, but I understood them. Barbara Kingsolver has long used her writing to bring dignity to those often looked down on, and in this instance it's hillbillies and predators (coyotes, snakes, etc.). I found every word of this book so beautiful and touching and personal--without the personal connection I'm not sure if everyone else will love it quite as much as I do but I still heartily recommend for the great writing, lovable characters, and thoughtful nature themes.
This was a little too nature heavy at times for me and seemed to really push metaphors...yeah, I get it, we're all connected!
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This would’ve easily been 5 stars if it had ended differently. Very disappointed Kingsolver spent 25 chapters building badass independent women characters, only to write them clichéd endings. What was the point?