Barbara Kingsolver's acclaimed international bestseller tells the story of an American missionary family in the Congo during a poignant chapter in African history. It spins the tale of the fierce evangelical Baptist, Nathan Price, who takes his wife and four daughters on a missionary journey into the heart of darkness of the Belgian Congo in 1959. They carry with them to Africa all they believe they will need from home, but soon find that all of it - from garden seeds to the King James Bible - is calamitously transformed on African soil. Told from the perspective of the five women, this is a compelling exploration of African history, religion, family, and the many paths to redemption. The Poisonwood Bible was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in 1999 and was chosen as the best reading group novel ever at the Penguin/Orange Awards. It continues to be read and adored by millions worldwide.
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[IMAGINE A RUIN so strange it must never have happened]***
(Faber & Faber, 4 September 2008, first published 24 September 1998, 640 pages, ebook, borrowed from @GlasgowLib via @OverDriveLibs)
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I became a fan of Kingsolver when I read and loved Unsheltered earlier this year. I tried to read this book a few months ago but couldn't find the time. I'm delighted I gave it another shot. I thought this book was amazing. I loved the fact that each chapter is narrated in the first person by various women in the Price family and how events shift effortlessly back and forward in time. This is a very deep, intense book that covers some very emotional subject matter. The book starts off so hopeful as the family arrive in the Congo for Mr Price's missionary work. It was incredibly sad to read how slowly and painfully everything starts to unravel. I cried a lot. Hope is gradually stored but at a price. This book amazed me. I need to consume all of Kingsolver's books right now.
