The Poisonwood Bible
By Barbara Kingsolver
- Release Date: 2009-10-13
- Genre: Literary Fiction
Description
New York Times Bestseller • Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize • An Oprah's Book Club Selection
“Powerful . . . [Kingsolver] has with infinitely steady hands worked the prickly threads of religion, politics, race, sin and redemption into a thing of terrible beauty.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review
The Poisonwood Bible established Barbara Kingsolver, recipient of the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, as one of the most thoughtful and daring of modern writers. Taking its place alongside the classic works of postcolonial literature, it is a suspenseful epic of one family's tragic undoing and remarkable reconstruction over the course of three decades in Africa.
The story is told by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a fierce, evangelical Baptist who takes his family and mission to the Belgian Congo in 1959. They carry with them everything they believe they will need from home, but soon find that all of it—from garden seeds to Scripture—is calamitously transformed on African soil.
The novel is set against one of the most dramatic political chronicles of the twentieth century: the Congo's fight for independence from Belgium, the murder of its first elected prime minister, the CIA coup to install his replacement, and the insidious progress of a world economic order that robs the fledgling African nation of its autonomy. Against this backdrop, Orleanna Price reconstructs the story of her evangelist husband's part in the Western assault on Africa, a tale indelibly darkened by her own losses and unanswerable questions about her own culpability. Also narrating the story, by turns, are her four daughters—the teenaged Rachel; adolescent twins Leah and Adah; and Ruth May, a prescient five-year-old. These sharply observant girls, who arrive in the Congo with racial preconceptions forged in 1950s Georgia, will be marked in surprisingly different ways by their father's intractable mission, and by Africa itself. Ultimately each must strike her own separate path to salvation. Their passionately intertwined stories become a compelling exploration of moral risk and personal responsibility.
Reviews
Poison wood
4By jomartha8Written beautifully with lots of humor although I found it a sad story of a family. A little too philosophical at the end.The Poisonwood Bible
5By jejejwkejrbvyvehwI loved this book so much for the depth of human emotion and struggle of the Price clan. Mother and the daughters each left an indelible mark on their world that will live on with me. Must read!Rare and unforgettable
5By CrazyWifeFarmA rich experience of Africa, the failure of American imperialism and the arrogance of white people, narrated by a mother and her four daughters. Brilliant and disturbing. Beautiful and heartbreaking.Great review of history and story
5By RunBikeWineFictional book but based on true history and politics. A great read. Very long!Poisonwood Bible
5By SuzThomsenRiveting. Early portions of the book were amazing. Last couple sections moved a bit slower but overall quite amazing!Poisonwood Bible
5By srormy1Excellent, thought provoking book. Beautiful story about life, family, and compromise. Sad in may ways but the author has a comical way of presenting tragedy through the eyes of many different personalities one of the best books I have ever read!The Poisonwood Bible
5By srtco2By far one of the best books I’ve ever read. And one of the only books I again and again over the transom.Reading Again, Reading Renewed
5By MurpmarieIn 1998 I read The Poisonwood Bible as a wife and mother of young children. I just finished an almost mystical re-read, possibly as a completely different person now: a grandmother and a divorced woman (who recognized, finally, what abuse really is). Rarely will I read a book again as there are too many great books, too little time. I’ve surprised myself with my resolve to reconnect with favorites by going back to Barbara Kingsolver’s books, this is the fourth one and I feel compelled to recommend it as something very special to experience. The emotional and intellectual depth of this beautiful yet terrifying book is astonishing... reading it again on my iPad with the ability to immediately reference the time and place and politics was certainly something that added depth to the experience. I can honestly say this is my favorite book of all I’ve read; please allow me to recommend it to read once again and experience with new eyes.I love this book!
5By ami_with_an_iA must read.Love this book!!!
5By PsychrebThis is one of my all time favorite books! I have read it more than once and highlighted so many lines. Love the perspective of chapters being written by each daughter and the haunting early chapter from the mother.Not so great.
1By You don't need 2know my nameIt had potential to be a good book but I didn't find it interesting at all. It had a slow start and I thought it was going to get better but it never did. There is nothing that happens that grabs the readers attention. It is also very long for a book where nothing happens. I can't even reach the end. Love the author but not this book.Five stars
5By Ashtay15I may be young but I've read my fair share of books. This the first to make me cry. It's a thought provoking page turner that I would recommend to anyoneMemories
5By Smitch87My mother and I used to read this book together when I was younger. It holds a very special place in my heart. It will forever be the best book I've ever readfiction
1By thesoulofjapanI was prepared to purchase this book but read it was fiction. If this was a true account then I would have downloaded it.You need to read this book.
5By river091Had to read it for high school. Was not really looking forward to it. But this book was honestly one of the best books ever written. It's pure and raw. It touches every motion. Learned that too of anything even religion can be harmful. Good book.Epic novel to be cherished
5By Lisa BartonI read a great deal during my day and when this over came across my radar, I wasn't disappointed. Typically, Oprah pics are involved and are usually about rape or blacks' rights or deformed people, however ,this book is literally a "Bible" to our humanity. Even though this book took 30years in the making, it is pure genius, what kingsolver wrote spoke to me and clarified emotions and general life experiences in a philosophical way. The book was never dull, or too religious in delivery even though it's about a preacher. But don't let that deter you. Realistically, it's an epic novel about the lives of the Price family and how they managed to survive the Congo. It was very real and the writing , didactic in creation. A must read for anybody trying to make sense of this world. Great characters , also . Read it, I wish I never did so I can read it all over again.Excellent!
5By macmi01I bought this book to listen to while at the gym. It was enthralling from the minute I turned it on. We follow the lives of a single family starting with their adventure to the congo. Each member has a different perspective and each are amazingly interesting. I loved the reader and found the story to be insightful and interesting.Great book!
5By Emdoll1979Beautiful writing. You feel as if you are in the plot. Creative and complex characters. I have read the book several times over the years and always enjoy it!Phenomenal!
5By lalameganI had to read this book for school last year, and it is one of my favorite books ever. The writing is flawless, the characters are interesting, complex, and entertaining, and the plot is riveting. Such a good read which taught me something as well!
