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rainalina (USA: MI) (2007/02/19):
"Kingsolver's powerful new book is actually an old-fashioned 19th-century novel, a Hawthornian tale of sin and redemption and the `dark necessity' of history." --This text refers to the Hardcover edition. Los Angeles Times Book Review
Tesse (USA: AR) (2007/05/14):
Gather your courage and step in to the deep dark jungles of the Congo following the footsteps of the Poison wood preacher and his five wives. The story starts out in the year 1959 with a Baptist Minster and his family headed for the Congo jungle to bring the light of Jesus into the darkness that dwells in the deep the African heart. We meet Brother Price, his wife Orleanna, and four daughters Rachel, Adeh, Leah and Ruth as they are preparing for the trip over to Kilanga to spend a year as missionaries. Once there they discover that their journey will not end with only a year but will extend over a life time as the jungle takes root into their souls. This story is a well crafted combination of the characters journey through life and the turbulent history of the Congo all told in a rich vibrant manner that allows you to hear, see, touch and smell Africa through all the eyes of the family. Each chapter is told in the insightful view of each character by rotating through Orleanna, Rachel, Adeh, Leah and Ruth's personal perspectives of what is occurring at the moment. The author carefully crafted her characters with unique personalities which causes you to love and hate them at the same time. They become inextricably human as the book progress causing you to feel the joys and sadness each one experiences. You can't help but feel the pull of the jungle and the strife it's people face on a daily basis to survive. I wish I could put in better words the way this book affected me. It got under my skin and has left me with a warm glow. I highly recommend this book for TBR pile.
Jen Barger (USA: WA) (2008/06/07):
Excellent, excellent book. would read it again and probably will, at some point.
alimck (USA: MI) (2009/08/02):
I found the language fascinating. The character's different voices and personalities were moving and believable. This book really makes you feel the story. Offering subtle views of american politics in the congo, religion and death it opened my mind to a vastly different world rich with color, life and consumption. Reading this work made me hungry for more of Kingsolver's work.
gmaull (USA: IL) (2009/10/18):
I read this in high school and was genuinely captivated.
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