Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
1998
Weight: 3.3 lbs
Method of Disposal: Lending Library
I finally got back around to the Poisonwood Bible. I always swore I would, but I always picked up something else. Reading The Bean Trees is what did me in. I got a little addicted to that book, and I wanted to feel that way again. Not to mention, you always hear about The Poisonwood Bible. People love it, and it is likely Kingsolver's best known book.
It did not give me the same feeling as The Bean Trees! I am sure that is sacrilegious and says nothing good about me. I know the other is the first in a series, and I have not yet read the others. It is not as well rated. I had never heard anyone talk about it. I know. I know. I just loved the characters.
I was less in love with the character development in this one, but it was not because it was bad. I loved how it developed, but it was slower and matured as the characters grew up. Poisonwood spanned a longer period of time. It allowed you to see the characters as a silhouette of themselves or a stereotype and then you grew to know them deeper over time without you even really noticing it at first. You hated them, but then you understood them. You maybe pitied them or grew to worry about them. At some point, some of them even became likable. With The Bean Trees, the character development almost whacks you in the face. Here is your lead girl! Isn't she strong?Isn't she rough and tumble? What is she going to do? No, really, what is she going to do?? Not to mention, now is the time to talk about immigration. Just like it was all those years ago when Kingsolver wrote the book.
I suppose that now is also the time to talk about Evangelists--that scourge on humanity. Oh, the world is a devolving and darkening place. Sometimes it seems like we are all evolving and getting better together and sometimes it seems like we will never stop repeating our mistakes until we force ourselves into a position where we do not get the chance to try again. That irrevocable line we cannot cross but are always getting closer to, according to The Scientists. And when I say THE scientists, I mean the vast majority that see Global Warming happening all around us but are at a loss as to how to stop it. That line. There is a line in The Poisonwood Bible too--a different line. You know from the start it is coming and there are times when you think it has arrived and you are wrong. The tension builds and builds.
If you have not read it, give it a shot. I would love to know what you think.
1998
Weight: 3.3 lbs
Method of Disposal: Lending Library
I finally got back around to the Poisonwood Bible. I always swore I would, but I always picked up something else. Reading The Bean Trees is what did me in. I got a little addicted to that book, and I wanted to feel that way again. Not to mention, you always hear about The Poisonwood Bible. People love it, and it is likely Kingsolver's best known book.
It did not give me the same feeling as The Bean Trees! I am sure that is sacrilegious and says nothing good about me. I know the other is the first in a series, and I have not yet read the others. It is not as well rated. I had never heard anyone talk about it. I know. I know. I just loved the characters.
I was less in love with the character development in this one, but it was not because it was bad. I loved how it developed, but it was slower and matured as the characters grew up. Poisonwood spanned a longer period of time. It allowed you to see the characters as a silhouette of themselves or a stereotype and then you grew to know them deeper over time without you even really noticing it at first. You hated them, but then you understood them. You maybe pitied them or grew to worry about them. At some point, some of them even became likable. With The Bean Trees, the character development almost whacks you in the face. Here is your lead girl! Isn't she strong?Isn't she rough and tumble? What is she going to do? No, really, what is she going to do?? Not to mention, now is the time to talk about immigration. Just like it was all those years ago when Kingsolver wrote the book.
I suppose that now is also the time to talk about Evangelists--that scourge on humanity. Oh, the world is a devolving and darkening place. Sometimes it seems like we are all evolving and getting better together and sometimes it seems like we will never stop repeating our mistakes until we force ourselves into a position where we do not get the chance to try again. That irrevocable line we cannot cross but are always getting closer to, according to The Scientists. And when I say THE scientists, I mean the vast majority that see Global Warming happening all around us but are at a loss as to how to stop it. That line. There is a line in The Poisonwood Bible too--a different line. You know from the start it is coming and there are times when you think it has arrived and you are wrong. The tension builds and builds.
If you have not read it, give it a shot. I would love to know what you think.
