As any reader of The Mosquito Coast knows, men who drag their families to far-off climes in pursuit of an Idea seldom come to any good, while those familiar with At Play in the Fields of the Lord or Kalimantaan understand that the minute a missionary sets foot on the fictional stage, all hell is about to break loose. So when Barbara Kingsolver sends missionary Nathan Price along with his wife and four daughters off to Africa in The Poisonwood Bible, you can be sure that salvation is the one thing they're not likely to find. The year is 1959 and the place is the Belgian Congo. Nathan, a Baptist preacher, has come to spread the Word in a remote village reachable only by airplane. To say that he and his family are woefully unprepared would be an understatement: "We came from Bethlehem, Georgia, bearing Betty Crocker cake mixes into the jungle," says Leah, one of Nathan's four daughters. But of course it isn't long before they discover that the tremendous humidity has rendered the mixes unusable, their clothes are unsuitable and they've arrived in the middle of political upheaval as the Congolese seek to wrest independence from Belgium. In addition to poisonous snakes, dangerous animals, and the hostility of the villagers to Nathan's fiery take-no-prisoners brand of Christianity, there are also rebels in the jungle and the threat of war in the air. Could things get any worse?

In fact they can and they do. The first part of The Poisonwood Bible revolves around Nathan's intransigent, bullying personality and his effect on both his family and on the village they have come to. As political instability grows in the Congo, so does the local witch doctor's animus toward the Prices, and both seem to converge with tragic consequences about halfway through the novel. From that point on, the family is dispersed and the novel follows each member's fortunes across a span of more than 30 years.

The Poisonwood Bible is arguably Barbara Kingsolver's most ambitious work, and it reveals both her great strengths and her weaknesses. As Nathan Price's wife and four daughters tell their story in alternating chapters, Kingsolver does a good job of differentiating the voices. But at times they can grate--teenaged Rachel's tendency towards precious malapropisms is particularly annoying (students practice their "French congregations"; Nathan's refusal to take his family home is a "tapestry of justice"). More problematic is Kingsolver's tendency to wear her politics on her sleeve; this is particularly evident in the second half of the novel, in which she uses her characters as mouthpieces to explicate the complicated and tragic history of the Belgian Congo.

Despite these weaknesses, Kingsolver's fully realised, three-dimensional characters make The Poisonwood Bible compelling, especially in the first half when Nathan Price is still at the centre of the action. And in her treatment of Africa and the Africans she is at her best, exhibiting the acute perception, moral engagement and lyrical prose that has made her previous novels so successful. --Alix Wilber, Amazon.com

Exploration of colonialism, 18 Nov 2008
A moving and well crafted novel, focussing on a family of American missionaries in Africa. It is narrated by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a Baptist preacher determined to convert the 'heathen' natives of a remote Congolese village. The Prices arrive in the Congo whilst it is still under colonial occupation, and stay throughout its independence and subsequent turmoil.

After a rather slow beginning, the narrators develop their distinctive voices and the story becomes more engrossing. There are plenty of humourous moments, as well as some tragic and moving events. At its heart, the novel is an ambitious exploration of colonialism and its effects.

Although admirable in its scope and an enjoyable enough read, the book lacked the emotional punch I expected given its reputation and theme. The structure was also rather flawed in my opinion, with the climax coming halfway through and the end then seeming overlong.

However, it is a well written novel and is certainly worth reading by anyone with an interest in Africa.

Absorbing a modern day classic, 03 Nov 2008
This book is truly a wonderful, gripping, beautifully written and absorbing book giving an insight into the life of a family which has been turned upside down due to the selfishness of the father. This is a book that everyone should read.

fantastic, 21 Jun 2008
getting into the book can take awhile but once your in you cant stop, read the whole book in 10 days

Brilliant - Colonialism & Humanity laid bare, 22 May 2008
Came across this book through another bood I'd read re the Congo and decided to give it a go. It was unputdownable. A story told through the eys of the 4 girls and their mother about their father's zealous Baptist mission to save the people of the Congo. The book encapsulates everything which is wrong with organised religion and significantly the flaws in colonial and post-colonial foreign policy. The fact that it achieves all of this without providing a moral lecture makes it all the more brilliant.

The story traces the pre-independence days and the post independence days and the battle for the "modern" white missionaries to survive in the primitive Congo a place which asks them to convert when what they have been sent there to do is to convert the Congo.

Your emotions for the protagonists vary from warmth and empathy to despising their very actions. It's a story that has no Hollywood ending in which good triumphs over evil because in the Congo there are varying degrees of good and varying degrees of evil and what is good now may be evil at another time.


Lovely!, 09 Apr 2008
This is one of those books that i've had on my shelf for an age and everytime I attempt to read it I just can't get into it. Luckily I tried again recently and I am so thankful that I did.
What a lovely book. Please read this!
The only judgement is that it really could have ended 3/4 of the way through, it seemed that it was merging into another book altogether towards the end. But nontheless I rate this very highly and it's definitely a book, and there are not many, that I will read several times throughout my life.

In Barbara Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer the characters are intimately connected to the countryside that they inhabit and are seen as an integral part of the flora and fauna of the novel's setting--the Appalachian Mountains, in Alabama. The novel teems with life; everything is a-buzz with reproductive hormones--animals, plants and people alike. Up in the mountains nature is getting down to the business of keeping itself going, and the novel's characters are also consciously or instinctively caught up with procreation.

Deanna Wolfe, a reclusive wildlife biologist, wanders the mountain trails and watches a den of coyotes, while becoming involved with a young hunter; Lusa Maluf Landowski, who loves moths, finds herself mourning her farmer husband, surrounded by his relations and their children. Even those past child-bearing age, like grumpy old Garnett and his feisty neighbour Nannie wrangle over pesticides and weeds, and then succumb to love. All around them flowers bloom and trees blossom. It is a beautifully observed novel, reminiscent of the work of Annie Dillard and Rachel Carson. Deanna says: "So much detail goes unnoticed in the world" but Kingsolver has used her biologist eye to see even the smallest thing. Pulsing fire flies, the powdery scales on a moth's body, cub coyotes playing like swimming dolphins are caught in her gaze. The characters in thrall to their hormones and their hearts are regarded with the same attention.

Prodigal Summer is a hugely involving novel, written with a graceful compassion for all living things and their vital interactions with each other, making it a joy to read. Kingsolver's previous novels include The Poisonwood Bible, The Bean Trees and Pigs in Heaven. --Eithne Farry

Exploration of colonialism, 18 Nov 2008
A moving and well crafted novel, focussing on a family of American missionaries in Africa. It is narrated by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a Baptist preacher determined to convert the 'heathen' natives of a remote Congolese village. The Prices arrive in the Congo whilst it is still under colonial occupation, and stay throughout its independence and subsequent turmoil.

After a rather slow beginning, the narrators develop their distinctive voices and the story becomes more engrossing. There are plenty of humourous moments, as well as some tragic and moving events. At its heart, the novel is an ambitious exploration of colonialism and its effects.

Although admirable in its scope and an enjoyable enough read, the book lacked the emotional punch I expected given its reputation and theme. The structure was also rather flawed in my opinion, with the climax coming halfway through and the end then seeming overlong.

However, it is a well written novel and is certainly worth reading by anyone with an interest in Africa.

Absorbing a modern day classic, 03 Nov 2008
This book is truly a wonderful, gripping, beautifully written and absorbing book giving an insight into the life of a family which has been turned upside down due to the selfishness of the father. This is a book that everyone should read.

fantastic, 21 Jun 2008
getting into the book can take awhile but once your in you cant stop, read the whole book in 10 days

Brilliant - Colonialism & Humanity laid bare, 22 May 2008
Came across this book through another bood I'd read re the Congo and decided to give it a go. It was unputdownable. A story told through the eys of the 4 girls and their mother about their father's zealous Baptist mission to save the people of the Congo. The book encapsulates everything which is wrong with organised religion and significantly the flaws in colonial and post-colonial foreign policy. The fact that it achieves all of this without providing a moral lecture makes it all the more brilliant.

The story traces the pre-independence days and the post independence days and the battle for the "modern" white missionaries to survive in the primitive Congo a place which asks them to convert when what they have been sent there to do is to convert the Congo.

Your emotions for the protagonists vary from warmth and empathy to despising their very actions. It's a story that has no Hollywood ending in which good triumphs over evil because in the Congo there are varying degrees of good and varying degrees of evil and what is good now may be evil at another time.


Lovely!, 09 Apr 2008
This is one of those books that i've had on my shelf for an age and everytime I attempt to read it I just can't get into it. Luckily I tried again recently and I am so thankful that I did.
What a lovely book. Please read this!
The only judgement is that it really could have ended 3/4 of the way through, it seemed that it was merging into another book altogether towards the end. But nontheless I rate this very highly and it's definitely a book, and there are not many, that I will read several times throughout my life.


Beautiful story, 29 Sep 2008
I thought this was a beautifully written book. I thought her descriptions of nature and it's creatures were so vivid. Also her descriptions of the main characters and dialogue between them was meaningful and thought provoking. I especially loved the descriptions and the banter of the 2 older characters. Loved this book and also the Poisonwood bible which I have also read.

A prodigal book, 08 Apr 2008
I'll admit I'm not so much into nature-related books, but this tale took me completely by surprise, and a very pleasant one at that! My first book by Barbara Kingsolver and a discovery in every sense. Three different stories run on parallel grounds in the space of a summer and unbeknownst to the characters, they are all intertwined by the magic power of love and nature.

