The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Published in 1999 by Harper Perennial Modern Classics
5 Stars


Goodreads Review
Oprah Book Club® Selection, June 2000: As any reader of The Mosquito Coast knows, men who drag their families to far-off climes in pursuit of an Idea seldom come to any good, while those familiar with At Play in the Fields of the Lord or Kalimantaan understand that the minute a missionary sets foot on the fictional stage, all hell is about to break loose. So when Barbara Kingsolver sends missionary Nathan Price along with his wife and four daughters off to Africa in The Poisonwood Bible, you can be sure that salvation is the one thing they're not likely to find. The year is 1959 and the place is the Belgian Congo. Nathan, a Baptist preacher, has come to spread the Word in a remote village reachable only by airplane. To say that he and his family are woefully unprepared would be an understatement: "We came from Bethlehem, Georgia, bearing Betty Crocker cake mixes into the jungle," says Leah, one of Nathan's daughters. But of course it isn't long before they discover that the tremendous humidity has rendered the mixes unusable, their clothes are unsuitable, and they've arrived in the middle of political upheaval as the Congolese seek to wrest independence from Belgium. In addition to poisonous snakes, dangerous animals, and the hostility of the villagers to Nathan's fiery take-no-prisoners brand of Christianity, there are also rebels in the jungle and the threat of war in the air. Could things get any worse?

In fact they can and they do. The first part of The Poisonwood Biblerevolves around Nathan's intransigent, bullying personality and his effect on both his family and the village they have come to. As political instability grows in the Congo, so does the local witch doctor's animus toward the Prices, and both seem to converge with tragic consequences about halfway through the novel. From that point on, the family is dispersed and the novel follows each member's fortune across a span of more than 30 years.

The Poisonwood Bible is arguably Barbara Kingsolver's most ambitious work, and it reveals both her great strengths and her weaknesses. As Nathan Price's wife and daughters tell their stories in alternating chapters, Kingsolver does a good job of differentiating the voices. But at times they can grate--teenage Rachel's tendency towards precious malapropisms is particularly annoying (students practice their "French congregations"; Nathan's refusal to take his family home is a "tapestry of justice"). More problematic is Kingsolver's tendency to wear her politics on her sleeve; this is particularly evident in the second half of the novel, in which she uses her characters as mouthpieces to explicate the complicated and tragic history of the Belgian Congo.

Despite these weaknesses, Kingsolver's fully realized, three-dimensional characters make The Poisonwood Bible compelling, especially in the first half, when Nathan Price is still at the center of the action. And in her treatment of Africa and the Africans she is at her best, exhibiting the acute perception, moral engagement, and lyrical prose that have made her previous novels so successful. --Alix Wilber

Review: 

There are two big questions that The Poisonwood Bible raises.  First, why does helping people in poverty have to be tied in with religious ambition, and second, why does religious fervor cause people to forget their common sense?  I don’t understand why religion, especially (though not only) evangelical Christianity, causes people to act like Nathan Price.  On one hand I’m ok with religion when it acts as a moral compass to guide life decisions that affect only you, and I’m even more ok with it when it guides people to help others out of a desire to be more God/Christ-like.  However, what I do have a problem with is when people try and force that religion on others and try and change a person’s culture to make it fit into a prescribed box of what people are “supposed” to be.  And when the desire to control other’s and make them just like you takes precedence over the safety and welfare of your family, well then you’ve just gone too far.  People need to realize that while you may have chosen a particular path, other people may not choose it.  And those other people may indeed be your wife and kids.

Ok, religion rant over, back to the book.  I absolutely loved the first two thirds of the book.  I loved the culture clash of a middle class white family being thrust into a tribal African culture.  I also adored the five different viewpoints of the story.  Each character had a distinct voice that added to the overall texture of the story.  The African culture in this book is richly presented, with wonderful descriptions that show just how much the Price family was like a fish out of water.  It also showed that people have to adapt in order to survive, and some members of the Price family welcomed the change while others fought it tooth and nail.

