A review by charlotte112
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Gripping and really fleshed-out story that spans over 40 years detailing the lives of the Price family who move to the Congo as missionaries. The book provides historical and political context to the Congo whilst offering a variety of unique and individual characters. A large part of the book focuses on the few years that the family resided together in the jungle and the last 1/3 on their lives after. I laughed and cried at this book and it opened my eyes to what it must have been like to live in a country with severe poverty, hunger and political corruption. I felt the last part was quite heavy on the latter for me but overall I found the characters believable and really felt like I was in the jungle with them. I loved how touching the ending was and I think it helped to ease up on the sorrow in the book and provide a more uplifting and hopeful future for the main characters. Not quite a 5 star read due to the length of the last part of the book but I loved the themes that this explored and how immersed I felt in their world. 
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