A review by booksoversecondbreakfast
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

challenging emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I feel so conflicted about this book. It was very thematically profound and it's one I anticipate thinking about often in the future, but it was also so boring and so slow at times. It felt simultaneously like a 2 star book, in that it was so uncomfortable to read at times and I really had to drag myself to finish it. But it was also felt like a 4 star book, because it really is a beautiful book, with elegant prose and powerful themes.

I liked the imagery of the eyes in the trees, and I like the parallel way in which Leah's four kids all had personalities that aligned with the four personalities of the original four sisters. I really loved Leah and Adah's characters and their character development, but I really disliked Rachel and the Father's. I think that's part of the point, but it just made it a not-so-satisfying book for me.

I think the book was good in that it got me looking into Central Africa. This was the first book I've read that takes place in that region. The theme of colonialism was just really rough to read about, and I found it frustrating reading a book featuring a family taking part in contributing so strongly to the forces of colonialism. I loved that the book still featured the resiliency of the Congolese people and of Africa as a whole though. I think if it weren't for that, I would have rated this book even lower.

I don't know that I will read this book again, but it has definitely impacted me, and has some quotes I anticipate looking back to. I don't regret the time spent reading it, but I've read much more engaging books before, so I feel like 3 stars reasonably fits this book.
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