Search - The Poisonwood Bible

This is my all time favorite book. I've read it twice and it enjoyed it both times. The characters are well developed and I loved the way she wrote in five separate voices. This is one of the few books that sparked a long and involved discussion in my book club and though some liked it and others didn't, everyone was moved by it.

This book engulfs you from the first page. The small theme is about a missionary family and the zealot patriarch in Africa during turbulent times. But the larger themes, so well developed through the characters and their trials and tribulations, carry you much farther than the events. Each family member struggles to emerge whole and vital. The 4 girls and their mother, all exposed to the same events, choose different paths to physical, emotional and moral survival. It is one of the most original, exciting, moving and thought provoking books I have ever read, and I have read a great many.

At page one, this book was interesting. At page two, you are completely engulfed. Maybe its the vivid pictures, the moral overtones, the historical ties, or the strong connections with this family but the story takes over. Later in the book, things happen that completely shattered me - I was so upset that I threw the book across the room. But I still couldn't put it down. At the end of the book, all I could think was - I want MORE!!

Wonderful book...Excellent story that will stay with you long after you finish the book. Kingsolver is truly an artist - she crafts a story with an unparalleled use of language and imagery. A MUST read!