Big Books of 2026
Prodigal Summer

Questions About Prodigal Summer

by Barbara Kingsolver

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about Prodigal Summer, please sign up.

Answered Questions (6)

I just started this book and was disappointed with the shallow relationship with the stranger right off the bat. Before I invest any more time, can you tell me if this book is just a series of physical relationships with different couples, or is there a plot? I do love her writing style, just wanting more in the way of a story.
Valerie Mauk Keep reading! This book starts to draw you in and, as you learn about the environment, you also learn about the strength of a woman and her undoings a…moreKeep reading! This book starts to draw you in and, as you learn about the environment, you also learn about the strength of a woman and her undoings as well. This is one of my favorite books of all time.(less)
flag
Can anyone distill the structure and point of view of this novel? trying to describe it to a class in more depth, and I've been describing it as multi-viewpoint chronological.
Kathy I wouldn't say that this is about point-of-view in the standard sense. I would say that this is a novel with three parallel narratives. These narrativ…moreI wouldn't say that this is about point-of-view in the standard sense. I would say that this is a novel with three parallel narratives. These narratives are linked by the themes of the novel (nature, eco-systems, mothering, life, death, etc.), but the characters are only tangentially linked and we only realise how the characters and their narratives are linked as we come towards the close of the story. I would say that our realisation of these links is deliberately delayed by the writer to illustrate how the interdependence of parts of an eco-system is not always easy to discern.(less)
flag
I find myself reading for the "Predators" chapters, the Deanna and Eddie in Zebulon adventures. Anyone else? Lusa bores me, (for now- I'm only halfway through).
Sofia For me it was the opposite- I preferred the chapters about Lusa while the Predator-chapters were boring :)

In my opinion it all got more interesting th…moreFor me it was the opposite- I preferred the chapters about Lusa while the Predator-chapters were boring :)

In my opinion it all got more interesting the further I got in the book though. (less)
flag
About 5% into this as an audio-- and am finding it sounds like "soft porn". I don't read romance novels like that either... Is this worth the effort and can I skip ahead...? The initial woman protagonist seems child like
Amy I hear you. For some reason it was important to the author to tie animal matings with human ones and I too felt it went overboard. You can skip a litt…moreI hear you. For some reason it was important to the author to tie animal matings with human ones and I too felt it went overboard. You can skip a little ahead through those parts to get to the rest of this wonderful novel. (less)
flag
Does anyone remember the quote from the passage where Nanny Rawley is responding to Garnett's quoting of the "dominion over the plants and animals" scripture? Nanny Rawley turns it on its head and likens it to the salamanders in some way, but I can't recall what she said. I really resonated with her interpretation of the scripture, and I want to keep it in my arsenal to combat creationists, like Garnett.
Savannah https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1157...
flag

Unanswered Questions (1)

About Goodreads Q&A

Ask and answer questions about books!

You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.

See Featured Authors Answering Questions

Learn more