Three tales that gracefully connect with each other without ever being confusing for the reader, starting from Deanna, a reclusive forest ranger in the Appalachian mountains who loves her solitude and job but is taken aback by the unexpected meeting of a young hunter with whom she falls, reluctantly, in love. Then there are Lusa and Cole, newly married and living on his inherited farm. A twist of fate and Lusa's life changes dramatically and unexpectedly. And finally, old and widowed Mr. Walker (my own favourite character), a grumpy man in his eighties obsessed by his neighbour, Miss Rowley, whose attitude to life in general combined with her numerous apple trees seem to be there just to annoy him.
These are the cores of the tales, but all is layered by a triumphant description of mountain/farm/country life.

Different subjects are explored, loss, love, affection, strength, fragility, our place and meaning on this planet, as important and valuable as the one of a single little bug living under a leaf. All is delivered by a poetic and effective prose, embracing colours, smells, sensations and feelings in a powerful, yet delicate, way. Some episodes are definitely humorous, others so wise and profound, they bring tears to your eyes. Very touching.

A wonderful tale which celebrates life in all of its forms, a positive message and a hidden reminder that we should all be more appreciative of what, and whom, we are surrounded by.


A lot to think about, 06 Jan 2008
I finished this book a few days ago and can't stop thinking about it - it is so beautifully written and so wise. It totally immersed me in a world very different from my own - and yet, as we read, somehow connected too. I loved the intelligence of the factual information Kingsolver weaves into the beautiful plots. It's a book that makes you want to look after our world better.
I've already bought 2 more copies for my friends, as I don't want to pass on my copy!

Magical but real., 24 Aug 2006
I loved the way the author includes her magical descriptions of nature in the story. I was transported to another place while reading this. Nature is the protagonist in all her forms, human, animal and plant . Kingsolver uses her wealth of knowledge coupled with real feeling to create a lovely, thought-provoking tale.

Tobacco romance, 06 Mar 2006
Kingsolver's career as a science writer is successfully merged with her matchless descriptive skills in this novel. Set in the tobacco growing region of Appalachia, she uses the four women and a retired geneticist to discuss evolution, predator-prey relationships and modern farming practices to foster realistic thinking about environmental issues. These run from "pest elimination" to herbicide use. She deftly relates the different sex ploys of moths, coyotes and humans. The result leaves the human patterns more inexplicable than ever. The middle-aged Deanna encounters a man in the bush, and we never quite discern which of the pair is the seducer. Lexington Lusa loses a husband, but gains an adolescent. And a septuagenarian, to his everlasting shame, gets an erection over his neighbour, who is nearly as ancient as he.

It's unclear what the target market is for this book. Clearly, it isn't her former neighbours in Appalachia. Kingsolver's patronizing attitude toward the farm country patois is almost embarrassing. "Political correctness" hasn't reached down to regional speech patterns yet, apparently. Those tobacco farmers are unlikely to buy into her attempt to explain evolution and it's unlikely she's going to hamper coyote hunting there or anywhere else. The urban readers who have already learned about Darwin will buy this book out of loyalty. Will they learn anything new? Perhaps, but if they wander the countryside trying to sell Kingsolver's ideas as she does, their reception is likely to be a warm one.

Will her buyers pick up this book for its plot? Hopefully not, for their disappointment will be severe. As each character is introduced within their environment, the resulting events are glaringly predictable. Deanna's sexual perplexity conflicts with her newly acquired environmental outlook. What prompted her to write a thesis on coyotes remains an enigma. Lusa, a transplanted farm wife from the city, MUST somehow end up with the farm, making a go of it in novel fashion. It seems to be a genetic trait, but again, the causes remain vague. The crusty old man, Garnett Walker III, is the most predictable of all, and the cruelest. Kingsolver gives us a shambling clown, self-contained, irascible due to his infirmities and in constant contention with the world. Kingsolver may find cataracts, memory loss and dizzy spells humorous, but it will be interesting to see her outlook if these afflictions strike her at that age.

Her persistence in portraying all men as inadequate in one way or another has grown more than a little shopworn. Opening one of her books leads you inevitably into a mob of resourceful, enterprising women, all successful somehow even in the face of adversity. That adversity is always men - even when the failing is simply dying at "the wrong time." Walker is derived from the father in Poisonwood Bible, an over-Christianized geriatric who finds it difficult, strangely enough, to shed nearly eight decades of his upbringing. His "redemption" makes compelling narrative, but the genders could have been reversed without losing the impact. A young man is told to shove off, but, of course, only does so after his partner becomes pregnant. Formula stuff.

Kingsolver's descriptive powers will entice her legions of fans to this book. The city element among them will nod sympathetically. Rural readers, even outside Appalachia, may be confronted with some unpalatable truths, but it's unlikely their views will be modified by this novel. It's a good beach read for those who want to relax and escape, but there's nothing serious to reflect on here. Such concepts are better sought elsewhere. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Exploration of colonialism, 18 Nov 2008
A moving and well crafted novel, focussing on a family of American missionaries in Africa. It is narrated by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a Baptist preacher determined to convert the 'heathen' natives of a remote Congolese village. The Prices arrive in the Congo whilst it is still under colonial occupation, and stay throughout its independence and subsequent turmoil.

After a rather slow beginning, the narrators develop their distinctive voices and the story becomes more engrossing. There are plenty of humourous moments, as well as some tragic and moving events. At its heart, the novel is an ambitious exploration of colonialism and its effects.

Although admirable in its scope and an enjoyable enough read, the book lacked the emotional punch I expected given its reputation and theme. The structure was also rather flawed in my opinion, with the climax coming halfway through and the end then seeming overlong.

However, it is a well written novel and is certainly worth reading by anyone with an interest in Africa.

Absorbing a modern day classic, 03 Nov 2008
This book is truly a wonderful, gripping, beautifully written and absorbing book giving an insight into the life of a family which has been turned upside down due to the selfishness of the father. This is a book that everyone should read.

fantastic, 21 Jun 2008
getting into the book can take awhile but once your in you cant stop, read the whole book in 10 days

Brilliant - Colonialism & Humanity laid bare, 22 May 2008
Came across this book through another bood I'd read re the Congo and decided to give it a go. It was unputdownable. A story told through the eys of the 4 girls and their mother about their father's zealous Baptist mission to save the people of the Congo. The book encapsulates everything which is wrong with organised religion and significantly the flaws in colonial and post-colonial foreign policy. The fact that it achieves all of this without providing a moral lecture makes it all the more brilliant.

The story traces the pre-independence days and the post independence days and the battle for the "modern" white missionaries to survive in the primitive Congo a place which asks them to convert when what they have been sent there to do is to convert the Congo.

Your emotions for the protagonists vary from warmth and empathy to despising their very actions. It's a story that has no Hollywood ending in which good triumphs over evil because in the Congo there are varying degrees of good and varying degrees of evil and what is good now may be evil at another time.


Lovely!, 09 Apr 2008
This is one of those books that i've had on my shelf for an age and everytime I attempt to read it I just can't get into it. Luckily I tried again recently and I am so thankful that I did.
What a lovely book. Please read this!
The only judgement is that it really could have ended 3/4 of the way through, it seemed that it was merging into another book altogether towards the end. But nontheless I rate this very highly and it's definitely a book, and there are not many, that I will read several times throughout my life.


Beautiful story, 29 Sep 2008
I thought this was a beautifully written book. I thought her descriptions of nature and it's creatures were so vivid. Also her descriptions of the main characters and dialogue between them was meaningful and thought provoking. I especially loved the descriptions and the banter of the 2 older characters. Loved this book and also the Poisonwood bible which I have also read.

A prodigal book, 08 Apr 2008
I'll admit I'm not so much into nature-related books, but this tale took me completely by surprise, and a very pleasant one at that! My first book by Barbara Kingsolver and a discovery in every sense. Three different stories run on parallel grounds in the space of a summer and unbeknownst to the characters, they are all intertwined by the magic power of love and nature.

Three tales that gracefully connect with each other without ever being confusing for the reader, starting from Deanna, a reclusive forest ranger in the Appalachian mountains who loves her solitude and job but is taken aback by the unexpected meeting of a young hunter with whom she falls, reluctantly, in love. Then there are Lusa and Cole, newly married and living on his inherited farm. A twist of fate and Lusa's life changes dramatically and unexpectedly. And finally, old and widowed Mr. Walker (my own favourite character), a grumpy man in his eighties obsessed by his neighbour, Miss Rowley, whose attitude to life in general combined with her numerous apple trees seem to be there just to annoy him.
These are the cores of the tales, but all is layered by a triumphant description of mountain/farm/country life.

Different subjects are explored, loss, love, affection, strength, fragility, our place and meaning on this planet, as important and valuable as the one of a single little bug living under a leaf. All is delivered by a poetic and effective prose, embracing colours, smells, sensations and feelings in a powerful, yet delicate, way. Some episodes are definitely humorous, others so wise and profound, they bring tears to your eyes. Very touching.

A wonderful tale which celebrates life in all of its forms, a positive message and a hidden reminder that we should all be more appreciative of what, and whom, we are surrounded by.


A lot to think about, 06 Jan 2008
I finished this book a few days ago and can't stop thinking about it - it is so beautifully written and so wise. It totally immersed me in a world very different from my own - and yet, as we read, somehow connected too. I loved the intelligence of the factual information Kingsolver weaves into the beautiful plots. It's a book that makes you want to look after our world better.
I've already bought 2 more copies for my friends, as I don't want to pass on my copy!

Magical but real., 24 Aug 2006
I loved the way the author includes her magical descriptions of nature in the story. I was transported to another place while reading this. Nature is the protagonist in all her forms, human, animal and plant . Kingsolver uses her wealth of knowledge coupled with real feeling to create a lovely, thought-provoking tale.