The last third of the book was when the story started to go downhill for me.  Not that the political climate of Africa isn’t fascinating, but I felt myself emotionally disconnecting the more macro the story got.  I was more interested in the effects that Nathan’s blind religious zeal had on his family and the African community than sweeping political commentary. 

Overall The Poisonwood Bible is about how intolerance and ignorance does nothing but destroy the very thing you’re trying to build.  Rigidly following religious doctrine only causes the people you’re trying to help resist you more.  In order to bring about change you have to be bending and considerate. 

Freedom by Jonathan Franzen

Published in 2010 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux
3 Stars


Goodreads Review

Patty and Walter Berglund were the new pioneers of old St. Paul--the gentrifiers, the hands-on parents, the avant-garde of the Whole Foods generation. Patty was the ideal sort of neighbor, who could tell you where to recycle your batteries and how to get the local cops to actually do their job. She was an enviably perfect mother and the wife of Walter's dreams. Together with Walter--environmental lawyer, commuter cyclist, total family man--she was doing her small part to build a better world.

But now, in the new millennium, the Berglunds have become a mystery. Why has their teenage son moved in with the aggressively Republican family next door? Why has Walter taken a job working with Big Coal? What exactly is Richard Katz--outré rocker and Walter's college best friend and rival--still doing in the picture? Most of all, what has happened to Patty? Why has the bright star of Barrier Street become "a very different kind of neighbor," an implacable Fury coming unhinged before the street's attentive eyes?

In his first novel since The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen has given us an epic of contemporary love and marriage. Freedom comically and tragically captures the temptations and burdens of liberty: the thrills of teenage lust, the shaken compromises of middle age, the wages of suburban sprawl, the heavy weight of empire. In charting the mistakes and joys of Freedom's characters as they struggle to learn how to live in an ever more confusing world, Franzen has produced an indelible and deeply moving portrait of our time.


Review:  

I really enjoyed Franzen’s writing style.  He is clear, descriptive, and intelligent.  I had a clear picture of the main character’s objectives and their inner struggles.  Their backgrounds were laid out in a way that allowed me to see their growth without feeling like there was a massive info dump to get there.  However there were times when I thought Franzen was trying too hard to be “cool”, in the way a 6 year old boy thinks poop and dead bugs are cool.  There are some really weird analogies used that do not help me connect to the story (using the phrase “a firm little clitoris of discernment and sensitivity” to describe a woman’s intelligence for example….???? I’m sorry but I don’t know anyone who would describe a person as being a clitoris of anything.  Just saying).

In particular I enjoyed Joey’s transformation.  I loved how he went from a spoiled and entitled little shit to a man who had to make some huge choices.  He started off with that “nothing bad can ever happen to me” mentality that so many teenagers seem to have, and then when something REALLY bad happened he learned to take responsibility for not only his actions, but the ethical and moral implications of those actions.  In the end he turned out to be one of the most stable characters, which was something I could not predict based on his character at the start of the book. 

The character I could relate to the most was probably Patty.  I can completely understand how she can have everything she’s “supposed” to want and still be horribly unhappy.  I can also understand how a husband can do everything right and still be wrong, and that the man who does everything so horribly wrong can be the only man you can love.  It’s not healthy, but I get it. 

The only character I didn’t like was Richard.  I couldn’t understand his point of view or his motivations.  I didn’t like how he said he cared about Walter so much but couldn’t have enough self-control to stay loyal to the one person who always stood by him.  I also didn’t think this character was all that realistic.  Sure he was a “rock star” but I didn’t think he was neither famous nor rich enough to have women just throwing themselves at him.  He didn’t come across charming or sexy, just dirty and rude.

I think the overall theme of the book was a person’s sense of duty and if they were too cowardly to live up to their duty or if they had the courage to seek the freedom from duties that made them miserable.  Every single character had to make a decision about their duties in life, whether it be to their children, spouse, friend, company, country, or themselves, and if they were going to meet expectations or not.  More often than not they have to choose between two conflicting duties, which is not an easy thing.  This was probably my favorite aspect of the book, and the development and choices of the characters were both expected and surprising. 

