The Poisonwood Bible: A Novel by Barbara Kingsolver
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Book Reviews of The Poisonwood Bible: A Novel
Book Review: Sweeping, Multi-generational novel
Summary: 5 Stars
I ensconced myself in this book! Literally. I started with the audio version where I listened to it on my daily commute to work, and I was always disappointed to get to my destination. The beautiful sounds of the Kikongan language intrigued me so much, I then had to buy the paperback version of the book. I wanted to see how the words were spelled as well as see the palindromes that were essential to understanding the character of Adah's writing. After listening to new material in the car, I would then "catch up" that evening in the paperback book, savoring the lyricism of the writing.
I found each character to stay true to form throughout their writing over the decades the book covered. The only negative thing I can say is that in the final "two books", a great deal of Congolese/Zairean history was reviewed and it felt a little forced.
Until the last two years, I read non-fiction almost exclusively and so I "discovered" Barbara Kingsolver only recently. The first novel I read by Barbara was "Prodigal Summer", which I thoroughly enjoyed and thereby decided to read additional books authored by her. "The Poisonwood Bible" was delightful in both audio and book format, and I plan to read some of the books Barbara noted in her afterward about the history of the Congo and Zaire.
Book Review: Goes down like honey
Summary: 5 Stars
This novel kept me up at night, and woke me early. It brought laughter and, more than once, tears. It is part of me now in a way that only a few books each year manage to achieve. Stunning. Also, great fun. The word play, palindromes, and nuanced use of phrases in Kikongo, an African language from the Congo region where the tale is set, are, alone, worth the read. The story is told in rounds by five women, a mother and her daughters, who were hauled to the -- then -- Begian Congo by the father, an abusive iconoclast, and rabid Baptist preacher bent on saving the savages. The natives are far more deeply spiritual than the preacher can comprehend, and his simplistic promises of salvation fall on ears too sophisticated to buy into his hokum and wild malapropisms. The novel unfolds in the historical period when Belgium granted independence and Dwight Eisenhower ordered the assassination of the newly elected leader and financing of a civil war. Missionaries and most other whites were evacuated as violence against non-African's escalated. The preacher decided to stay, with dire ramifications for the whole family. Withall, a powerful testament, a brilliant historical piece, a profoundly moving personal tale of belief, loss, discovery and love. Killer-diller.Book Review: A diamond from the Congo
Summary: 5 Stars
Of the numerous books I read in 2006, Barbara Kingsolver's "The Poisonwood Bible" stands atop the list, its only company being Ayn Rand's "The Fountainhead" and John Steinbeck's "East of Eden". The book is a triumphant celebration of Kingsolver's writing skills, its gripping narration told in the first person alternatively by the wife and 4 daughters of the single-minded missionary, Reverand Price. The magificence of the novel, which spans three generations of the Price family beginning in 1959, shines through on virtually every page. The five voices bring the reader effortlessly through the family's ordeal. The narration is thoughtful and philosophical, without being complicated or preachy. It mixes themes of religion, family, individualism, and spirituality without forcing the reader to endure a homily. It is a simple yet complex work that evoked in me a wide range of emotions, from laughter to sadness and, at the very end, a burst of tears. In its own way, it is a damn good history lesson about the turbulent Congo and a place now known as Zaire. I can't imagine a person reading this book and not emerging much richer for the experience. I'm just sorry Amazon allows only 5 stars.Book Review: The Best of Barbara Kingsolver and One of the Best Books I have Ever Read
Summary: 5 Stars
Barbara Kingsolver has always been a good story-teller with a gift for characterization. This book, her best to date, brings her to a new literary zenith. It is rich in metaphor and is told in a style incorporating magical realism. The writing is poetic, like a dream I've woken up from and wanted to hold on to like a misty smile, wanting to go back to sleep, continue the dream and go deeper into the mystery of myself and my connectedness to the word.
This book tells the story of a family who goes to the Belgian Congo in the early 1960's. The father is a minister who hopes to bring Christianity to the African people. The experience is relived from the perspectives of each of the four daughters and mother, who share their narratives of pain, love, political turmoil and growth.
The title is derived from the father's inability to understand the Congolese language and his misinterpretation of how they described the bible. This error by the father bespeaks his inability to connect with the people and his family.
This is one of the best books I have ever read.
Book Review: Basically my favorite book now
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of those books, that upon starting, you don't want to end. Even though you want to devour the whole thing in one reading, you stretch it out over a week, a month, anything to keep the characters alive in the narrative.
In response to other reviewers-there is no drop off the last third. In fact, I liked it even better seeing how the characters grew up. The political history is tastefully done-the characters come to conclusions based on their experiences and personal history. I was very interested to learn about the whole Congolese cultural, like I had learned about Afghanistan in "Kite Runner". Finally, Rachel's chapters are not annoying, or boring. I'm a teenager and I can tell you that her voice rings as true as the others. Not everyone in novels has to be perfect and just to be likable! In fact, if everyone acted like Leah (people who've read the book will understand), it wouldn't be a very good book at all. The different perspectives make this book shine. It is necessary to have a foil to all the righteousness-the balance-a theme expressed many times in the book.