Review of 'The Poisonwood Bible'

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

Kingsolver's best novel by far. The Poisonwood Bible tells the story of the Price family whose baptist preacher father drags his wife and four daughters to a mission in the Belgian Congo in 1959. His complete lack of success and numerous trials are documented in excruciating details and the ultimate effects it has on his family. The blindness of Nathan Price (the father) to what is happening around him, both in their village and within his own family are what ultimately (not giving anything away) their downfall. I felt that the climax was somewhere just after the middle of the book and the rest just dealt with the fall-out – the final chapters pretty much ending on a “whimper”. Very well written – I can really relate to the issues being a volunteer in Africa myself. Terrific read.

Rating: “Nearly perfect, but not quite”


Genre: General Fiction


Other reviewed books by Barbara Kingsolver: