The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver

The Poisonwood Bible

Author: Barbara Kingsolver


  • Publication Date: 2009-10-13
  • Category: Literary
4.5 Score: 4.5
(From 680 Ratings)
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Summary

New York Times Bestseller • An Oprah Book Club Pick

“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

Taking its place alongside the classic works of postcolonial literature, this ambitious novel established Barbara Kingsolver as one of the most thoughtful and daring of modern writers.

The Poisonwood Bible is a story 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. What follows is a suspenseful epic of one family’s tragic undoing and remarkable reconstruction over the course of three decades in postcolonial Africa.

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  • The Poisonwood Bible

    5
    By srtco2
    By 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

    5
    By Murpmarie
    In 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!

    5
    By ami_with_an_i
    A must read.

  • Love this book!!!

    5
    By Psychreb
    This 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.

    1
    By You don't need 2know my name
    It 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

    5
    By Ashtay15
    I 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 anyone

  • Memories

    5
    By Smitch87
    My 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 read

  • fiction

    1
    By thesoulofjapan
    I 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.

    5
    By river091
    Had 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

    5
    By Lisa Barton
    I 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.

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