The Poisonwood Bible. - Review - book review

National Catholic Reporter, June 15, 2001 by Sue Birnie

The evolving story in Barbara Kingsolver's bulky, 500-plus pages, The Poisonwood Bible (Harper Collins) is constantly fresh and engrossing. Although American missionary Nathan Price and his wife Orleanna arrive in the 1950s Belgian Congo with high hopes, their mission quickly meets obstacles: culture shock, endless rain, strange food, different spiritual beliefs and village politics. Meanwhile, their four young daughters struggle with both their new surroundings and the aches of growing up, each with varying degrees of success.

This, Kingsolver's tribute to Africa, moves with lush descriptions of the jungle and drips with equatorial heat. While essentially a story about family, loyalty and faith, Congo's escape from colonialism creates an underlying tension that mimics the desires for freedom within the Price family itself.

As Kingsolver splits the narrative among the five Price women, each chapter presents readers with a different point of view. No two characters endure Africa and Nathan's autocratic ministry the same way. Seductive and haunting. Like Africa, perhaps.

Sue Birnie lives in Victoria, British Columbia.