The Bean Trees (Greer Family, #1) in Play Book Tag

Apr 27, 2014 Lisa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: high-school-reads, books-i-own, fiction, favorites, literature, botm-suggestions

☊ The Bean Trees, by Barbara Kingsolver
★★★★★ and a ♥

Synopsis: Clear-eyed and spirited, Taylor Greer grew up poor in rural Kentucky with the goals of avoiding pregnancy and getting away. But when she heads west with high hopes and a barely functional car, she meets the human condition head-on. By the time Taylor arrives in Tucson, Arizona, she has acquired a completely unexpected child, a three-year-old American Indian girl named Turtle, and must somehow come to terms with both motherhood and the ☊ The Bean Trees, by Barbara Kingsolver
★★★★★ and a ♥

Synopsis: Clear-eyed and spirited, Taylor Greer grew up poor in rural Kentucky with the goals of avoiding pregnancy and getting away. But when she heads west with high hopes and a barely functional car, she meets the human condition head-on. By the time Taylor arrives in Tucson, Arizona, she has acquired a completely unexpected child, a three-year-old American Indian girl named Turtle, and must somehow come to terms with both motherhood and the necessity for putting down roots. Hers is a story about love and friendship, abandonment and belonging, and the discovery of surprising resources in apparently empty places
In A Sentence: A wonderful and heartwarming story that even someone in middle school could enjoy
Why I Love This Book: I first read this book in 8th grade Honors English. It was required reading, which normally means that it's supposed to be a good story, but because it's been forced on you, you're supposed to hate it. I, however, was one of those weirdo kids who absolutely loved it! 12 years later I still love it, perhaps even more so! This was the first Kingsolver book I ever read, and I think it's one of the best examples of her writing style. The writing is pretty straightforward and has a bit of a no-nonsense feel to it, but there's a lot of hidden symbolism and ironies or bits of humor that crop up when you really pay attention. The story is bittersweet, with just the right mixture of happiness and tragedy, so you finish the book feeling as though you've read something deep and profound, but not depressed. The pace of this book was also just right, not too fast or jumpy, but not too slow either; there was always something interesting happening in each and every chapter, so you're never bored (at least I wasn't).
What Some May Not Like So Much: honestly I don't have anything all that bad to say. When I was a kid, I didn't feel completely satisfied with all the information the book had to give me. Back then I felt like there were many unanswered questions, particularly when it came to the part where (view spoiler). This time, however, I was completely satisfied, and I think that it's because I'm older now, with considerably more experience and understanding, so things that didn't make sense before make total sense now. The book's just fine the way it is, and if you disagree, too bad.
In A Nutshell: I love this book and I think it absolutely deserves it's position as required school reading. If you read this as a kid and didn't like it, read it again! I swear it was even better the second time around, especially because I was reading the book from an adult's perspective. It's a wonderfully written, heartfelt story, and I strongly recommend it.

Review Rescued From Shelfari: I first read this as required reading in middle school, and the fact that I loved it then is a sure sign that it's a good book. Reading it again reminded me of all the things I loved about the story. I was actually really surprised how much of the story I remembered after all these years, yet more proof of how good a book it is. The story is heartbreaking and yet wonderful, comical yet tragic. It's about finding your way in the world, and about love, loss, and family. This is a must-read for not only teenagers, but also for adults. Love it! ...more

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Jul 31, 2013 LibraryCin rated it liked it

Shelves: women, indigenous-peoples, friendship, mothers-and-daughters, arizona, adoption

3.5 stars

When Taylor Greer sets out to drive away from the place she grew up in Kentucky, her life will change more than she thinks when, as she is driving through a Cherokee reservation in Oklahoma, someone hands her a baby and tells her to take care of it. Taylor keeps going as far as Tucson, Arizona with the baby she later calls Turtle. In Tucson, she must find a job and a place to live and figure out how to take care of this baby.

This was enjoyable. I was engaged and wanted to keep reading ...more

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Feb 07, 2019 Kszr rated it really liked it

Kingsolver is a master in telling stories of families - what they are, who they are not, and why we should rethink the Norman Rockwell definition.

The concept of a refugee is explored here, both literally and figuratively. Taylor is a refugee from Kentucky, who picks up a refugee from Oklahoma, and meets up with other refugees from across the country and world in Arizona. All are searching for a better life, with more than they came with. Each carries their own baggage, but they form a bond stro ...more

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Mar 27, 2022 Olivermagnus rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2022, fiction, zmarch-2022

I remember reading Barbara Kingsolver's debut in the late 80's when it was published. I lived in Tucson at the time and there was a lot of publicity about a local writer's success. It didn't really appeal to me during that period of my life so I thought it was good, just not my style of reading enjoyment.

Marietta (Missy) Greer hates her life in rural Kentucky where girls never graduate from high school and go on to be pregnant for the next twenty years. When she successfully avoids that, she dec ...more

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Mar 28, 2013 Nicole D. rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I've read this story before. Sassy girl from a small town in the South can't wait to get out of town. Ends up in a new place surrounded by quirky people who become her family. I don't know what it is about these stories, but I love them. This reminded me of "Where the Heart Is" or one of Joshilyn Jackson's books. Southern Fiction.

The characters were great, and I don't know how a little kid who barely does anything the whole book could be so endearing, but she was.

I loved it, and it's definitely ...more

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Mar 26, 2013 Linda C rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, travel, favorites

In her early twenties, Marietta Greer, buys a cheap VW bug and sets out from her tiny town in KY to seek a new life. She decides to change her first name as well when she happens upon a place that sounds good. She stops in OK on the Cherokee reservation. There a woman walks up to her car and gives her a toddler that seems to be in shock and walks away. The only other people are a couple of disreputable men. She takes the child and continues, ending up in Arizona. During the course of the book Ta ...more

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