Tobacco romance, 06 Mar 2006
Kingsolver's career as a science writer is successfully merged with her matchless descriptive skills in this novel. Set in the tobacco growing region of Appalachia, she uses the four women and a retired geneticist to discuss evolution, predator-prey relationships and modern farming practices to foster realistic thinking about environmental issues. These run from "pest elimination" to herbicide use. She deftly relates the different sex ploys of moths, coyotes and humans. The result leaves the human patterns more inexplicable than ever. The middle-aged Deanna encounters a man in the bush, and we never quite discern which of the pair is the seducer. Lexington Lusa loses a husband, but gains an adolescent. And a septuagenarian, to his everlasting shame, gets an erection over his neighbour, who is nearly as ancient as he.

It's unclear what the target market is for this book. Clearly, it isn't her former neighbours in Appalachia. Kingsolver's patronizing attitude toward the farm country patois is almost embarrassing. "Political correctness" hasn't reached down to regional speech patterns yet, apparently. Those tobacco farmers are unlikely to buy into her attempt to explain evolution and it's unlikely she's going to hamper coyote hunting there or anywhere else. The urban readers who have already learned about Darwin will buy this book out of loyalty. Will they learn anything new? Perhaps, but if they wander the countryside trying to sell Kingsolver's ideas as she does, their reception is likely to be a warm one.

Will her buyers pick up this book for its plot? Hopefully not, for their disappointment will be severe. As each character is introduced within their environment, the resulting events are glaringly predictable. Deanna's sexual perplexity conflicts with her newly acquired environmental outlook. What prompted her to write a thesis on coyotes remains an enigma. Lusa, a transplanted farm wife from the city, MUST somehow end up with the farm, making a go of it in novel fashion. It seems to be a genetic trait, but again, the causes remain vague. The crusty old man, Garnett Walker III, is the most predictable of all, and the cruelest. Kingsolver gives us a shambling clown, self-contained, irascible due to his infirmities and in constant contention with the world. Kingsolver may find cataracts, memory loss and dizzy spells humorous, but it will be interesting to see her outlook if these afflictions strike her at that age.

Her persistence in portraying all men as inadequate in one way or another has grown more than a little shopworn. Opening one of her books leads you inevitably into a mob of resourceful, enterprising women, all successful somehow even in the face of adversity. That adversity is always men - even when the failing is simply dying at "the wrong time." Walker is derived from the father in Poisonwood Bible, an over-Christianized geriatric who finds it difficult, strangely enough, to shed nearly eight decades of his upbringing. His "redemption" makes compelling narrative, but the genders could have been reversed without losing the impact. A young man is told to shove off, but, of course, only does so after his partner becomes pregnant. Formula stuff.

Kingsolver's descriptive powers will entice her legions of fans to this book. The city element among them will nod sympathetically. Rural readers, even outside Appalachia, may be confronted with some unpalatable truths, but it's unlikely their views will be modified by this novel. It's a good beach read for those who want to relax and escape, but there's nothing serious to reflect on here. Such concepts are better sought elsewhere. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

"Everything you ever get is really just on loan.", 22 Sep 2008
It's taken me a long time to discover Barbara Kingsolver, but I'm so glad I did. 'The Bean Trees', her first novel, is flawless and deeply enjoyable. It's a story of women surviving loss - self-effacing Lou-Ann, whose husband has dumped her; the car-mechanic widow, Mattie; blind Miss Poppy; and, most affectingly, Guatemalan refugee Esperanza, whose daughter was taken from her - all brought to life by Taylor Greer, one of the most genuine and likeable narrators you'll ever meet. Male characters are marginal, with one exception: Esperanza's husband, Estevan. Beautifully drawn, and an admirable person, he's an example of the inclusivity of Kingsolver's writing: she might be more focused on the lives of women, but she's never dismissive or contemptuous, except of society in general. (Her anger about the way in which refugees and Native Americans have been treated in the Land of the Free is nicely expressed: "The only legal way a person from Guatemala can stay here is if they can prove in court that their life was in danger. But when people run for their lives, they frequently forget to bring their filing cabinet.") She's a compassionate, good-hearted writer, on the side of the underdog, and she wants you to root for her victims and heroes, and avoid making harsh judgements of others.

This is a wonderful example of good writing: it makes you feel something for every character, and gradually augments your understanding of them; it compels you to read on, getting better all the time; it's perfectly balanced between dialogue and description; and the warm and witty observations are a real treat. On top of this, the physical backdrop to the book - the city of Tucson, its surrounding desert landscape, and Kentucky and Oklahoma - was unexpectedly pleasing. The best American novel I've read since Donna Tartt's 'The Secret History'.

a goodie, 09 Apr 2008
odd little book but one of the best ive read this year. unusual story but moving. liked it a lot. (didn't like the poisonwood bible though, glad i read this first).

Better than The Poisonwood Bible, 04 Nov 2006
I think this is Kingsolver's first book. I read it after The Poisonwood Bible because I had enjoyed that. This is shorter and in many ways lighter. - Set in the southern USA, it is almost a fable, of a young woman leaving her hometown to travel across the US to start a new life with more hope and possibility than in the smalltown, limited environment where she grew up. On the way she is given care of a young child. It is written in the first person and we read how shefinds a place to settle and the people she meets as she creates a life for herself and the child. We learn something of the child's background and the writer learns about herself. It touches on serious issues about refugees, prejudice, hardship, etc and the meaning of family and friendship, but in a light way.
It is a slight novel compared with The Poisonwood Bible, but worth the investment of a few hours. Some parts I suspect will linger in my memory - pleasantly.
I enjoyed this very much and recommend it

Disappointed as a Kingsolver fan, 08 Oct 2006
As a fan of The Poisonwood Bible and Prodigal Summer, I found the Bean Trees to be very disappointing compared to the previous Kingsolver books I have read and loved. One of the main aspects of Kingsolvers writing that is so compelling is generally her use of the biology and nature around her which is mainstreamed in her other novels. This not only makes them quite unique but greatly enhances the symbology and extends the characters and has made some of her other efforts so beautifully written. This is certainly lacking in the Bean Trees. Also the interlacing of the story from different perspectives / characters that is another Kingsolver trait pitters out very early on when everything becomes centred on one character after all the rest have met.

Most probably as a stand alone novel I would have rated it higher with 3 stars perhaps but as a Kingsolver fan it was a disappointment. If you have been recommended to look into Kingsolver books start with one of her better efforts - Prodigal Summer.

The Taylor of Tucson, 24 Feb 2006
Stories of women overcoming adversity are increasingly common. There's more than a little justice achieved by these tales. Many of them, particularly this work, show how women use their power of community to manage their lives successfully. These stories need to be told, and Kingsolver has given us a fine example. The community theme is superbly demonstrated in Estevan's metaphor of heaven and hell - hell is peopled with those who cannot reach out to others, starving in a kitchen full of food.

Lou Ann and "Taylor" are fellow Kentuckian exiles living in Tucson. The relocation has bought unexpected challenges to their lives. Not the least of these is the additional burden of infants: Lou Ann's by an unwanted pregnancy and Taylor's by an abandonment. What does it say about women that Taylor makes no attempt to off-load Turtle to a state agency, but keeps her to raise. Kingsolver evokes the reader's sympathy for both Taylor and Lou Ann, although both are in situations of their own making. Mattie, too, might have been given greater role, particularly since she provides so many fundamental changes in Taylor's life.

Kingsolver's character development makes wonderful reading. Occasionally, her descriptive powers overcome her characterization and Taylor waxes rather more eloquent than her background and education [which is almost entirely self-taught] would warrant. It's easy to forgive these lapses in light of how well she relates the story. Throughout the book i wondered why only Taylor speaks in the first person. A dual viewpoint of characters and events might have given this story more depth.

Estevan and his wife, Esperanza, are Guatemalan refugees. Kingsolver's use of these characters to point up America's support of the oppressive regime is depicted with skill. Taylor's growing awareness of conditions there represents that of the average American -it's visible only by direct confrontation. Unfortunately, Taylor lives where sympathy for refugees from oppressive regimes is minimal. The place is called the United States, symbolized, interestingly enough, by a woman standing in a harbour offering sanctuary to the oppressed.

There is a disturbing element in this and similar stories by and of today's women. Men here are universally portrayed without a redeeming feature. There are no "neutral" males who provide any form of support or reinforcement. Angel Ruiz could just as easily have lost more than a leg in his rodeo accident. Instead, he must be portrayed as a deserting husband. Kingsolver, however, has him appearing in cameos which only reinforce his role as the uncaring male. We are returned here to the early days of feminism in declaring males superfluous to the community of women. It's not a healthy indication for the future. If the atmosphere of "us versus them" intensifies, there will be greater backlash than is currently the case. If men have truly failed women over all these millennia, then it's reconciliation that's required, not intensifying of resentments. That only builds mutually reinforcing resentment. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Exploration of colonialism, 18 Nov 2008
A moving and well crafted novel, focussing on a family of American missionaries in Africa. It is narrated by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a Baptist preacher determined to convert the 'heathen' natives of a remote Congolese village. The Prices arrive in the Congo whilst it is still under colonial occupation, and stay throughout its independence and subsequent turmoil.

After a rather slow beginning, the narrators develop their distinctive voices and the story becomes more engrossing. There are plenty of humourous moments, as well as some tragic and moving events. At its heart, the novel is an ambitious exploration of colonialism and its effects.

Although admirable in its scope and an enjoyable enough read, the book lacked the emotional punch I expected given its reputation and theme. The structure was also rather flawed in my opinion, with the climax coming halfway through and the end then seeming overlong.

However, it is a well written novel and is certainly worth reading by anyone with an interest in Africa.

