I loved this book. For the characters, the education and the writing. Oh I loved the writing. It was succinct, powerful and beautiful all at once.
While I enjoyed the writing from the very beginning it wasn't until I started telling a friend about it that I really began to understand the depth of the story. Some things just take awhile to sink in.
The book is the story of the family of an American missionary who find themselves living in the Congo in the late 50s. Told from the individual perspectives of the female family members, the book constantly switches between the voices of the characters and it does it very well. The voices are distinct and clear and so very different. From the extremes of superiority and righteousness of some characters through to the fascination and willingness to immerse of others, the author manages to the paint a picture of the Africa of that time.
One of the things Kingsolver does so well is capture the way we judge others through our own beliefs and norms. The way we give our meaning to things that have no meaning to others:
The other thing I loved was that she understands the power of less is more. Sometimes non pivital characters can be drawn quickly and clearly with very few words:
I loved that the book touches on how we reflect on our lives and try to make sense of them as we grow older:
While I enjoyed the writing from the very beginning it wasn't until I started telling a friend about it that I really began to understand the depth of the story. Some things just take awhile to sink in.
The book is the story of the family of an American missionary who find themselves living in the Congo in the late 50s. Told from the individual perspectives of the female family members, the book constantly switches between the voices of the characters and it does it very well. The voices are distinct and clear and so very different. From the extremes of superiority and righteousness of some characters through to the fascination and willingness to immerse of others, the author manages to the paint a picture of the Africa of that time.
One of the things Kingsolver does so well is capture the way we judge others through our own beliefs and norms. The way we give our meaning to things that have no meaning to others:
...with her sad little eyes and wrinkled mouth she keeps shut, morning till
night, while she does everybody's hair. The state of her own hair is a mystery,
since she always wraps her head in a dazzling cloth printed with peacock
feathers. Those lively feathers don't really match her personality, but like
Tata Boanda in his ladies'-wear sweater, she seems unaware that her outfit is
ironic.
The other thing I loved was that she understands the power of less is more. Sometimes non pivital characters can be drawn quickly and clearly with very few words:
Mr Axelroot himself is boring to watch; on a typical day he sleeps till noon,
then takes a nap.
I loved that the book touches on how we reflect on our lives and try to make sense of them as we grow older:
I hope you enjoyed it too. Check out the map of places this book has been.Asking forgiveness. Owning, disowning, recanting, recharting a hateful course of
events to make sense of her complicity. We all are, I suppose. Trying to invent
our version of the story.
Leave me a comment below with your location (suburb, town or city; country) so that I can add you to the map. Please also share your thoughts on the book.
