The Poisonwood Bible

By: Barbara Kingsolver

Narrated by: Dean Robertson

“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)

Ignore the Naysayers! This is a Wonderful Story!

I have to confess that I almost didn't spring for this book because of the reviews denouncing the narrator. I am so glad I didn't listen to them (although I did wait to buy it on sale just in case they were right!)

The narrator is just about perfect for this story. She provides the perfect inflection and pace, including using varying levels of cynicism and cockiness, in the five voices of the main characters. (I especially loved how the author included miss-pronounced and miss-chosen words in the narration just as would have been likely in the conversation of young girls.)

This is an amazing geo-political story that will make you think long and hard about the virtues of missionaries bringing "the light" to the Congo, and think even harder about how the US government involves itself in the politics of the world, often at the dire expense of the people in places such as the Congo.

At the core of this story is how a family, under the sadistic rule of a brutal, intolerant man, crumbles when facing adversity in the Congo. At the same time, it is a story of how each of the surviving women find the means to accept their pasts and live out their lives.

Kingsolver's writing is incredible and the narration poetic. This is a book that I thoroughly enjoyed and will likely listen to again.

One of my favorite fiction books

Parts of this book were so beautifully written that I had to listen to them repeatedly. Couple this with the research on Africa and the rich characters and you have a fantastic book.

A wonderfully entertaining saga

Barbara Kingsolver spins a fascinating tale of family life in the Congo as the country spirals into chaos. The novel has a wonderful sense of place - we can almost smell the jungle - and we come to know each character intimately. A gripping story, told with empathy and humor.

Interesting but a little confusing

Narrator tells the story from the viewpoint of the 3 daughters of the missionary family. a bit confusing unless you know which daughter is telling the story. as the book progresses, this made clearer.

Unforgettable

It has been two weeks since I have finished Poisonwood Bible and my mind still hears the characters' voices. I can't forget it. I don't want to forget it. It is one of those books of a lifetime. Kingsolver is a magnificent author.