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kmardahl 's review for:
The Poisonwood Bible
by Barbara Kingsolver
I bought this audiobook in August 2012 for some reason. Someone's recommendation somewhere? I do not recall. Finally, this past Monday, I was looking for a new book to read. I was using the length of the book as the criteria. I am stressed out at work with deadlines. I couldn't face something marked as 20 or 40 hours. I chose this one marked as 15 hours. It didn't take long for me to become utterly engrossed in the tale. The story is told from the point of view of the 5 women starting in 1960 when the Rev. Price takes his wife and 4 daughters to the Congo to convert all the so-called primitive peoples to god-fearing Christians with his thunder-and-brimstone Baptist techniques. The points of view are definitely varied to say the least!
The story starts with their arrival in the Congo in 1960. Their reactions to life in the Congo as compared to their life in Georgia is both funny and sad. The girls are 15 (Rachel, the oldest), 14 (Leah and Adah, the twins) and 5 (Ruth May). None of them are prepared. The reverend has no voice. His ignorance of what life in the Congo or in Africa in principle is revealed through what his daughters and wife say - or don't say. They all came here expecting their life to be the best life. Instead, lots of questions are raised all around. I lived in Kenya for 5 years (and not as a missionary). What I experienced is not what they experienced, but the questioning about cultures is the same.
Throughout the book, we are given a brief history of the modern Congo as real-life events touch on the lives of these fictional characters. I knew nothing about Kingsolver, the author, before I read the book. It turns out she did live in the Congo briefly as a child. I should add, for accuracy, that the Congo of the story becomes the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Heart of Darkness Congo.
And throughout the book, we are given a very good story. I had to wait in the post office today for 45 minutes. I was approaching the end of the book so I had no problem waiting. I sat back and enjoyed listening to the tale being told.
The story starts with their arrival in the Congo in 1960. Their reactions to life in the Congo as compared to their life in Georgia is both funny and sad. The girls are 15 (Rachel, the oldest), 14 (Leah and Adah, the twins) and 5 (Ruth May). None of them are prepared. The reverend has no voice. His ignorance of what life in the Congo or in Africa in principle is revealed through what his daughters and wife say - or don't say. They all came here expecting their life to be the best life. Instead, lots of questions are raised all around. I lived in Kenya for 5 years (and not as a missionary). What I experienced is not what they experienced, but the questioning about cultures is the same.
Throughout the book, we are given a brief history of the modern Congo as real-life events touch on the lives of these fictional characters. I knew nothing about Kingsolver, the author, before I read the book. It turns out she did live in the Congo briefly as a child. I should add, for accuracy, that the Congo of the story becomes the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Heart of Darkness Congo.
And throughout the book, we are given a very good story. I had to wait in the post office today for 45 minutes. I was approaching the end of the book so I had no problem waiting. I sat back and enjoyed listening to the tale being told.