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A review by cjeanne99
Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Two families with an educator patriarch, strong willed women, and financial problems that prevent them from leading the middle class life they dreamed of. They both live in the same house - the Greenwood family in the 19th century and the Tavoularis family in the 21st century.
The house is in Vineland, New Jersey, a city founded in 1861 by Charles Landis. Landis had a dream of establishing a Utopian community of progressive thinkers who were abstinent. Within this society, Thatcher Greenwood is hired to teach science to the students at the high school. He and his wife, along with his mother in law and 12 year old sister in law, live together in a home that was built by the father in law. A home the ladies love, but has structural issues.
As if the home is not enough of a problem, Greenwood is challenged by the principal when he tries to present the ideas of Charles Darwin to his botany class. Greenwood tries hard to follow the rules, while also not compromising his scientific principles. He is befriended by Mary Treat, the next door neighbor who is a naturalist, and a published botanist and entymologist who corresponded with Charles Darwin along with publishing articles and books of her own. Treat was a delightful character - very focused on her studies while being a good friend to Thatcher. Uri Carruth, the newspaper editor, was Greenwood’s other friend. When Carruth is shot by Landis, Thatcher agrees to testify at the trial - for the prosecution. His stance against the revered Landis makes him a pariah in his home and in the town. Mary Treat stands by him as a true friend. This story line was quite interesting to me.
In the present day, the Tavoularis family is uprooted by the suicide of the woman their son Zeke was living with - and had an infant son. Zeke lives in Boston, but ships Aldus (Dusty) back to Vineland to live with his parents, his sister and his irascible grandfather. I did not like the Tavoularis family story line. I particularly found Zeke to be annoying and self-centered. Willa was trying way too hard to hold everyone together as the ultimate mother - and Iano - well - he played the Fred McMurray college professor role very well - with a Greek spin. Tig became the one family member that Dusty could count on - and I grew to like her. As Willa is trying to find out if the house qualifies for any sort of historical status that could get them grant money to pay for the repairs - she learns of Mary Treat. Willa’s fascination with Mary Treat was great - and then she went back to being the overaccomodating parent - and I didn’t like her any more.
The house is in Vineland, New Jersey, a city founded in 1861 by Charles Landis. Landis had a dream of establishing a Utopian community of progressive thinkers who were abstinent. Within this society, Thatcher Greenwood is hired to teach science to the students at the high school. He and his wife, along with his mother in law and 12 year old sister in law, live together in a home that was built by the father in law. A home the ladies love, but has structural issues.
As if the home is not enough of a problem, Greenwood is challenged by the principal when he tries to present the ideas of Charles Darwin to his botany class. Greenwood tries hard to follow the rules, while also not compromising his scientific principles. He is befriended by Mary Treat, the next door neighbor who is a naturalist, and a published botanist and entymologist who corresponded with Charles Darwin along with publishing articles and books of her own. Treat was a delightful character - very focused on her studies while being a good friend to Thatcher. Uri Carruth, the newspaper editor, was Greenwood’s other friend. When Carruth is shot by Landis, Thatcher agrees to testify at the trial - for the prosecution. His stance against the revered Landis makes him a pariah in his home and in the town. Mary Treat stands by him as a true friend. This story line was quite interesting to me.
In the present day, the Tavoularis family is uprooted by the suicide of the woman their son Zeke was living with - and had an infant son. Zeke lives in Boston, but ships Aldus (Dusty) back to Vineland to live with his parents, his sister and his irascible grandfather. I did not like the Tavoularis family story line. I particularly found Zeke to be annoying and self-centered. Willa was trying way too hard to hold everyone together as the ultimate mother - and Iano - well - he played the Fred McMurray college professor role very well - with a Greek spin. Tig became the one family member that Dusty could count on - and I grew to like her. As Willa is trying to find out if the house qualifies for any sort of historical status that could get them grant money to pay for the repairs - she learns of Mary Treat. Willa’s fascination with Mary Treat was great - and then she went back to being the overaccomodating parent - and I didn’t like her any more.