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A review by jenbsbooks
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
4.25
I liked this a lot ... which surprised me a little. I hadn't cared for Demon Copperhead, and this was a similar slow/sad lifelong story. I admit to being a Table of Contents snob, and this was lacking there, as was the narration, several different 1st person POVs told in the same voice. I would have thought those two things would have maybe made this a less than positive experience ... and yet, I really got pulled into the story, the characters.
The TOC was just broken down into seven "books" ... then each book started with a section by the mother (Orleanna) and then several chapters from the girls POVs (Leah, Rachel, Adah, Ruth May). There was only the slightest differentiation in voice (writing and narration) so I wished (as I'd stop and start my audio while doing other things) that I could have just looked at the "chapter" in the TOC to see whose POV it was, but alas, I'd either have to rewind and try to catch the header at the start of the chapter (not something I could just go to, as those inner "chapters" weren't really marked) or just listen until I figured out whose POV it was. I really wish ALL the chapters/headers had been noted rather than only the huge "books" ...
There were a few things that I'd think "oh, I should highlight that section" (harder to do in audio). A few words (jerryrig). The girls (especially Rachel) would use similar, but incorrect words. It was funny. For example " we Christians have our own system of marriage, and it is called Monotony" ... she meant monogamy ... or did she? I wish I had all the funny exchanges noted.
The author's note was included in the audio - it isn't always. In the physical book (I had this in all three formats) it was at the beginning of the book, in Kindle and audio, it was at the end. I'm glad it was included, as it had some good information.
I'm not sure how much I'll really remember of the story or characters ... I like the cover with the sun and tree more than the "book" one.
No proFanity. Some sex but nothing graphic. Despite the "bible" in the title and the father/family coming to preach/teach and baptize, this wasn't overly religious.
The TOC was just broken down into seven "books" ... then each book started with a section by the mother (Orleanna) and then several chapters from the girls POVs (Leah, Rachel, Adah, Ruth May). There was only the slightest differentiation in voice (writing and narration) so I wished (as I'd stop and start my audio while doing other things) that I could have just looked at the "chapter" in the TOC to see whose POV it was, but alas, I'd either have to rewind and try to catch the header at the start of the chapter (not something I could just go to, as those inner "chapters" weren't really marked) or just listen until I figured out whose POV it was. I really wish ALL the chapters/headers had been noted rather than only the huge "books" ...
There were a few things that I'd think "oh, I should highlight that section" (harder to do in audio). A few words (jerryrig). The girls (especially Rachel) would use similar, but incorrect words. It was funny. For example " we Christians have our own system of marriage, and it is called Monotony" ... she meant monogamy ... or did she? I wish I had all the funny exchanges noted.
The author's note was included in the audio - it isn't always. In the physical book (I had this in all three formats) it was at the beginning of the book, in Kindle and audio, it was at the end. I'm glad it was included, as it had some good information.
I'm not sure how much I'll really remember of the story or characters ... I like the cover with the sun and tree more than the "book" one.
No proFanity. Some sex but nothing graphic. Despite the "bible" in the title and the father/family coming to preach/teach and baptize, this wasn't overly religious.