Absorbing a modern day classic, 03 Nov 2008
This book is truly a wonderful, gripping, beautifully written and absorbing book giving an insight into the life of a family which has been turned upside down due to the selfishness of the father. This is a book that everyone should read.

fantastic, 21 Jun 2008
getting into the book can take awhile but once your in you cant stop, read the whole book in 10 days

Brilliant - Colonialism & Humanity laid bare, 22 May 2008
Came across this book through another bood I'd read re the Congo and decided to give it a go. It was unputdownable. A story told through the eys of the 4 girls and their mother about their father's zealous Baptist mission to save the people of the Congo. The book encapsulates everything which is wrong with organised religion and significantly the flaws in colonial and post-colonial foreign policy. The fact that it achieves all of this without providing a moral lecture makes it all the more brilliant.

The story traces the pre-independence days and the post independence days and the battle for the "modern" white missionaries to survive in the primitive Congo a place which asks them to convert when what they have been sent there to do is to convert the Congo.

Your emotions for the protagonists vary from warmth and empathy to despising their very actions. It's a story that has no Hollywood ending in which good triumphs over evil because in the Congo there are varying degrees of good and varying degrees of evil and what is good now may be evil at another time.


Lovely!, 09 Apr 2008
This is one of those books that i've had on my shelf for an age and everytime I attempt to read it I just can't get into it. Luckily I tried again recently and I am so thankful that I did.
What a lovely book. Please read this!
The only judgement is that it really could have ended 3/4 of the way through, it seemed that it was merging into another book altogether towards the end. But nontheless I rate this very highly and it's definitely a book, and there are not many, that I will read several times throughout my life.


Beautiful story, 29 Sep 2008
I thought this was a beautifully written book. I thought her descriptions of nature and it's creatures were so vivid. Also her descriptions of the main characters and dialogue between them was meaningful and thought provoking. I especially loved the descriptions and the banter of the 2 older characters. Loved this book and also the Poisonwood bible which I have also read.

A prodigal book, 08 Apr 2008
I'll admit I'm not so much into nature-related books, but this tale took me completely by surprise, and a very pleasant one at that! My first book by Barbara Kingsolver and a discovery in every sense. Three different stories run on parallel grounds in the space of a summer and unbeknownst to the characters, they are all intertwined by the magic power of love and nature.

Three tales that gracefully connect with each other without ever being confusing for the reader, starting from Deanna, a reclusive forest ranger in the Appalachian mountains who loves her solitude and job but is taken aback by the unexpected meeting of a young hunter with whom she falls, reluctantly, in love. Then there are Lusa and Cole, newly married and living on his inherited farm. A twist of fate and Lusa's life changes dramatically and unexpectedly. And finally, old and widowed Mr. Walker (my own favourite character), a grumpy man in his eighties obsessed by his neighbour, Miss Rowley, whose attitude to life in general combined with her numerous apple trees seem to be there just to annoy him.
These are the cores of the tales, but all is layered by a triumphant description of mountain/farm/country life.

Different subjects are explored, loss, love, affection, strength, fragility, our place and meaning on this planet, as important and valuable as the one of a single little bug living under a leaf. All is delivered by a poetic and effective prose, embracing colours, smells, sensations and feelings in a powerful, yet delicate, way. Some episodes are definitely humorous, others so wise and profound, they bring tears to your eyes. Very touching.

A wonderful tale which celebrates life in all of its forms, a positive message and a hidden reminder that we should all be more appreciative of what, and whom, we are surrounded by.


A lot to think about, 06 Jan 2008
I finished this book a few days ago and can't stop thinking about it - it is so beautifully written and so wise. It totally immersed me in a world very different from my own - and yet, as we read, somehow connected too. I loved the intelligence of the factual information Kingsolver weaves into the beautiful plots. It's a book that makes you want to look after our world better.
I've already bought 2 more copies for my friends, as I don't want to pass on my copy!

Magical but real., 24 Aug 2006
I loved the way the author includes her magical descriptions of nature in the story. I was transported to another place while reading this. Nature is the protagonist in all her forms, human, animal and plant . Kingsolver uses her wealth of knowledge coupled with real feeling to create a lovely, thought-provoking tale.

Tobacco romance, 06 Mar 2006
Kingsolver's career as a science writer is successfully merged with her matchless descriptive skills in this novel. Set in the tobacco growing region of Appalachia, she uses the four women and a retired geneticist to discuss evolution, predator-prey relationships and modern farming practices to foster realistic thinking about environmental issues. These run from "pest elimination" to herbicide use. She deftly relates the different sex ploys of moths, coyotes and humans. The result leaves the human patterns more inexplicable than ever. The middle-aged Deanna encounters a man in the bush, and we never quite discern which of the pair is the seducer. Lexington Lusa loses a husband, but gains an adolescent. And a septuagenarian, to his everlasting shame, gets an erection over his neighbour, who is nearly as ancient as he.

It's unclear what the target market is for this book. Clearly, it isn't her former neighbours in Appalachia. Kingsolver's patronizing attitude toward the farm country patois is almost embarrassing. "Political correctness" hasn't reached down to regional speech patterns yet, apparently. Those tobacco farmers are unlikely to buy into her attempt to explain evolution and it's unlikely she's going to hamper coyote hunting there or anywhere else. The urban readers who have already learned about Darwin will buy this book out of loyalty. Will they learn anything new? Perhaps, but if they wander the countryside trying to sell Kingsolver's ideas as she does, their reception is likely to be a warm one.

Will her buyers pick up this book for its plot? Hopefully not, for their disappointment will be severe. As each character is introduced within their environment, the resulting events are glaringly predictable. Deanna's sexual perplexity conflicts with her newly acquired environmental outlook. What prompted her to write a thesis on coyotes remains an enigma. Lusa, a transplanted farm wife from the city, MUST somehow end up with the farm, making a go of it in novel fashion. It seems to be a genetic trait, but again, the causes remain vague. The crusty old man, Garnett Walker III, is the most predictable of all, and the cruelest. Kingsolver gives us a shambling clown, self-contained, irascible due to his infirmities and in constant contention with the world. Kingsolver may find cataracts, memory loss and dizzy spells humorous, but it will be interesting to see her outlook if these afflictions strike her at that age.

Her persistence in portraying all men as inadequate in one way or another has grown more than a little shopworn. Opening one of her books leads you inevitably into a mob of resourceful, enterprising women, all successful somehow even in the face of adversity. That adversity is always men - even when the failing is simply dying at "the wrong time." Walker is derived from the father in Poisonwood Bible, an over-Christianized geriatric who finds it difficult, strangely enough, to shed nearly eight decades of his upbringing. His "redemption" makes compelling narrative, but the genders could have been reversed without losing the impact. A young man is told to shove off, but, of course, only does so after his partner becomes pregnant. Formula stuff.

Kingsolver's descriptive powers will entice her legions of fans to this book. The city element among them will nod sympathetically. Rural readers, even outside Appalachia, may be confronted with some unpalatable truths, but it's unlikely their views will be modified by this novel. It's a good beach read for those who want to relax and escape, but there's nothing serious to reflect on here. Such concepts are better sought elsewhere. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

"Everything you ever get is really just on loan.", 22 Sep 2008
It's taken me a long time to discover Barbara Kingsolver, but I'm so glad I did. 'The Bean Trees', her first novel, is flawless and deeply enjoyable. It's a story of women surviving loss - self-effacing Lou-Ann, whose husband has dumped her; the car-mechanic widow, Mattie; blind Miss Poppy; and, most affectingly, Guatemalan refugee Esperanza, whose daughter was taken from her - all brought to life by Taylor Greer, one of the most genuine and likeable narrators you'll ever meet. Male characters are marginal, with one exception: Esperanza's husband, Estevan. Beautifully drawn, and an admirable person, he's an example of the inclusivity of Kingsolver's writing: she might be more focused on the lives of women, but she's never dismissive or contemptuous, except of society in general. (Her anger about the way in which refugees and Native Americans have been treated in the Land of the Free is nicely expressed: "The only legal way a person from Guatemala can stay here is if they can prove in court that their life was in danger. But when people run for their lives, they frequently forget to bring their filing cabinet.") She's a compassionate, good-hearted writer, on the side of the underdog, and she wants you to root for her victims and heroes, and avoid making harsh judgements of others.

This is a wonderful example of good writing: it makes you feel something for every character, and gradually augments your understanding of them; it compels you to read on, getting better all the time; it's perfectly balanced between dialogue and description; and the warm and witty observations are a real treat. On top of this, the physical backdrop to the book - the city of Tucson, its surrounding desert landscape, and Kentucky and Oklahoma - was unexpectedly pleasing. The best American novel I've read since Donna Tartt's 'The Secret History'.

a goodie, 09 Apr 2008
odd little book but one of the best ive read this year. unusual story but moving. liked it a lot. (didn't like the poisonwood bible though, glad i read this first).

Better than The Poisonwood Bible, 04 Nov 2006
I think this is Kingsolver's first book. I read it after The Poisonwood Bible because I had enjoyed that. This is shorter and in many ways lighter. - Set in the southern USA, it is almost a fable, of a young woman leaving her hometown to travel across the US to start a new life with more hope and possibility than in the smalltown, limited environment where she grew up. On the way she is given care of a young child. It is written in the first person and we read how shefinds a place to settle and the people she meets as she creates a life for herself and the child. We learn something of the child's background and the writer learns about herself. It touches on serious issues about refugees, prejudice, hardship, etc and the meaning of family and friendship, but in a light way.
It is a slight novel compared with The Poisonwood Bible, but worth the investment of a few hours. Some parts I suspect will linger in my memory - pleasantly.
I enjoyed this very much and recommend it

Disappointed as a Kingsolver fan, 08 Oct 2006
As a fan of The Poisonwood Bible and Prodigal Summer, I found the Bean Trees to be very disappointing compared to the previous Kingsolver books I have read and loved. One of the main aspects of Kingsolvers writing that is so compelling is generally her use of the biology and nature around her which is mainstreamed in her other novels. This not only makes them quite unique but greatly enhances the symbology and extends the characters and has made some of her other efforts so beautifully written. This is certainly lacking in the Bean Trees. Also the interlacing of the story from different perspectives / characters that is another Kingsolver trait pitters out very early on when everything becomes centred on one character after all the rest have met.

