Barbara Kingsolver’s novel The Poisonwood Bible intertwines the narratives of a Baptist preacher’s wife and four daughters as they embark on a mission to the Belgain Congo in 1959. The storyline follows the political, religious and personal struggles that the Congo presents to these five drastically different women over three decades from their attempt at homesteading in Africa, Congo’s independence from Belgium, Congo’s postcolonial struggle to the assassination of the country’s first prime minister.
Kingsolver does a beautiful job crafting each woman and making her voice authentic. From chapter to chapter, and character to character, Kingsolver makes an effortless transition with each woman’s voice and perception, and by the end of the book you know and understand the Price women. And, most importantly, you understand the paths they chose to take in life.
The Baptist preacher, Nathan Price, overshadows the women of the family, attempts to conquer a small village through the word of God and grossly miscommunicates with the tribe. Nathan is rash, overconfident, narrow-minded and chauvinistic. He gives his daughters The Verse to write out every time they misbehave and pushes them farther and farther away from God and himself. His inability to show love and his narrow perception isolates him from his family and the tribe, making him an outsider. When told to leave the Belgian Congo during political uprising, Nathan doesn’t listen but instead forces his family to stay and puts them in harms way. This is where the book sucked me in and where Nathan’s demise begins. From here, Nathan’s relations with the tribe and his family become more heated.
Kingsolver, a biologist as well as award-winning novelist, uses heavy nature imagery throughout the novel. You feel like you are in Paradise throughout the novel. Kingsolver refers to the animals and plants by their names in African languages, so you, too, are a part of the naming process as if you were alongside Adam and Eve. Also, as expected, she uses allusions to the Bible, while conquering other religious and political themes. The theme of salvation is most prevalent.
Overall, this book was an enjoyable, stimulating and mind-opening read. I came out feeling a connection to the Price women and with a newfound curiosity in the happenings of postcolonial Africa and missions. I always appreciate a book that makes me curious.
Kingsolver lives in southern Appalachia and it makes me excited to read more of her novels, knowing she is in our region. My next Kingsolver read: Prodigal Summer , a novel set in southern Appalachia that follows three women.
Kingsolver does a beautiful job crafting each woman and making her voice authentic. From chapter to chapter, and character to character, Kingsolver makes an effortless transition with each woman’s voice and perception, and by the end of the book you know and understand the Price women. And, most importantly, you understand the paths they chose to take in life.
The Baptist preacher, Nathan Price, overshadows the women of the family, attempts to conquer a small village through the word of God and grossly miscommunicates with the tribe. Nathan is rash, overconfident, narrow-minded and chauvinistic. He gives his daughters The Verse to write out every time they misbehave and pushes them farther and farther away from God and himself. His inability to show love and his narrow perception isolates him from his family and the tribe, making him an outsider. When told to leave the Belgian Congo during political uprising, Nathan doesn’t listen but instead forces his family to stay and puts them in harms way. This is where the book sucked me in and where Nathan’s demise begins. From here, Nathan’s relations with the tribe and his family become more heated.
Kingsolver, a biologist as well as award-winning novelist, uses heavy nature imagery throughout the novel. You feel like you are in Paradise throughout the novel. Kingsolver refers to the animals and plants by their names in African languages, so you, too, are a part of the naming process as if you were alongside Adam and Eve. Also, as expected, she uses allusions to the Bible, while conquering other religious and political themes. The theme of salvation is most prevalent.
Overall, this book was an enjoyable, stimulating and mind-opening read. I came out feeling a connection to the Price women and with a newfound curiosity in the happenings of postcolonial Africa and missions. I always appreciate a book that makes me curious.
Kingsolver lives in southern Appalachia and it makes me excited to read more of her novels, knowing she is in our region. My next Kingsolver read: Prodigal Summer , a novel set in southern Appalachia that follows three women.