The Poisonwood Bible
Barbara Kingsolver
Doreen enjoyed this, the story of an American family in the
Belgian Congo in the late 1950s (though it reads like an account
of a Victorian family). Tyrannical father who is too arrogant to
adapt to the customs and ways of the Congo. The story is told
through the voices of the wife and children.
Doreen 20/4/00
An American missionary takes his wife and 4 daughters to the
Congo and arrogantly tries to impose his religion and culture on
the local people. It's written from the different viewpoints of
the wife and daughters. Each of them is quite different. It
begins in the 1960s and goes up to date. There's a lot about the
culture of the Congo.
Gill 21/5/00
A terrific book, compulsive reading. The book is narrated by
three daughters and their mother, and the characterisation of
each person in their writing is masterful. There was never any
need to even think who's voice one was reading - one just knew.
The book tells of an American missionary and his family, who
go to live and work in the Congo just before independence, and it
follows through to their departure and beyond. Their experiences
in Africa shape all of their lives.
The story is detailed and involving, the writing always good
and sometimes very moving and passionate. Seán wanted to
cry when he read the very brief, matter-of-fact death of one
child, and felt moved to anger by the Belgian and American
governments' treatment of the people of the Congo. A highly
recommended book.
Seán 27/8/00
Andrew described this as an amazing well crafted piece of piece
of work. The basic plot deals with a US missionary family going
to the Congo at the time of its independence. The story is told
through the voices of the women the mother and daughters) of the
family. One of the impressive features of the book is that the
voices of the different narrators are so very different and
clearly distinguishable. Excellent. Fascinating from start to
finish.
Andrew 3/11/00
Jean thought this a wonderful book, where you do care about the
characters, and can get involved with it at different levels. She
felt the book about the missionary family was in two parts - the
first part was the main focus of the book - dealing with their
life as missionaries, and the second part, dealing with their
lives afterwards - and she wondered when you should stop a book.
Excellent
Jean 10/12/00
From the beginning of the book it is clear that there is going to
be a tragic death but when the death came Emily found it
disappointing, having hoped for something more dramatic. (Some
other members of the Book group thought death by snake was quite
dramatic enough for them...) Generally a very perceptive book and
Emily was impressed at the way the author moves from one
character to another and yet keeps each character so distinct and
recognizable. It was also interesting to learn more about the
history of the Congo. Overall a brilliant book.
Emily 19/5/02
Bob found this book "turgid" (cries of disbelief from rest of the
Book Group). It "smacks of research" and is far too earnest and
goes on for too long.
Bob 25/8/02
By the same author
The frames have
gone all funny - click to make it good.