A review by jaynerooke66
Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver

adventurous emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I love Barbara Kingsolver's writing style and I thoroughly enjoyed that she read this book. She takes her time in this novel, which is exceptionally well researched to describe ecology/circle of life- with a big nod to the damage that is caused by chemicas/ pesticides. From the coyote to the moth, how she explains the need for predators and their symbiotic relationship with the land is beautiful and so cleverly woven in to the 3 stories. 

The three stories are of powerful, nurturing women who in different ways try to win around their male/familial counterparts who are of the shoot em up and ask questions later type. If only the corporations killing the soil for profit were as easily persuaded, we might stand a chance as a species.

I also really enjoyed the descriptions of farming life and what a very difficult life style it is to earn a decent living from. 

Prodigal Summer is a brilliant name for the book - it positively heaves, drips, flows with potency. Even death is tragic but also beautiful. 

I'd read this again just for the ecology alone.