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)

Makes you think!

I read a lot of the reviews before starting this book and have to agree with some of the comments about the narrator. It took a while before I could tell the characters apart, but by the end I didn't mind her at all. The story is not only heartbreaking and eye opening, but educational as well. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the characters and see where the decision to go to Congo in 1959 took all of them in the end.

Well written - a bit longer than need be

Enjoyed the book, i love her writing. The interwoven story of four women and there relationships to the who they were and who they become and their fathers craziness.

I feel like the book could have easily ended and another book started in several places, perhaps the meaning of then sections.

3rd Time!

I've read this book in the past and loved it! I've listened to it... and I'm blown away.

Remarkable

The story is quite confusing to begin with and I had to restart twice, but once you begin to relate to the characters and the way the story is written (in the first person, but with FIVE first persons!) then the story unfolds beautifully.

The tale is humorous, gossipy, tragic and insightful, and has immense wisdom of Africa and just how it stands apart from the rest of the world.

A delightful journey.

Powerful story. Beautifully narrated.

I read this book years ago and now listening - having forgotten most of it- I was enthralled. I'd relisten to parts because the language was so rich, nuanced and poetic.

The story is relevant and ispellbinding.
It's a must read.

How did I not read this bookv20 years ago?

This has to be one of the best books ever written. Kingsolver has a brilliant ability to define her characters, and the cast she creates walks us through an important but usually passed over historical event of world history. So grateful to have discovered this book.

A Classic!

this is an awesome book. Full of characters that you can get into and look forward to what happens next in th heir journey. The history and life of the Congo was so good. This is a book you can read more than once! Well done!

Beautiful story telling.

I find myself going back to this world and discussing with myself the motivation for each action.

Great Audiobook!

This book is fantastic! The reader's Southern accent captures the feel and sound of Africa as experienced by this missionary family from Georgia. The book is worth reading!

Different

This story was written in a very different style than I'm used to, which made it a bit difficult to find interest in it the beginning but dissolved into wanting to know what would happen next as the story progressed. I enjoyed learning about a culture I will most likely never experience myself