The Poisonwood Bible: A Novel

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It's a hit!

The Poisonwood Bible was a book that opened my eyes. The beginning brought a familiar feeling to me. The knowledge of how one feels when they are p... (show more)

The Poisonwood Bible was a book that opened my eyes. The beginning brought a familiar feeling to me. The knowledge of how one feels when they are prideful and feel like they know more than someone else. I went to a church, that I believe, felt that way. And I feel that I became that way. Unwilling to acknowledge that someone else might be right and that I might be wrong.
I've seen the tragedy in my own life with that way of thinking, and the tragedy in the story as well. Also, a complete shock to me was the poverty and starvation that overtook them...the entire village. I would honestly be in my shower at home and think that millions of people in the world will never have this luxury. I really don't know how to even put down a review of this book because it is so deep. But it's a life changing read, and I would suggest it to anyone. (show less)

 

 

by Yolanda Chumney

No, it's a flop!

There are so many compelling things about this book that it makes me all the more frustrated by its biggest flaw. The antagonist -- the myopic, mi... (show more)

There are so many compelling things about this book that it makes me all the more frustrated by its biggest flaw. The antagonist -- the myopic, misogynist, missionary father -- is so two-dimensional as to risk absurdity. Whereas each of the women narrators is given depth and personality, he is a terrible joke, which makes the book's indictment of Christianity too easy to dismiss. I'm sure that Kingsolver knew men every bit as infuriating and even evil as he, but in writing literary fiction, you have an obligation to treat the characters with equitable degrees of psychological detail, depth and even empathy. He just sticks out like a sore thumb. (show less)

 

 

by John Utz

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  So this is one of the many books that I read probably 8-10 years ago, loved it then, talked it up to everyone I knew, loaned it to one of those people I know and therefore, lost it forever. And, with the knowledge that MY copy of this book was floating somewhere in the time-space continuum, I couldn't very well go cheating on it by purchasing a new copy. Yay, library booksale! A 50 cent copy in good condition would cause anyone to throw caution to the wind!

  Kingsolver has penned one of t... (show more)

  So this is one of the many books that I read probably 8-10 years ago, loved it then, talked it up to everyone I knew, loaned it to one of those people I know and therefore, lost it forever. And, with the knowledge that MY copy of this book was floating somewhere in the time-space continuum, I couldn't very well go cheating on it by purchasing a new copy. Yay, library booksale! A 50 cent copy in good condition would cause anyone to throw caution to the wind!

  Kingsolver has penned one of those stories that will have the reader constantly confused as to whom the actual antagonist/s could be, and also as to whether or not the protagonist/s deserve any praise whatsoever. I can promise you this, however: you will not walk away from The Poisonwood Bible unchanged. Primarily staged in 60's era Congo (Africa), it is a story of an evangelical Baptist preacher, his confused wife, their four school age daughters and the family's undertaking of mission work in what most Americans at the time consider a Godforsaken land. As one would expect, the interpretation of the King James Bible as God's word is under constant scrutiny, but certainly not as a question of whether or not God exists. Also, the language barrier between the Africans and the Price family causes predictable turmoil, but Kingsolver ingeniously uses it to create levity in moments of dread. But it is watching the ego-maniacal, single-minded drive of the Reverend that grabs a reader's attention. His drive to save the souls of the "heathens" that he makes no attempt to understand. His drive to control and belittle the family he makes no attempt to love. His drive to tame the continent that has resisted such feeble ministrations since before God had a name. Maybe the Revered needs to read Proverbs 11:2: "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." (show less)

   

   

  by Annie Beers on Oct 19, 2009 at 02:09AM

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  Poignant depiction of the distant father. Also includes aspects of the successful marriage of one of the daughters. Really got to me emotionally. Kudos to Barbara Kingsolver whom I hadn't read in years. The book is worth even more due to its African political content.

   

  by Alden TP on Jan 19, 2008 at 05:21PM

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