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Annette's Reviews > The Poisonwood Bible
The Poisonwood Bible
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The Poisonwood Bible is a fascinating story of Nathan Price, evangelical Baptist who takes his family and mission to the Belgian Congo in 1959.
The story is related through the wife and four daughters. Through controversial storytelling, they reveal how their mission actually reshaped their beliefs. However, it doesn’t develop the perspective of the father, and I can see how some who take his side might have some issues with this storytelling, especially when it deals with Christianity. The women connect with native people. The father struggles with that. He simply preaches, basing his beliefs strictly on the Bible.
The story is very rich in historical background. The characters are richly developed. It evokes human emotions. However, some may not like its representation, which is driven by one side.
This story has resonated with many. I’m in the minority with my rating. This book has everything I’d look for in a story. However, I found the pace slow. My rating is not based on debatable subject, but the pace. Also, the first half of the book has a better flow than the second half.
The story is related through the wife and four daughters. Through controversial storytelling, they reveal how their mission actually reshaped their beliefs. However, it doesn’t develop the perspective of the father, and I can see how some who take his side might have some issues with this storytelling, especially when it deals with Christianity. The women connect with native people. The father struggles with that. He simply preaches, basing his beliefs strictly on the Bible.
The story is very rich in historical background. The characters are richly developed. It evokes human emotions. However, some may not like its representation, which is driven by one side.
This story has resonated with many. I’m in the minority with my rating. This book has everything I’d look for in a story. However, I found the pace slow. My rating is not based on debatable subject, but the pace. Also, the first half of the book has a better flow than the second half.
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Reading Progress
September 4, 2019
– Shelved as:
to-read
September 4, 2019
– Shelved
March 28, 2023
–
Started Reading
March 28, 2023
– Shelved as:
historical-fiction-1900s
April 11, 2023
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-22 of 22 (22 new)
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by
Karen
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rated it 5 stars
Mar 28, 2023 04:32PM
I hope that you like this one better! I read this over twenty years ago & loved it! You'll have to let me know if you are enjoying it. :D
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I am happy to see you are reading this. I read it and am looking forward to your thoughts on it.
I definitely agree that the first half of the book had a better flow. I would have to reread my review to remember what I thought of this book, but it wasn’t one of my favorites. My rating probably had more to do with the “debatable subject”.Great review Annette.
Karen wrote: "I hope that you like this one better! I read this over twenty years ago & loved it! You'll have to let me know if you are enjoying it. :D"Karen, I'm glad that you enjoyed it, but the pace was slow for me :)
CoachJim wrote: "I definitely agree that the first half of the book had a better flow. I would have to reread my review to remember what I thought of this book, but it wasn’t one of my favorites. My rating probably..."Thank you Jim. I remember reading your review. I think you liked it a bit more than me :)
Great review 🙂 Annette! I read this back in 1998, when it was first published. I remember that I loved it and found it poignant. I don't know how I would feel about it now. I'm so sorry for your experience of it being slow. My hopes for you is that you can get out of the reading slump and your next one is better!
Karen wrote: "Great review 🙂 Annette! I read this back in 1998, when it was first published. I remember that I loved it and found it poignant. I don't know how I would feel about it now. I'm so sorry for your ex..."Thank you kindly Karen :)
Great review! It was a did not finish for me!
Kerrin wrote: "Great review! It was a did not finish for me!"Thank you Kerrin. I hear you :)
Great review! This was a 4 star review for me, although it took awhile for me to really get invested in the storyline.
Chris wrote: "Great review! This was a 4 star review for me, although it took awhile for me to really get invested in the storyline."Thank you Chris. It sounds like you enjoyed it more than me. I'm glad :)
I struggled quite a bit with this too....has made me a bit reluctant to try another by her...thanks for being on Team 3 star !
Jaidee wrote: "I struggled quite a bit with this too....has made me a bit reluctant to try another by her...thanks for being on Team 3 star !"Thanks Jaidee. I haven't tried any other book by this author.
I’m on page 25 so far and I’m a bit confused by it and it’s slow like you say, Annette. I have a feeling I’m going to come back here and 100 percent agree with your review and then copy and paste it. Lol. XO
Karina wrote: "I’m on page 25 so far and I’m a bit confused by it and it’s slow like you say, Annette. I have a feeling I’m going to come back here and 100 percent agree with your review and then copy and paste i..."Oh, no. Hope it gets better for you Karina :)
Nice review, Annette :)) It was my first BK novel :)
Beata wrote: "Nice review, Annette :)) It was my first BK novel :)"Thank you Beata :)
Gosh, this was all the rage when it came out, Annette. Animal Dreams hit home for me when I was 25, and I’ve read almost everything by her ever since. I still remember the disabled sister finding comfort in the people of the Congo here. Have you loved read and loved anything by her? I’ve only read two as an adult, and really liked both, but didn’t feel that old magic.
Jennifer wrote: "Gosh, this was all the rage when it came out, Annette. Animal Dreams hit home for me when I was 25, and I’ve read almost everything by her ever since. I still remember the disabled sister finding c..."Jennifer, I'm not familiar with this author. This is the first book I've read by her.
Excellent review Annette, so much so you make me want to read it all over again as I read this two years ago and absolutely fell in love with this dysfunctional family
Megan wrote: "Excellent review Annette, so much so you make me want to read it all over again as I read this two years ago and absolutely fell in love with this dysfunctional family"Thank you Megan. I'm glad this story resonated with you so much :)
Too bad that the pace of this story didn't enthrall you, Annette. I read this book several years ago (pre-Goodreads), and it's still a memorable read for me.