Most probably as a stand alone novel I would have rated it higher with 3 stars perhaps but as a Kingsolver fan it was a disappointment. If you have been recommended to look into Kingsolver books start with one of her better efforts - Prodigal Summer.

The Taylor of Tucson, 24 Feb 2006
Stories of women overcoming adversity are increasingly common. There's more than a little justice achieved by these tales. Many of them, particularly this work, show how women use their power of community to manage their lives successfully. These stories need to be told, and Kingsolver has given us a fine example. The community theme is superbly demonstrated in Estevan's metaphor of heaven and hell - hell is peopled with those who cannot reach out to others, starving in a kitchen full of food.

Lou Ann and "Taylor" are fellow Kentuckian exiles living in Tucson. The relocation has bought unexpected challenges to their lives. Not the least of these is the additional burden of infants: Lou Ann's by an unwanted pregnancy and Taylor's by an abandonment. What does it say about women that Taylor makes no attempt to off-load Turtle to a state agency, but keeps her to raise. Kingsolver evokes the reader's sympathy for both Taylor and Lou Ann, although both are in situations of their own making. Mattie, too, might have been given greater role, particularly since she provides so many fundamental changes in Taylor's life.

Kingsolver's character development makes wonderful reading. Occasionally, her descriptive powers overcome her characterization and Taylor waxes rather more eloquent than her background and education [which is almost entirely self-taught] would warrant. It's easy to forgive these lapses in light of how well she relates the story. Throughout the book i wondered why only Taylor speaks in the first person. A dual viewpoint of characters and events might have given this story more depth.

Estevan and his wife, Esperanza, are Guatemalan refugees. Kingsolver's use of these characters to point up America's support of the oppressive regime is depicted with skill. Taylor's growing awareness of conditions there represents that of the average American -it's visible only by direct confrontation. Unfortunately, Taylor lives where sympathy for refugees from oppressive regimes is minimal. The place is called the United States, symbolized, interestingly enough, by a woman standing in a harbour offering sanctuary to the oppressed.

There is a disturbing element in this and similar stories by and of today's women. Men here are universally portrayed without a redeeming feature. There are no "neutral" males who provide any form of support or reinforcement. Angel Ruiz could just as easily have lost more than a leg in his rodeo accident. Instead, he must be portrayed as a deserting husband. Kingsolver, however, has him appearing in cameos which only reinforce his role as the uncaring male. We are returned here to the early days of feminism in declaring males superfluous to the community of women. It's not a healthy indication for the future. If the atmosphere of "us versus them" intensifies, there will be greater backlash than is currently the case. If men have truly failed women over all these millennia, then it's reconciliation that's required, not intensifying of resentments. That only builds mutually reinforcing resentment. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Pigs in Heaven, 21 Sep 2003
I just finished reading "Pigs in Heaven" by Barbara Kinsolver. I didn't read the prequel to it, but I have to say that this book even by itself was a wonderful book. I really enjoyed it. It was a touching story that left you beging for more at the end.

An unusual story that will get you thinking, 21 Aug 2003
An insightful work from the other side of the Atlantic. You mean middle class, white Americans aren't ALWAYS 100% right??! This is really thought provoking stuff that makes you realise no side of an argument or belief system ever holds all the answers.

Don't me misled though, this isn't 'worthy' soap box stuff, it's a darned good read, full of sympathetic, three dimensional characters. Read the Bean Trees first though, this is the sequel.

For Ms Kingsolver's real masterpiece, I'd recommend The Poisonwood Bible. Absolutely brilliant.

Good, but "The Bean Trees" is better, 16 Jul 2003
Kingsolver is one of my favourite new discoveries. "The Poisonwood Bible" is so good it hurts, "The Prodigal Summer" oozes great characters and descriptions of both human and animal behaviour that take your breath away. Kingsolver still has her moments of brilliance in this novel; I wanted to copy out the description of Turtle's reaction to being in a plane and make everyone I know read it, but the whole is not as satisfying as many of her other works. "Pigs in Heaven" does not disappoint exactly, but the ironic, intelligent voice of Taylor Greer, which made "The Bean Trees" such a delight is missing, and with it goes much of the charm of the earlier work.

Probably the best ending you'll ever read in a book!, 14 Nov 2001
The story involves 3 generations of women, the mother, Alice, the daughter, Tyler, and Tyler's adopted Cherokee daughter, Turtle. As a consequence of appearing on a TV show because Turtle has saved someone's life, all their futures change. This is a brilliant book, not just for the story (which is excellent) but also for the additional information on the American Indian's history and present problems. A brilliant book - with the best ending you will ever read!

Very Special!, 20 Jun 2001
What a wonderful world I had the pleasure of sharing last night. Could not put this down. I read the 2nd half of it last night (until 2am!). Don't bother about the reviews crit'ing the use of Americanese... it suits the characters perfectly! Just buy it straight away. It is truly wonderful.

Exploration of colonialism, 18 Nov 2008
A moving and well crafted novel, focussing on a family of American missionaries in Africa. It is narrated by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a Baptist preacher determined to convert the 'heathen' natives of a remote Congolese village. The Prices arrive in the Congo whilst it is still under colonial occupation, and stay throughout its independence and subsequent turmoil.

After a rather slow beginning, the narrators develop their distinctive voices and the story becomes more engrossing. There are plenty of humourous moments, as well as some tragic and moving events. At its heart, the novel is an ambitious exploration of colonialism and its effects.

Although admirable in its scope and an enjoyable enough read, the book lacked the emotional punch I expected given its reputation and theme. The structure was also rather flawed in my opinion, with the climax coming halfway through and the end then seeming overlong.

However, it is a well written novel and is certainly worth reading by anyone with an interest in Africa.

Absorbing a modern day classic, 03 Nov 2008
This book is truly a wonderful, gripping, beautifully written and absorbing book giving an insight into the life of a family which has been turned upside down due to the selfishness of the father. This is a book that everyone should read.

fantastic, 21 Jun 2008
getting into the book can take awhile but once your in you cant stop, read the whole book in 10 days

Brilliant - Colonialism & Humanity laid bare, 22 May 2008
Came across this book through another bood I'd read re the Congo and decided to give it a go. It was unputdownable. A story told through the eys of the 4 girls and their mother about their father's zealous Baptist mission to save the people of the Congo. The book encapsulates everything which is wrong with organised religion and significantly the flaws in colonial and post-colonial foreign policy. The fact that it achieves all of this without providing a moral lecture makes it all the more brilliant.

The story traces the pre-independence days and the post independence days and the battle for the "modern" white missionaries to survive in the primitive Congo a place which asks them to convert when what they have been sent there to do is to convert the Congo.

Your emotions for the protagonists vary from warmth and empathy to despising their very actions. It's a story that has no Hollywood ending in which good triumphs over evil because in the Congo there are varying degrees of good and varying degrees of evil and what is good now may be evil at another time.


Lovely!, 09 Apr 2008
This is one of those books that i've had on my shelf for an age and everytime I attempt to read it I just can't get into it. Luckily I tried again recently and I am so thankful that I did.
What a lovely book. Please read this!
The only judgement is that it really could have ended 3/4 of the way through, it seemed that it was merging into another book altogether towards the end. But nontheless I rate this very highly and it's definitely a book, and there are not many, that I will read several times throughout my life.


Beautiful story, 29 Sep 2008
I thought this was a beautifully written book. I thought her descriptions of nature and it's creatures were so vivid. Also her descriptions of the main characters and dialogue between them was meaningful and thought provoking. I especially loved the descriptions and the banter of the 2 older characters. Loved this book and also the Poisonwood bible which I have also read.

A prodigal book, 08 Apr 2008
I'll admit I'm not so much into nature-related books, but this tale took me completely by surprise, and a very pleasant one at that! My first book by Barbara Kingsolver and a discovery in every sense. Three different stories run on parallel grounds in the space of a summer and unbeknownst to the characters, they are all intertwined by the magic power of love and nature.

Three tales that gracefully connect with each other without ever being confusing for the reader, starting from Deanna, a reclusive forest ranger in the Appalachian mountains who loves her solitude and job but is taken aback by the unexpected meeting of a young hunter with whom she falls, reluctantly, in love. Then there are Lusa and Cole, newly married and living on his inherited farm. A twist of fate and Lusa's life changes dramatically and unexpectedly. And finally, old and widowed Mr. Walker (my own favourite character), a grumpy man in his eighties obsessed by his neighbour, Miss Rowley, whose attitude to life in general combined with her numerous apple trees seem to be there just to annoy him.
These are the cores of the tales, but all is layered by a triumphant description of mountain/farm/country life.

Different subjects are explored, loss, love, affection, strength, fragility, our place and meaning on this planet, as important and valuable as the one of a single little bug living under a leaf. All is delivered by a poetic and effective prose, embracing colours, smells, sensations and feelings in a powerful, yet delicate, way. Some episodes are definitely humorous, others so wise and profound, they bring tears to your eyes. Very touching.

