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)

Amazing and touching

I didn’t think this book would touch me so deeply but, as a mother it bright tears to my eyes at several chapters. This book should be a movie!

Excellent read/narration

What a wonderful book. It’s rare to find a book that takes you to a place so unfamiliar to your own life. Africa is indeed a unique continent, and the country’s within Africa have their own stories to tell.
The story toggles back-and-forth between the female characters telling their versions of time/place - and also past and present. Every time I thought I reached the end, the following section provided the next stage in the lives of these women. The book shares so many perspectives which is what also keeps it so interesting.
I thoroughly enjoyed the female narrators reading, pace, southern accent and Congolese accent.
The hard copy is also equally as good, but here years later I chose to revisit it via audible and wasn’t disappointed.

After all her words, I am speechless

I feel foolish that I knew and still know so little about the Congo. This book made me question my own thinking and reflect personally. It was just that kind of novel.

Brilliant story telling

I loved the historical time in the Congo. Beautifully read… grabbed me at the first paragraph!

Amazing story, full of depth and soul

One of the best books I’ve listened to in a long time. Simply love the story it tells of global cultures, colonialism, religion, family, and self. The book invites the reader to examine one’s own beliefs through an account of historical fiction that is believable. I don’t understand the bad reviews of the narrator either. The story is told from a southern US families view, and often from a child’s POV, I found her to fit the characters well.

Brilliant.

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. It’s insightful and beautifully written. Kingsolver juxtaposes Christianity and African belief systems and simultaneously critiques and legitimizes religion masterfully. Highly recommend.

story is amazing, but the narration is sub-par

I really loved the story. The Author is truly amazing. Unfortunately, as an audiobook, it is really challenging to understand which character the story is being told from the perspective of, which is a literary tool the author uses to switch between often to add layers to this beautiful story.

Amazing

I have been looking to read/listen to a great literary story teller for some time. I have found her. Barbara Kingsolver knows exactly how to develop meaningful characters with whom you become fully invested, whether you love them or hate them or anything in between.

Absolutely brilliant!

This is the second novel I have read by B.Kingsolver and it was just as good as the first! What a great writer. It’s very descriptive and because I used the audio version, the narration was spot on!

Beautiful

A beautifully written difficult story. I enjoyed the audiobook. Kept my attention. Love Barbara Kingsolver.