The Poisonwood Bible

By: Barbara Kingsolver

Narrated by: Dean Robertson

Length: 15 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

“A powerful new epic... [Kingsolver] has with infinitely steady hands worked the prickly threads of religion, politics, race, sin and redemption into a thing of terrible beauty.” - Los Angeles Times Book Review

The Poisonwood Bible is a story told by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a fierce, evangelical Baptist who takes his family and mission to the Belgian Congo in 1959. They carry with them everything they believe they will need from home, but soon find that all of it - from garden seeds to Scripture - is calamitously transformed on African soil. What follows is a suspenseful epic of one family’s tragic undoing and remarkable reconstruction over the course of three decades in postcolonial Africa.

The novel is set against one of the most dramatic political chronicles of the twentieth century: the Congo's fight for independence from Belgium, the murder of its first elected prime minister, the CIA coup to install his replacement, and the insidious progress of a world economic order that robs the fledgling African nation of its autonomy. Taking its place alongside the classic works of postcolonial literature, this ambitious novel establishes Kingsolver as one of the most thoughtful and daring of modern writers.

©1998 by Barbara Kingsolver. (P)1998 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"Haunting...A novel of character, a narrative shaped by keen-eyed women." (New York Times Book Review)

"Beautifully written....Kingsolver's tale of domestic tragedy is more than just a well-told yarn.. Played out against the bloody backdrop of political struggles in Congo that continue to this day, it is also particularly timely." (People)

"The book's sheer enjoyability is given depth by Kingsolver's insight and compassion for Congo, including its people, and their language and sayings." (Boston Globe)

Blown Away

This is my favorite book so far in my life. Never have I encountered such an important story so beautifully written. Everyone should read this book.

My new favorite book of all time.

I was so engaged with this book that I listened two times in a row, then purchased the paper back. The Price family ladies, tell it like it is. This book is filled with historic fact, yet pulled at my heart strings like no other book I have ever read. I have traveled to West Africa several times during my life and the Price family trip to the Congo, pulled at my heart strings. This book is ahead of it's time as far as, "cultural IQ", goes. The author does a wonderful job illustrating that while there is a great separation between cultures, there are heartbreaking beautiful moments where the village bonds over grief and hardships. The reader can clearly see how the best of intentions can be harmful and how helping hurts if it is one sided. I enjoyed following the Price ladies into their later years, seeing how their experiences in Africa marked each of them in different ways. -Karen

Really excellent book

it's not only educational about the Congo, but beautifully written as well. highly recommend it!

Kingsolver's Opus to date

What did you like best about this story?

Blistering irony, that will make you want to listen for a few minutes, and then pause to think it over. I move from laughing to tears in just a few sentences.

The pacing of the story is excellent, and moves the reader quickly along.

The ever changing perspective, from the voice of each of the females in the book creates a multitude of differing points of view.

This is my second time to listen to the book, and I still recommend it with our reservation.

If you could rename The Poisonwood Bible, what would you call it?

The Reverend's Folly

Great Read!

Where does The Poisonwood Bible rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I would rank it 5 on 1-10 scale

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed getting to know each character on a personal level.

Which character – as performed by Dean Robertson – was your favorite?

My favorite character was the mother. She had nerves of steel.

Who was the most memorable character of The Poisonwood Bible and why?

The father because of his self centered delusions.

Any additional comments?

Long book but great from beginning to end.

this was a perfect narator for this story

the first time I read the book, 10 years later it was just as awesome hearing it.

incredible story, enjoyable narrator

Listened to entire book, I can't fathom why other reviewers complain about this great narrator.

If you hate the narrator, you don't get it

Wow. First time I have written a review. This book is one of the best books I have ever listened to and well worth my monthly credit. You don't need the narrator to have different voices for each character - the characters come through the words. I could tell by the language style which character was speaking. The book was beautifully written and had an excellent story.

Great story

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. It is informative and enjoyable

What other book might you compare The Poisonwood Bible to and why?

I cannot compare it to any other book I have read. I like the different perspectives offered by the characters

Have you listened to any of Dean Robertson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Have not listened to other performances but enjoyed this one

If you could rename The Poisonwood Bible, what would you call it?

Man proposes, god disposes

It makes you think about some of your assumptions

My daughter was teaching this book in her high school class so I thought I should listen to it. Each of the daughters and the mother tells her story so you get very different perspectives of the same events. The author draws completely different characters and as they age, they develop in a manner that seems consistent with the character.

You gain an appreciation for the traditional culture of the Congo and how Europeans and Americans have manged to make so much more difficult for the people. Sometimes with good intentions, but frequently with malevolent ones. Or religious fever clocked in self-righteousness.

Well worth a listen.