Overall Freedom is like one of the videos on the weird side of youtube.  Whether it’s a dog scratching its balls or a kitten randomly puking, there’s something freakishly fascinating about it.  That’s what Freedom is; equal parts captivating and disgusting.  I can really only recommend this book to you if you’re willing to take a look at the nastier side of people and can handle seeing some of that reflected in yourself. 

Top Ten Tuesday 12/13/2011: Top Ten Books I Want To Give As Gifts

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish.  This meme was created because we are particularly fond of lists here at The Broke and the Bookish.  We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new top ten list complete with one of our bloggers' answers.  Everyone is welcome to join.  All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND post a comment on our post with a link to your Top Ten Tuesday post to share with us and all those who are participating.  If you don't have a blog, just post your answers in the comments.

TOP TEN BOOKS I WANT TO GIVE AS GIFTS

1.  The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling - The books of my childhood are perfect gifts for any 11 year old.

2.  The Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead - This is the perfect series for anyone looking for something to read "post Twilight".  Although in my opinion, it's way better.  I'd give it to any of my girlfriends looking for a sexy adventure story.

3.  A Song of Ice and Fire Series by George R.R. Martin - I love this complex high fantasy, and I would give it to my super nerdy uncle. 

Deception Point by Dan Brown - This is my favorite action book by Dan Brown, and with it's government espionage and crazy science it's perfect for my father, who is a mechanical engineer and a big John Grisham fan.

The Body Sacred and The Circle Within by Dianne Sylvan - These are two of my favorite religion books, and I would give them to anyone interested in paganism.  Sylvan has an excellent writing style and I love her sarcasm and practical (while still having extremely poetic moments) style of writing.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor - This is a great book again for "post Twilight".  I loved the romance in this book as well as the mythology.  It's an excellent start to the series and one of my favorite books of the year. 

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater - The Scorpio Races is a perfect book for an advanced teen reader.  It has lots of elements that make up a great YA book, romance, adventure, family drama, but is written in a distinctly adult voice.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan - I have a couple of LGBT friends, and I think this book is the perfect gift.  My friend Matt in particular I think would LOVE Tiny Cooper, show tunes and all.

Nevermore by Kelly Creagh - I'd give this to my mom, because I love Varen and I want to talk about him with her.  No other reason, really.  

Feed by Mira Grant - I'd give this awesome zombie book to any of my friends who liked a little science with their horror, and this is one I'd for my boyfriend to read.  

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire

Published in 2000 by Regan Books
3 Stars


Goodreads Review
We have all heard the story of Cinderella, the beautiful child cast out to slave among the ashes. But what of her stepsisters, the homely pair exiled into ignominy by the fame of their lovely sibling? What fate befell those untouched by beauty ... and what curses accompanied Cinderella's looks?

Set against the backdrop of seventeenth-century Holland, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister tells the story of Iris, an unlikely heroine who finds herself swept from the lowly streets of Haarlem to a strange world of wealth, artifice, and ambition. Iris's path quickly becomes intertwined with that of Clara, the mysterious and unnaturally beautiful girl destined to become her sister. While Clara retreats to the cinders of the family hearth, Iris seeks out the shadowy secrets of her new household -- and the treacherous truth of her former life.

Review:  I don't know what it is about Gregory Maguire, but I keep reading his books thinking I'll like them and I end up being disappointed at best, but more often than not annoyed and put off. I love the ideas of his novels, but every single one is a let down. Confessions is not so terrible as Mirror Mirror or Lost, but I'm still leaving feeling like he could have done so much more. There is all of build up in this novel and the ending feels rushed, like he got bored half way through and just decided to stop writing. Also, I am surprised at the lack of sexuality in this book, which is a very prominent topic in some of his other books. This story seemed ripe for sexual exploitation, and if there was any it was only hinted at. There were many aspects of this book that I thought were almost good, but just not quite developed enough.