A wonderful tale which celebrates life in all of its forms, a positive message and a hidden reminder that we should all be more appreciative of what, and whom, we are surrounded by.


A lot to think about, 06 Jan 2008
I finished this book a few days ago and can't stop thinking about it - it is so beautifully written and so wise. It totally immersed me in a world very different from my own - and yet, as we read, somehow connected too. I loved the intelligence of the factual information Kingsolver weaves into the beautiful plots. It's a book that makes you want to look after our world better.
I've already bought 2 more copies for my friends, as I don't want to pass on my copy!

Magical but real., 24 Aug 2006
I loved the way the author includes her magical descriptions of nature in the story. I was transported to another place while reading this. Nature is the protagonist in all her forms, human, animal and plant . Kingsolver uses her wealth of knowledge coupled with real feeling to create a lovely, thought-provoking tale.

Tobacco romance, 06 Mar 2006
Kingsolver's career as a science writer is successfully merged with her matchless descriptive skills in this novel. Set in the tobacco growing region of Appalachia, she uses the four women and a retired geneticist to discuss evolution, predator-prey relationships and modern farming practices to foster realistic thinking about environmental issues. These run from "pest elimination" to herbicide use. She deftly relates the different sex ploys of moths, coyotes and humans. The result leaves the human patterns more inexplicable than ever. The middle-aged Deanna encounters a man in the bush, and we never quite discern which of the pair is the seducer. Lexington Lusa loses a husband, but gains an adolescent. And a septuagenarian, to his everlasting shame, gets an erection over his neighbour, who is nearly as ancient as he.

It's unclear what the target market is for this book. Clearly, it isn't her former neighbours in Appalachia. Kingsolver's patronizing attitude toward the farm country patois is almost embarrassing. "Political correctness" hasn't reached down to regional speech patterns yet, apparently. Those tobacco farmers are unlikely to buy into her attempt to explain evolution and it's unlikely she's going to hamper coyote hunting there or anywhere else. The urban readers who have already learned about Darwin will buy this book out of loyalty. Will they learn anything new? Perhaps, but if they wander the countryside trying to sell Kingsolver's ideas as she does, their reception is likely to be a warm one.

Will her buyers pick up this book for its plot? Hopefully not, for their disappointment will be severe. As each character is introduced within their environment, the resulting events are glaringly predictable. Deanna's sexual perplexity conflicts with her newly acquired environmental outlook. What prompted her to write a thesis on coyotes remains an enigma. Lusa, a transplanted farm wife from the city, MUST somehow end up with the farm, making a go of it in novel fashion. It seems to be a genetic trait, but again, the causes remain vague. The crusty old man, Garnett Walker III, is the most predictable of all, and the cruelest. Kingsolver gives us a shambling clown, self-contained, irascible due to his infirmities and in constant contention with the world. Kingsolver may find cataracts, memory loss and dizzy spells humorous, but it will be interesting to see her outlook if these afflictions strike her at that age.

Her persistence in portraying all men as inadequate in one way or another has grown more than a little shopworn. Opening one of her books leads you inevitably into a mob of resourceful, enterprising women, all successful somehow even in the face of adversity. That adversity is always men - even when the failing is simply dying at "the wrong time." Walker is derived from the father in Poisonwood Bible, an over-Christianized geriatric who finds it difficult, strangely enough, to shed nearly eight decades of his upbringing. His "redemption" makes compelling narrative, but the genders could have been reversed without losing the impact. A young man is told to shove off, but, of course, only does so after his partner becomes pregnant. Formula stuff.

Kingsolver's descriptive powers will entice her legions of fans to this book. The city element among them will nod sympathetically. Rural readers, even outside Appalachia, may be confronted with some unpalatable truths, but it's unlikely their views will be modified by this novel. It's a good beach read for those who want to relax and escape, but there's nothing serious to reflect on here. Such concepts are better sought elsewhere. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

"Everything you ever get is really just on loan.", 22 Sep 2008
It's taken me a long time to discover Barbara Kingsolver, but I'm so glad I did. 'The Bean Trees', her first novel, is flawless and deeply enjoyable. It's a story of women surviving loss - self-effacing Lou-Ann, whose husband has dumped her; the car-mechanic widow, Mattie; blind Miss Poppy; and, most affectingly, Guatemalan refugee Esperanza, whose daughter was taken from her - all brought to life by Taylor Greer, one of the most genuine and likeable narrators you'll ever meet. Male characters are marginal, with one exception: Esperanza's husband, Estevan. Beautifully drawn, and an admirable person, he's an example of the inclusivity of Kingsolver's writing: she might be more focused on the lives of women, but she's never dismissive or contemptuous, except of society in general. (Her anger about the way in which refugees and Native Americans have been treated in the Land of the Free is nicely expressed: "The only legal way a person from Guatemala can stay here is if they can prove in court that their life was in danger. But when people run for their lives, they frequently forget to bring their filing cabinet.") She's a compassionate, good-hearted writer, on the side of the underdog, and she wants you to root for her victims and heroes, and avoid making harsh judgements of others.

This is a wonderful example of good writing: it makes you feel something for every character, and gradually augments your understanding of them; it compels you to read on, getting better all the time; it's perfectly balanced between dialogue and description; and the warm and witty observations are a real treat. On top of this, the physical backdrop to the book - the city of Tucson, its surrounding desert landscape, and Kentucky and Oklahoma - was unexpectedly pleasing. The best American novel I've read since Donna Tartt's 'The Secret History'.

a goodie, 09 Apr 2008
odd little book but one of the best ive read this year. unusual story but moving. liked it a lot. (didn't like the poisonwood bible though, glad i read this first).

Better than The Poisonwood Bible, 04 Nov 2006
I think this is Kingsolver's first book. I read it after The Poisonwood Bible because I had enjoyed that. This is shorter and in many ways lighter. - Set in the southern USA, it is almost a fable, of a young woman leaving her hometown to travel across the US to start a new life with more hope and possibility than in the smalltown, limited environment where she grew up. On the way she is given care of a young child. It is written in the first person and we read how shefinds a place to settle and the people she meets as she creates a life for herself and the child. We learn something of the child's background and the writer learns about herself. It touches on serious issues about refugees, prejudice, hardship, etc and the meaning of family and friendship, but in a light way.
It is a slight novel compared with The Poisonwood Bible, but worth the investment of a few hours. Some parts I suspect will linger in my memory - pleasantly.
I enjoyed this very much and recommend it

Disappointed as a Kingsolver fan, 08 Oct 2006
As a fan of The Poisonwood Bible and Prodigal Summer, I found the Bean Trees to be very disappointing compared to the previous Kingsolver books I have read and loved. One of the main aspects of Kingsolvers writing that is so compelling is generally her use of the biology and nature around her which is mainstreamed in her other novels. This not only makes them quite unique but greatly enhances the symbology and extends the characters and has made some of her other efforts so beautifully written. This is certainly lacking in the Bean Trees. Also the interlacing of the story from different perspectives / characters that is another Kingsolver trait pitters out very early on when everything becomes centred on one character after all the rest have met.

Most probably as a stand alone novel I would have rated it higher with 3 stars perhaps but as a Kingsolver fan it was a disappointment. If you have been recommended to look into Kingsolver books start with one of her better efforts - Prodigal Summer.

The Taylor of Tucson, 24 Feb 2006
Stories of women overcoming adversity are increasingly common. There's more than a little justice achieved by these tales. Many of them, particularly this work, show how women use their power of community to manage their lives successfully. These stories need to be told, and Kingsolver has given us a fine example. The community theme is superbly demonstrated in Estevan's metaphor of heaven and hell - hell is peopled with those who cannot reach out to others, starving in a kitchen full of food.

Lou Ann and "Taylor" are fellow Kentuckian exiles living in Tucson. The relocation has bought unexpected challenges to their lives. Not the least of these is the additional burden of infants: Lou Ann's by an unwanted pregnancy and Taylor's by an abandonment. What does it say about women that Taylor makes no attempt to off-load Turtle to a state agency, but keeps her to raise. Kingsolver evokes the reader's sympathy for both Taylor and Lou Ann, although both are in situations of their own making. Mattie, too, might have been given greater role, particularly since she provides so many fundamental changes in Taylor's life.

Kingsolver's character development makes wonderful reading. Occasionally, her descriptive powers overcome her characterization and Taylor waxes rather more eloquent than her background and education [which is almost entirely self-taught] would warrant. It's easy to forgive these lapses in light of how well she relates the story. Throughout the book i wondered why only Taylor speaks in the first person. A dual viewpoint of characters and events might have given this story more depth.

Estevan and his wife, Esperanza, are Guatemalan refugees. Kingsolver's use of these characters to point up America's support of the oppressive regime is depicted with skill. Taylor's growing awareness of conditions there represents that of the average American -it's visible only by direct confrontation. Unfortunately, Taylor lives where sympathy for refugees from oppressive regimes is minimal. The place is called the United States, symbolized, interestingly enough, by a woman standing in a harbour offering sanctuary to the oppressed.

There is a disturbing element in this and similar stories by and of today's women. Men here are universally portrayed without a redeeming feature. There are no "neutral" males who provide any form of support or reinforcement. Angel Ruiz could just as easily have lost more than a leg in his rodeo accident. Instead, he must be portrayed as a deserting husband. Kingsolver, however, has him appearing in cameos which only reinforce his role as the uncaring male. We are returned here to the early days of feminism in declaring males superfluous to the community of women. It's not a healthy indication for the future. If the atmosphere of "us versus them" intensifies, there will be greater backlash than is currently the case. If men have truly failed women over all these millennia, then it's reconciliation that's required, not intensifying of resentments. That only builds mutually reinforcing resentment. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Pigs in Heaven, 21 Sep 2003
I just finished reading "Pigs in Heaven" by Barbara Kinsolver. I didn't read the prequel to it, but I have to say that this book even by itself was a wonderful book. I really enjoyed it. It was a touching story that left you beging for more at the end.

