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The Poisonwood Bible

Barbara Kingsolver

Start date: January 1, 2021

Finish date: January 28, 2021

Discussion: Country and Territories

Why we're reading this: Countries/Territories: Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo or Republic of Congo

The Poisonwood Bible…more
[close] Countries/Territories: Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo or Republic of Congo

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

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Country and Territories

A Dangerous Place (March 2023)
By Mariah Roze · 1 post · 6 views

last updated Mar 04, 2023 01:57PM

Homegoing (February 2023)
By Mariah Roze · 3 posts · 18 views

last updated Feb 06, 2023 01:39PM

What Members Thought

Sep 12, 2012 Cheryl rated it liked it

Shelves: war-stories, global-intrigue, pulitzers-nominees, women-and-books, africa, fiction

3.5 stars

There is something distinct and refreshing about the short, simple, sometimes lyrical sentences in this book. And wow what a story. The angle the story took of a post-colonial African country was also interesting. The remorse and reflection was illuminating, something that nonfiction from similar settings and era really fail to do.

The story takes place in the former Belgian Congo, also formerly the republic of Congo, then Zaire, and now The DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo). The p 3.5 stars

There is something distinct and refreshing about the short, simple, sometimes lyrical sentences in this book. And wow what a story. The angle the story took of a post-colonial African country was also interesting. The remorse and reflection was illuminating, something that nonfiction from similar settings and era really fail to do.

The story takes place in the former Belgian Congo, also formerly the republic of Congo, then Zaire, and now The DRC (Democratic Republic of the Congo). The political setting is the reign of the authoritarian, Mobutu, and the events leading up to getting the country from colony to democratic country, while also painting the picture of post-colonial education--or the lack thereof--and how that played an important role in rectifying political turmoil.

The angle of the missionary family was a good addition to a familiar story. The missionary dad in this family resembles the dad in Purple Hibiscus and The Smell of Apples : oppressive, controlling, devoid of reason. The family of six (dad, mom, and four girls) leave their home in America and settle in rural Africa, within a small village that hasn't yet caught up with the modern world, and this dad is somehow tricked into believing that he is the superior power sent to rule the inferior Africans. You can only imagine where the story goes from there. I must say, I saw bits and pieces of Things Fall Apart in this work.

There is some melancholy and beauty, though the book feels as if it could have been a hundred pages shorter. There were five narrators, all who were supposed to have different styles and voices, yet at times they blended together into the voice of an overall arching narrator. At times, Adah, one of my favorite narrators, started to sound like an older woman and not the young girl she was supposed to be. The history of the Congo was muddled in certain places and with five narrators, it was just hard to keep excited. I ended up growing to like Leah and Anatole's characters better because of the purpose their juxtaposed relationship seemed to fill within the bigger narrative. ...more

22 likes · Like · see review

Jun 18, 2012 Colleen rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: owned-on-the-shelf

Tell all the truth but tell it slant. -Emily Dickenson

The power is in the balance: we are our injuries, as much as we are our successes.

9 likes · Like · see review

Apr 20, 2020 Heather rated it really liked it

Shelves: audiobook, scribd

This book was exceptional in so many ways. It was also long and not my typical favourite genre (long family saga) BUT the characters did worm their way into my heart and I was fully invested in their story by the end of it. It was heartbreaking at times, funny at times, devastating, hopeful, and fascinating. It felt uncomfortable at times but that was the point. What an epic tale of this American family in the Congo. Read the hardback and alternated with the audiobook which was excellently narra ...more

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Mar 27, 2013 Julie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorite-books

Excellent book about human nature, strong beliefs, inserting of oneself in a totally new culture, family dynamics... My first book by this author; definately not my last.

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