I think I will always try and fail to enjoy his writing.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Published in 2006 by Scribner
4 Stars


Goodreads Review
Jeannette Walls grew up with parents whose ideals and stubborn nonconformity were both their curse and their salvation. Rex and Rose Mary Walls had four children. In the beginning, they lived like nomads, moving among Southwest desert towns, camping in the mountains. Rex was a charismatic, brilliant man who, when sober, captured his children's imagination, teaching them physics, geology, and above all, how to embrace life fearlessly. Rose Mary, who painted and wrote and couldn't stand the responsibility of providing for her family, called herself an "excitement addict." Cooking a meal that would be consumed in fifteen minutes had no appeal when she could make a painting that might last forever.

Later, when the money ran out, or the romance of the wandering life faded, the Walls retreated to the dismal West Virginia mining town -- and the family -- Rex Walls had done everything he could to escape. He drank. He stole the grocery money and disappeared for days. As the dysfunction of the family escalated, Jeannette and her brother and sisters had to fend for themselves, supporting one another as they weathered their parents' betrayals and, finally, found the resources and will to leave home.

What is so astonishing about Jeannette Walls is not just that she had the guts and tenacity and intelligence to get out, but that she describes her parents with such deep affection and generosity. Hers is a story of triumph against all odds, but also a tender, moving tale of unconditional love in a family that despite its profound flaws gave her the fiery determination to carve out a successful life on her own terms.


For two decades, Jeannette Walls hid her roots. Now she tells her own story. A regular contributor to MSNBC.com, she lives in New York and Long Island and is married to the writer John Taylor.

Review:  This book made me rage! I was listening to the audio book in my car and literally yelling "you jerk! Don't give him money! Get a job! No, quit whining! OH MY GOD ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!?!" And yet at the same time part of me loved her parents. I honestly don't know how to feel about it. They seemed like such intelligent people, but without a drop of common sense. In the beginning I was like, ok they're weird but they're teaching their kids and they love them and while they might not have anything very rich, overall their life is ok.  
 

I think it was once they moved to West Virginia that things went to hell. I spent a lot of that part of the book wondering why they stayed there; surely they were all more happy in Arizona? Alcoholism is a horrible disease, and my heart just aches for Jeannette's father, because I really think if he'd never gotten addicted their lives would have all been so much happier. The mom I think was a lot more emotionally scarred than we knew. We only got the story from Jeannette's perspective, and she seemed much closer to her father. I think if Maureen or Lori had told the story we'd understand their mom a lot more.


I feel bad for Maureen, but in a way her story makes sense. The other kids had their desert childhood to remember, but Maureen only knew West Virginia and the horrible conditions of their life there.   She didn't know the lovelier parts of their lives, before dad fell completely into his disease and mom checked out.

There's a quote from Brian that really sums up this whole book.  "You know, it's really not that hard to put food on the table if that's what you decide to do."  Brian realizes that it's not too difficult to to provide for your family as long as you work hard and make the welfare of your children your first priority.  His parents sadly didn't do that and no matter how much you argue for their loving and spiritual nature makes them, in my eyes, failures as parents. 

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

Published in 1997 by Picador
5 Stars

Goodreads Review
Her name is Dinah. In the Bible, her life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters of the Book of Genesis that are about her father, Jacob, and his dozen sons. Told in Dinah's voice, this novel reveals the traditions and turmoils of ancient womanhood--the world of the red tent. It begins with the story of her mothers--Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah--the four wives of Jacob. They love Dinah and give her gifts that sustain her through a hard-working youth, a calling to midwifery, and a new home in a foreign land. Dinah's story reaches out from a remarkable period of early history and creates an intimate connection with the past. Deeply affecting, The Red Tentcombines rich storytelling with a valuable achievement in modern fiction: a new view of biblical women's society.

Review:  The Red Tent is an interesting perspective of one of the most know stories from the Bible.  The story of Jacob and his many sons, in particular Joseph and his "Amazing Techno-color Dream Coat", have been told in many movies, books, and even Broadway musicals.  The Red Tent tells the same tale but from the woman's perspective; a side that is sadly under represented in the Bible.

