carriepond's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
I am happy to report that I still love The Bean Trees. It was such a lovely and wonderful experience to re-read this story, which grew with me. Watching Taylor muddle through the experience of becoming a mother resonated with me, in the thick of a similar experience. I enjoyed the novel's exploration of found family, interconnectedness, and the importance of community much more deeply as an adult in my late thirties, as the reality of humanity's interdependence was not something I really gave much thought to as a 17-year-old. And, there were so many other themes in this novel that I could appreciate more deeply now-- undocumented immigration, the importance of women being in community with one another, and the need for connection with nature and the world around us.
There are, too, some aspects of this novel, written 35 years ago, that haven't aged amazingly read through a modern-day lens: there's some casual fatphobia, ableism, and racism (some of which feels intentional for character and plot development purposes, some of which is more just a byproduct of the casual fatphobia, ableism, and racism that was pretty par for the course then and a *little* less normalized now.) However, overall, I thought the empathy and humanity in this, Kingsolver's first novel, far outweighed the effect of the parts that made me think, "She'd probably have written this a little differently now."
So happy I re-read The Bean Trees, and so happy to feel the joy of rediscovering old favorites.
Moderate: Kidnapping, Fatphobia, Ableism, Child abuse, Violence, and Racism
Minor: Suicide attempt and Deportation
icewing15's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Body shaming
Moderate: Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Racism, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Child abuse, Cultural appropriation, Medical content, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Cursing, Death, Deportation, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Death of parent
mnatale100's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Abandonment and Grief
Moderate: Deportation, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Suicide attempt, Ableism, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, Self harm, Pedophilia, and Racism
Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, Incest, Kidnapping, Blood, Child abuse, and Murder
breadwitchery's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Pedophilia and Racism
Moderate: Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, and Sexual violence
Minor: Mental illness, Racial slurs, Fatphobia, and Child abuse
elie's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.75
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Racism, Racial slurs, Fatphobia, Body shaming, Xenophobia, Suicide attempt, and Pedophilia
Adding to the list of content warnings: use of the R word, Ind*an, and some other xenophobic slurs