An unusual story that will get you thinking, 21 Aug 2003
An insightful work from the other side of the Atlantic. You mean middle class, white Americans aren't ALWAYS 100% right??! This is really thought provoking stuff that makes you realise no side of an argument or belief system ever holds all the answers.

Don't me misled though, this isn't 'worthy' soap box stuff, it's a darned good read, full of sympathetic, three dimensional characters. Read the Bean Trees first though, this is the sequel.

For Ms Kingsolver's real masterpiece, I'd recommend The Poisonwood Bible. Absolutely brilliant.

Good, but "The Bean Trees" is better, 16 Jul 2003
Kingsolver is one of my favourite new discoveries. "The Poisonwood Bible" is so good it hurts, "The Prodigal Summer" oozes great characters and descriptions of both human and animal behaviour that take your breath away. Kingsolver still has her moments of brilliance in this novel; I wanted to copy out the description of Turtle's reaction to being in a plane and make everyone I know read it, but the whole is not as satisfying as many of her other works. "Pigs in Heaven" does not disappoint exactly, but the ironic, intelligent voice of Taylor Greer, which made "The Bean Trees" such a delight is missing, and with it goes much of the charm of the earlier work.

Probably the best ending you'll ever read in a book!, 14 Nov 2001
The story involves 3 generations of women, the mother, Alice, the daughter, Tyler, and Tyler's adopted Cherokee daughter, Turtle. As a consequence of appearing on a TV show because Turtle has saved someone's life, all their futures change. This is a brilliant book, not just for the story (which is excellent) but also for the additional information on the American Indian's history and present problems. A brilliant book - with the best ending you will ever read!

Very Special!, 20 Jun 2001
What a wonderful world I had the pleasure of sharing last night. Could not put this down. I read the 2nd half of it last night (until 2am!). Don't bother about the reviews crit'ing the use of Americanese... it suits the characters perfectly! Just buy it straight away. It is truly wonderful.

Did not live up to author's best, 25 Aug 2005
Touching and readable but not a patch on Kingsolvers "Poisonwood Bible ". Disappointing ending with lots of unanswered questions.

Beautifully written story of love and ecology, 20 Aug 2004
Like many people, I first encountered Kingsolver's work through the magnificent The Poisonwood Bible. After finishing it, I turned to her other novels - one of which was Animal Dreams. To a certain extent, it's a disappointing read in comparison with the scale of The Poisonwood Bible: it lacks the different narrators with their compelling and individual voices and the epic vision which she brought to the relationship between Africa and the 'First World'. However, Animal Dreams is written with the same compassion, the same insight into the lives and emotions of women, the same understanding of complex parent-child relationships, and the same passionate, fervant and whole-hearted sorrow and anger at humankind's lack of respect for the environment. The book is the story of Codi, returning to her home town where she was an unhappy teenager whose life was marked by two familial deaths, because her father, the town doctor, is losing his memory and becoming confused. Her sister Hallie is in Africa, helping to rebuild a community. Kingsolver charts Codi's relationship with the town, its inhabitants, her father, Hallie and Loyd, whom she dated a few times in high school, with skill and humour. Codi is an utterly believable character, traumatised by unhappy events in the past and unsure if she is willing to risk hurt again. Kingsolver's best writing occurs when she describes the landscape and the damage perpetrated upon it by greedy corporations, although the novel veers towards the didactic at times. I felt that Codi's relationship with Loyd is a little unconvincing. Loyd is never fully realised, and his Native American descent makes him virtuous, in perfect communion with the landscape, and able to heal Codi's emotional wounds; perhaps Kingsolver should have made him less of a paragon. I would love to see Kingsolver tackle her themes on a larger scale and tackle the 'great American novel', but this is certainly a moving and evocative read, which I definitely recommend to everyone.

Pages steeped in an addictive drug, 19 Jul 2000
I was totally reluctant to read Kingsolver...a friend of mine kept pestering me and pestering me to read her books and i just never wanted to. But then she sent me a copy of 'Animal Dreams' and i read it out of politeness, not expecting much other than a nice cover design to look at. I was sort of wrong. The book must have been steeped in some kind of addictive drug that made me finish it in two days flat. The characters lived inside my head and i just wanted to be them, know more about them...

Intelligent entertainment, but not much more, 26 Oct 1999
Animal Dreams starts out very promisingly, with a lot of local color and interesting demons sitting on the shoulders of the protagonists. However, the color and interest then develop into the gloss and attraction of a classy interior decoration magazine. It even includes the exotic interiors (Apache, Navajo and Latin American) usually also found in these magazines. The difference between them lies in the genuinely expressed socio-eco-political undertow of the novel. It seems Kingsolver wants to cover as many as possible of various socio-eco-political themes; she should have constrained her appetite. I give the book three crowns because I love classy interior decoration magazines and appreciate the earnest effort at involving social themes.

Reminded me how beautiful writing can be, 02 Sep 1999
Barbara Kingsolver weaves words with the ease and artistry of those who are truly gifted. And Animal Dreams contains some of her most beautiful writing. Her images are so vivid they drew me in and wrapped me in their language. Her characters and relationships are true and as poignant and sad as they are strong and beautiful. I keep this book close by because it inspires me to write and to read beautiful work.

Exploration of colonialism, 18 Nov 2008
A moving and well crafted novel, focussing on a family of American missionaries in Africa. It is narrated by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a Baptist preacher determined to convert the 'heathen' natives of a remote Congolese village. The Prices arrive in the Congo whilst it is still under colonial occupation, and stay throughout its independence and subsequent turmoil.

After a rather slow beginning, the narrators develop their distinctive voices and the story becomes more engrossing. There are plenty of humourous moments, as well as some tragic and moving events. At its heart, the novel is an ambitious exploration of colonialism and its effects.

Although admirable in its scope and an enjoyable enough read, the book lacked the emotional punch I expected given its reputation and theme. The structure was also rather flawed in my opinion, with the climax coming halfway through and the end then seeming overlong.

However, it is a well written novel and is certainly worth reading by anyone with an interest in Africa.

Absorbing a modern day classic, 03 Nov 2008
This book is truly a wonderful, gripping, beautifully written and absorbing book giving an insight into the life of a family which has been turned upside down due to the selfishness of the father. This is a book that everyone should read.

fantastic, 21 Jun 2008
getting into the book can take awhile but once your in you cant stop, read the whole book in 10 days

Brilliant - Colonialism & Humanity laid bare, 22 May 2008
Came across this book through another bood I'd read re the Congo and decided to give it a go. It was unputdownable. A story told through the eys of the 4 girls and their mother about their father's zealous Baptist mission to save the people of the Congo. The book encapsulates everything which is wrong with organised religion and significantly the flaws in colonial and post-colonial foreign policy. The fact that it achieves all of this without providing a moral lecture makes it all the more brilliant.

The story traces the pre-independence days and the post independence days and the battle for the "modern" white missionaries to survive in the primitive Congo a place which asks them to convert when what they have been sent there to do is to convert the Congo.

Your emotions for the protagonists vary from warmth and empathy to despising their very actions. It's a story that has no Hollywood ending in which good triumphs over evil because in the Congo there are varying degrees of good and varying degrees of evil and what is good now may be evil at another time.


Lovely!, 09 Apr 2008
This is one of those books that i've had on my shelf for an age and everytime I attempt to read it I just can't get into it. Luckily I tried again recently and I am so thankful that I did.
What a lovely book. Please read this!
The only judgement is that it really could have ended 3/4 of the way through, it seemed that it was merging into another book altogether towards the end. But nontheless I rate this very highly and it's definitely a book, and there are not many, that I will read several times throughout my life.


Beautiful story, 29 Sep 2008
I thought this was a beautifully written book. I thought her descriptions of nature and it's creatures were so vivid. Also her descriptions of the main characters and dialogue between them was meaningful and thought provoking. I especially loved the descriptions and the banter of the 2 older characters. Loved this book and also the Poisonwood bible which I have also read.

A prodigal book, 08 Apr 2008
I'll admit I'm not so much into nature-related books, but this tale took me completely by surprise, and a very pleasant one at that! My first book by Barbara Kingsolver and a discovery in every sense. Three different stories run on parallel grounds in the space of a summer and unbeknownst to the characters, they are all intertwined by the magic power of love and nature.

Three tales that gracefully connect with each other without ever being confusing for the reader, starting from Deanna, a reclusive forest ranger in the Appalachian mountains who loves her solitude and job but is taken aback by the unexpected meeting of a young hunter with whom she falls, reluctantly, in love. Then there are Lusa and Cole, newly married and living on his inherited farm. A twist of fate and Lusa's life changes dramatically and unexpectedly. And finally, old and widowed Mr. Walker (my own favourite character), a grumpy man in his eighties obsessed by his neighbour, Miss Rowley, whose attitude to life in general combined with her numerous apple trees seem to be there just to annoy him.
These are the cores of the tales, but all is layered by a triumphant description of mountain/farm/country life.

Different subjects are explored, loss, love, affection, strength, fragility, our place and meaning on this planet, as important and valuable as the one of a single little bug living under a leaf. All is delivered by a poetic and effective prose, embracing colours, smells, sensations and feelings in a powerful, yet delicate, way. Some episodes are definitely humorous, others so wise and profound, they bring tears to your eyes. Very touching.

A wonderful tale which celebrates life in all of its forms, a positive message and a hidden reminder that we should all be more appreciative of what, and whom, we are surrounded by.