I really loved this book.  Like REALLY loved this book.  I absolutely loved the tribe aspect for the women.  I think in modern times we look at ancient tribal cultures and see the women as repressed "possessions" of the men in the tribe.  This book really shows how the women have their own culture, support systems, and contentment with their woman-ness.  They aren't meek submissive pets.  They stand up for themselves, are shrewd business women, and sexual beings aware of their bodies and the natural cycle of life.  Being on their period wasn't the curse so many women complain about today.  The Red Tent was their retreat, their place of solace where they could congregate and share in each other's wisdom. 

There are a lot of people who dislike this book, and I think it's largely the people who cannot see history as any way other than what is exactly in the Bible.  The idea that the "heroes" of the Bible may not be so heroic after all scares them because it causes them to question their faith.  I think that it's very important to not read the Bible as literal fact for modern times.  It has to be looked at within the context of a two thousand year old nomadic nation and that the Bible was written two thousand years ago in ancient Hebrew.  There's bound to be some things that are lots in translation and through cultural evolution.  For example the word "rape".  Was Dinah raped in a modern sense, with violence and anger, or was she raped in an ancient sense, as in having sex out of wedlock?  The same word but with two very different meanings and implications. 

Overall I think The Red Tent is a very important book for women's spirituality.  It presents the story of one of the most under represented figures in the Bible and gives her a voice.  It never strays from the original backdrop of the Biblical story, but expands on this untold story with grace and beauty.

The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd

Published in 2006 by Penguin (Non-Classics)
2 Stars

Goodreads Review
Sue Monk Kidd's phenomenal debut, The Secret Life of Bees, became a runaway bestseller that is still on the New York Times bestseller list more than two years after its paperback publication. Now, in her luminous new novel, Kidd has woven a transcendent tale that will thrill her legion of fans. Telling the story of Jessie Sullivan-a love story between a woman and a monk, a woman and her husband, and ultimately a woman and her own soul-Kidd charts a journey of awakening and self-discovery illuminated with a brilliance that only a writer of her ability could conjure.


Side note, this review is slightly spoilery, but I wanted to talk about some of the themes.  You have been warned ;)


Review:  The mermaid chair was the first book I read by Sue Monk Kidd, being attracted to her books after seeing the movie of The Secret Life of Bees.  While I really enjoyed the movie, my first  step into her books was sadly disappointing.


I found the plot of The Mermaid Chair to have great themes, but poor execution.  It's a story about how relationships can fizzle out after a while and the temptation to find that spark in someone new.  It's also about how the sense of duty and propriety can prevent a person from choosing their own happiness.  But at the same time The Mermaid Chair is also about how people can have a life changing experience with a person even though they only know them for a short while and that meaningful relationships don't have to happen over twenty years.  I just didn't like how these themes were displayed.  There is very little room for the reader to draw their own conclusions, for the author will spell out each and every (obvious) symbolic meaning.  


The biggest problem was my inability to care about the characters.  On one hand I can totally understand Jessie and the choices that she made, having been there myself, but in reading her thoughts all I could think was that she was selfish and shallow.  I didn't feel any sense of empathy towards her and couldn't bring myself to understand why she felt the way she did about her husband.  I also didn't believe her "love" with Whit.  It was definitely more of a case of lust and using a lover to hide from depression than true romantic love.  


I want to make it clear that I didn't mind the affair, I can actually completely understand why she did that and her emotions behind it.  I just didn't like how it seemed like she was fooling herself by calling it love.  I wish she has at least cared enough about her husband to let him go first.  He seemed like a honest man and didn't deserve her betrayal.  Why are we all so afraid to admit our unhappiness to the people we care about before we do something that will end up hurting them way more than just telling the truth?   


Whit was probably the best character.  I could really identify with the choices he made in going to the monastery and his inner conflict trying to decide to stay or go, both from the monastery and his relationship with Jessie.  I like the theme of taking that cave time to heal from something bad, but then also realizing when it is time to come out of the cave and begin to create a new path in life.  The religious aspects and events that can totally shake the foundation of your faith and make you question everything you've always believed to be true was very interesting and well handled.  


Overall I really liked the themes in The Mermaid Chair, and some of the setting and imagery was very nice, but the deliverance of the themes in general fell flat and unemotional.