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The Poisonwood Bible

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About this listen

“A powerful new epic... [Kingsolver] has with infinitely steady hands worked the prickly threads of religion, politics, race, sin and redemption into a thing of terrible beauty.” - Los Angeles Times Book Review

The Poisonwood Bible is a story told by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a fierce, evangelical Baptist who takes his family and mission to the Belgian Congo in 1959. They carry with them everything they believe they will need from home, but soon find that all of it - from garden seeds to Scripture - is calamitously transformed on African soil. What follows is a suspenseful epic of one family’s tragic undoing and remarkable reconstruction over the course of three decades in postcolonial Africa.

The novel is set against one of the most dramatic political chronicles of the twentieth century: the Congo's fight for independence from Belgium, the murder of its first elected prime minister, the CIA coup to install his replacement, and the insidious progress of a world economic order that robs the fledgling African nation of its autonomy. Taking its place alongside the classic works of postcolonial literature, this ambitious novel establishes Kingsolver as one of the most thoughtful and daring of modern writers.

©1998 by Barbara Kingsolver. (P)1998 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved. Africa Emotionally Gripping Colonial Period Classics

What the critics say

"Haunting...A novel of character, a narrative shaped by keen-eyed women." (New York Times Book Review)

"Beautifully written....Kingsolver's tale of domestic tragedy is more than just a well-told yarn.. Played out against the bloody backdrop of political struggles in Congo that continue to this day, it is also particularly timely." (People)

"The book's sheer enjoyability is given depth by Kingsolver's insight and compassion for Congo, including its people, and their language and sayings." (Boston Globe)

All stars
Most Relevant
This story humbled me, I was raised religiously but have shed my faith in the biblical god. I wish I had read this when I was young and lost in guilt.

An emotional rollercoaster

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A boundlessly beautiful tale, both difficult to read and difficult to put down. My only criticism is with the narrator. She did a beautiful job, smooth and fluent narration, however having the same voice for all the Price girls/women across so many ages dulled the story for me a bit. Overall, highly recommended. Wonderful!

Amazing Book

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I like everything about this book. I like the characters, the story, the structure, the remarkable way Kingsolver tells the story through 5 viewpoints that provide a wide understanding of the Congo in the 1960s and of the effects of religions on those who believe & those who don't. The performance works & I like to listen to the book every now and then. There's always something new.

Brilliant

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I have read this book countless times, and love it. After a 2 year stint in Nigeria during my middle school years which left its imprint on my heart, this book really resonates with me. It is a life life lived and shared, it is a tragedy that is endured and survived (by some).

I didn’t love the narrator at first, it took some getting used to. However she grew on me and I think she did a good job reflecting the different personalities of the characters.

Love This Book

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The story was phenomenal and the narrator was so good that I could tell which POV it was just by the tone of voice. This has got to be in the Top 5 books I’ve ever read. I know it’ll haunt me for the rest of my life.

Amazing book & Superb narration!

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