A lot to think about, 06 Jan 2008
I finished this book a few days ago and can't stop thinking about it - it is so beautifully written and so wise. It totally immersed me in a world very different from my own - and yet, as we read, somehow connected too. I loved the intelligence of the factual information Kingsolver weaves into the beautiful plots. It's a book that makes you want to look after our world better.
I've already bought 2 more copies for my friends, as I don't want to pass on my copy!

Magical but real., 24 Aug 2006
I loved the way the author includes her magical descriptions of nature in the story. I was transported to another place while reading this. Nature is the protagonist in all her forms, human, animal and plant . Kingsolver uses her wealth of knowledge coupled with real feeling to create a lovely, thought-provoking tale.

Tobacco romance, 06 Mar 2006
Kingsolver's career as a science writer is successfully merged with her matchless descriptive skills in this novel. Set in the tobacco growing region of Appalachia, she uses the four women and a retired geneticist to discuss evolution, predator-prey relationships and modern farming practices to foster realistic thinking about environmental issues. These run from "pest elimination" to herbicide use. She deftly relates the different sex ploys of moths, coyotes and humans. The result leaves the human patterns more inexplicable than ever. The middle-aged Deanna encounters a man in the bush, and we never quite discern which of the pair is the seducer. Lexington Lusa loses a husband, but gains an adolescent. And a septuagenarian, to his everlasting shame, gets an erection over his neighbour, who is nearly as ancient as he.

It's unclear what the target market is for this book. Clearly, it isn't her former neighbours in Appalachia. Kingsolver's patronizing attitude toward the farm country patois is almost embarrassing. "Political correctness" hasn't reached down to regional speech patterns yet, apparently. Those tobacco farmers are unlikely to buy into her attempt to explain evolution and it's unlikely she's going to hamper coyote hunting there or anywhere else. The urban readers who have already learned about Darwin will buy this book out of loyalty. Will they learn anything new? Perhaps, but if they wander the countryside trying to sell Kingsolver's ideas as she does, their reception is likely to be a warm one.

Will her buyers pick up this book for its plot? Hopefully not, for their disappointment will be severe. As each character is introduced within their environment, the resulting events are glaringly predictable. Deanna's sexual perplexity conflicts with her newly acquired environmental outlook. What prompted her to write a thesis on coyotes remains an enigma. Lusa, a transplanted farm wife from the city, MUST somehow end up with the farm, making a go of it in novel fashion. It seems to be a genetic trait, but again, the causes remain vague. The crusty old man, Garnett Walker III, is the most predictable of all, and the cruelest. Kingsolver gives us a shambling clown, self-contained, irascible due to his infirmities and in constant contention with the world. Kingsolver may find cataracts, memory loss and dizzy spells humorous, but it will be interesting to see her outlook if these afflictions strike her at that age.

Her persistence in portraying all men as inadequate in one way or another has grown more than a little shopworn. Opening one of her books leads you inevitably into a mob of resourceful, enterprising women, all successful somehow even in the face of adversity. That adversity is always men - even when the failing is simply dying at "the wrong time." Walker is derived from the father in Poisonwood Bible, an over-Christianized geriatric who finds it difficult, strangely enough, to shed nearly eight decades of his upbringing. His "redemption" makes compelling narrative, but the genders could have been reversed without losing the impact. A young man is told to shove off, but, of course, only does so after his partner becomes pregnant. Formula stuff.

Kingsolver's descriptive powers will entice her legions of fans to this book. The city element among them will nod sympathetically. Rural readers, even outside Appalachia, may be confronted with some unpalatable truths, but it's unlikely their views will be modified by this novel. It's a good beach read for those who want to relax and escape, but there's nothing serious to reflect on here. Such concepts are better sought elsewhere. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

"Everything you ever get is really just on loan.", 22 Sep 2008
It's taken me a long time to discover Barbara Kingsolver, but I'm so glad I did. 'The Bean Trees', her first novel, is flawless and deeply enjoyable. It's a story of women surviving loss - self-effacing Lou-Ann, whose husband has dumped her; the car-mechanic widow, Mattie; blind Miss Poppy; and, most affectingly, Guatemalan refugee Esperanza, whose daughter was taken from her - all brought to life by Taylor Greer, one of the most genuine and likeable narrators you'll ever meet. Male characters are marginal, with one exception: Esperanza's husband, Estevan. Beautifully drawn, and an admirable person, he's an example of the inclusivity of Kingsolver's writing: she might be more focused on the lives of women, but she's never dismissive or contemptuous, except of society in general. (Her anger about the way in which refugees and Native Americans have been treated in the Land of the Free is nicely expressed: "The only legal way a person from Guatemala can stay here is if they can prove in court that their life was in danger. But when people run for their lives, they frequently forget to bring their filing cabinet.") She's a compassionate, good-hearted writer, on the side of the underdog, and she wants you to root for her victims and heroes, and avoid making harsh judgements of others.

This is a wonderful example of good writing: it makes you feel something for every character, and gradually augments your understanding of them; it compels you to read on, getting better all the time; it's perfectly balanced between dialogue and description; and the warm and witty observations are a real treat. On top of this, the physical backdrop to the book - the city of Tucson, its surrounding desert landscape, and Kentucky and Oklahoma - was unexpectedly pleasing. The best American novel I've read since Donna Tartt's 'The Secret History'.

a goodie, 09 Apr 2008
odd little book but one of the best ive read this year. unusual story but moving. liked it a lot. (didn't like the poisonwood bible though, glad i read this first).

Better than The Poisonwood Bible, 04 Nov 2006
I think this is Kingsolver's first book. I read it after The Poisonwood Bible because I had enjoyed that. This is shorter and in many ways lighter. - Set in the southern USA, it is almost a fable, of a young woman leaving her hometown to travel across the US to start a new life with more hope and possibility than in the smalltown, limited environment where she grew up. On the way she is given care of a young child. It is written in the first person and we read how shefinds a place to settle and the people she meets as she creates a life for herself and the child. We learn something of the child's background and the writer learns about herself. It touches on serious issues about refugees, prejudice, hardship, etc and the meaning of family and friendship, but in a light way.
It is a slight novel compared with The Poisonwood Bible, but worth the investment of a few hours. Some parts I suspect will linger in my memory - pleasantly.
I enjoyed this very much and recommend it

Disappointed as a Kingsolver fan, 08 Oct 2006
As a fan of The Poisonwood Bible and Prodigal Summer, I found the Bean Trees to be very disappointing compared to the previous Kingsolver books I have read and loved. One of the main aspects of Kingsolvers writing that is so compelling is generally her use of the biology and nature around her which is mainstreamed in her other novels. This not only makes them quite unique but greatly enhances the symbology and extends the characters and has made some of her other efforts so beautifully written. This is certainly lacking in the Bean Trees. Also the interlacing of the story from different perspectives / characters that is another Kingsolver trait pitters out very early on when everything becomes centred on one character after all the rest have met.

Most probably as a stand alone novel I would have rated it higher with 3 stars perhaps but as a Kingsolver fan it was a disappointment. If you have been recommended to look into Kingsolver books start with one of her better efforts - Prodigal Summer.

The Taylor of Tucson, 24 Feb 2006
Stories of women overcoming adversity are increasingly common. There's more than a little justice achieved by these tales. Many of them, particularly this work, show how women use their power of community to manage their lives successfully. These stories need to be told, and Kingsolver has given us a fine example. The community theme is superbly demonstrated in Estevan's metaphor of heaven and hell - hell is peopled with those who cannot reach out to others, starving in a kitchen full of food.

Lou Ann and "Taylor" are fellow Kentuckian exiles living in Tucson. The relocation has bought unexpected challenges to their lives. Not the least of these is the additional burden of infants: Lou Ann's by an unwanted pregnancy and Taylor's by an abandonment. What does it say about women that Taylor makes no attempt to off-load Turtle to a state agency, but keeps her to raise. Kingsolver evokes the reader's sympathy for both Taylor and Lou Ann, although both are in situations of their own making. Mattie, too, might have been given greater role, particularly since she provides so many fundamental changes in Taylor's life.

Kingsolver's character development makes wonderful reading. Occasionally, her descriptive powers overcome her characterization and Taylor waxes rather more eloquent than her background and education [which is almost entirely self-taught] would warrant. It's easy to forgive these lapses in light of how well she relates the story. Throughout the book i wondered why only Taylor speaks in the first person. A dual viewpoint of characters and events might have given this story more depth.

Estevan and his wife, Esperanza, are Guatemalan refugees. Kingsolver's use of these characters to point up America's support of the oppressive regime is depicted with skill. Taylor's growing awareness of conditions there represents that of the average American -it's visible only by direct confrontation. Unfortunately, Taylor lives where sympathy for refugees from oppressive regimes is minimal. The place is called the United States, symbolized, interestingly enough, by a woman standing in a harbour offering sanctuary to the oppressed.

There is a disturbing element in this and similar stories by and of today's women. Men here are universally portrayed without a redeeming feature. There are no "neutral" males who provide any form of support or reinforcement. Angel Ruiz could just as easily have lost more than a leg in his rodeo accident. Instead, he must be portrayed as a deserting husband. Kingsolver, however, has him appearing in cameos which only reinforce his role as the uncaring male. We are returned here to the early days of feminism in declaring males superfluous to the community of women. It's not a healthy indication for the future. If the atmosphere of "us versus them" intensifies, there will be greater backlash than is currently the case. If men have truly failed women over all these millennia, then it's reconciliation that's required, not intensifying of resentments. That only builds mutually reinforcing resentment. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

Pigs in Heaven, 21 Sep 2003
I just finished readin