50
Used, New, and Out of Print Books - We Buy and Sell - Powell's Books
Cart |
|  my account  |  wish list  |  help   |  800-878-7323
Hello, | Login
MENU
  • Browse
    • New Arrivals
    • Bestsellers
    • Featured Preorders
    • Award Winners
    • Audio Books
    • See All Subjects
  • Used
  • Staff Picks
    • Staff Picks
    • Picks of the Month
    • 50 Books for 50 Years
    • 25 PNW Books to Read Before You Die
    • 25 Books From the 21st Century
    • 25 Memoirs to Read Before You Die
    • 25 Global Books to Read Before You Die
    • 25 Women to Read Before You Die
    • 25 Books to Read Before You Die
  • Gifts
    • Gift Cards & eGift Cards
    • Powell's Souvenirs
    • Journals and Notebooks
    • socks
    • Games
  • Sell Books
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Find A Store

Don't Miss

  • Summer Sale: 20% Off Select Books
  • United Stories of America: 20% Off Select Nonfiction Titles
  • Self Portraits: 20% Off Select Memoirs
  • Powell's Author Events
  • Oregon Battle of the Books
  • Audio Books

Visit Our Stores


Powell's Staff: From the Buyers' Desk: Summer 2022 (0 comment)
When it comes to forthcoming books, the Powell’s Book Buying team are the ones to look to for recommendations. They know what they’re talking about, and they were kind enough to put together this list of 21 books they can’t wait to read this summer...
Read More»
  • Powell's Staff: 12 Books to Add to Your 2022 Summer Reading List (1 comment)
  • Kelsey Ford: Powell's Picks Spotlight: Lidia Yuknavitch's 'Thrust' (0 comment)

{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##

Poisonwood Bible

by Barbara Kingsolver
Poisonwood Bible

  • Comment on this title
  • Synopses & Reviews
  • Reading Group Guide

ISBN13: 9780060786502
ISBN10: 0060786507
Condition: Standard


All Product Details

View Larger ImageView Larger Images
Ships free on qualified orders.
Add to Cart
$7.50
List Price:$17.00
Used Trade Paperback
Ships in 1 to 3 days
Add to Wishlist
QtyStore
2Local Warehouse

Synopses & Reviews

Review

"A triple-decker, different coming-of-age novel, but also a clever look at language and cultures." San Diego Union-Tribune

Synopsis

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.

This P.S. edition features an extra 16 pages of insights into the book, including author interviews, recommended reading, and more.

Synopsis

"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.


About the Author

Barbara Kingsolver's work has been translated into more than twenty languages and has earned a devoted readership at home and abroad. She was awarded the National Humanities Medal, our country's highest honor for service through the arts. She received the 2011 Dayton Literary Peace Prize for the body of her work, and in 2010 won Britain's Orange Prize for The Lacuna. Before she made her living as a writer, Kingsolver earned degrees in biology and worked as a scientist. She now lives with her family on a farm in southern Appalachia.

Reading Group Guide

Topics for Discussion:

1. What are the implications of the novel's title phrase, the poisonwood bible, particularly in connection with the main characters' lives and the novel's main themes? How important are the circumstances in which the phrase comes into being?

2. How does Kingsolver differentiate among the Price sisters, particularly in terms of their voices? What does each sister reveal about herself and the other three, their relationships, their mother and father, and their lives in Africa? What is the effect of our learning about events and people through the sisters' eyes

3. What is the significance of the Kikongo word nommo and its attendant concepts of being and naming? Are there Christian parallels to the constellation of meanings and beliefs attached to nommo? How do the Price daughters' Christian names and their acquired Kikongo names reflect their personalities and behavior?

4. The sisters refer repeatedly to balance (and, by implication, imbalance). What kinds of balance — including historical, political, and social — emerge as important? Are individual characters associated with specific kinds of balance or imbalance? Do any of the sisters have a final say on the importance of balance?

5. What do we learn about cultural, social, religious, and other differences between Africa and America? To what degree do Orleanna and her daughters come to an understanding of those differences? Do you agree with what you take to be Kingsolver's message concerning such differences?

6. Why do you suppose that Reverend Nathan Price is not given a voice of his own? Do we learn from his wife and daughters enough information to formulate an adequate explanation for his beliefs and behavior? Does such an explanation matter?

7. What differences and similarities are there among Nathan Price's relationship with his family, Tata Ndu's relationship with his people, and the relationship of the Belgian and American authorities with the Congo? Are the novel's political details — both imagined and historical — appropriate?

8. How does Kingsolver present the double themes of captivity and freedom and of love and betrayal? What kinds of captivity and freedom does she explore? What kinds of love and betrayal? What are the causes and consequences of each kind of captivity, freedom, love, and betrayal?

9. At Bikoki Station, in 1965, Leah reflects, "I still know what justice is." Does she? What concept of justice does each member of the Price family and other characters (Anatole, for example) hold? Do you have a sense, by the novel's end, that any true justice has occurred

10. In Book Six, Adah proclaims, "This is the story I believe in..." What is that story? Do Rachel and Leah also have stories in which they believe? How would you characterize the philosophies of life at which Adah, Leah, and Rachel arrive? What story do you believe in?

11. At the novel's end, the carved-animal woman in the African market is sure that "There has never been any village on the road past Bulungu," that "There is no such village" as Kilanga. What do you make of this?


4.8 24

What Our Readers Are Saying

Share your thoughts on this title!
Average customer rating 4.8 (24 comments)

`
Maggie M , January 31, 2016
This book, while it may seem a bit long in the process, is an excellent read and smart criticism on Western interpretations of other cultures and their needs. The cast of characters isn't too large, but they all offer expansive perspectives on the human condition, family, and what it means to be a stranger.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
lukas , May 19, 2014 (view all comments by lukas)
"You can't just sashay into the jungle aiming to change it all over to the Christian style, without expecting the jungle to change you right back." A sprawling, absorbing and ambitious novel about family, God, Africa, politics and imperialism that manages to handle big themes with wit and subtlety. Should've won the Pulitzer.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Rachel Riggs , January 30, 2013
My all time favorite book!

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
tanglingpuma , October 31, 2012 (view all comments by tanglingpuma)
A suspenseful epic of an American family's total reconstruction as they live out several decades on an African mission. They believe they have brought everything they could need to build their new lives, but find that their carefully constructed ideas of what to expect are vastly different from the realities of a harsh life on African soil. This book will simultaneously anger you and cause you to marvel at the strength of one man's convictions.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
MrDalliard , January 02, 2012
Imagine Chinua Achebe and Toni Morrison had a baby then raised it Southern Baptist. Much recommended!

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
prentisentina , January 01, 2012 (view all comments by prentisentina)
With this book I have discovered a remarkable author, Barbara Kingsolver. She shows deep insight into the minds and lives of the women in the story by speaking from within their individual minds, as well as perceptive understanding of what makes an irrationally radical religious man (without speaking from within his mind, the only shortcoming of the writing, from my view), and succinct comments with great psychological, social, environmental, economic, and political truths that make complete sense in the context of the story. By contrasting the lives, viewpoints, and beliefs of both the poor people of Africa and the almost as poor white missionaries who come to "save" them, as well as African vs American life, she gives a consciousness altering experience. For example, the white family comes with seeds to plant, but they won't grow because there are no pollinators (a lesson relevant to the current plight of the bees of the world), and the father/minister's goal is to baptize all of the village people in the river, which is life-threatening because of the alligators (or is it crocodiles?)in it.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
sbylin12 , January 01, 2012 (view all comments by sbylin12)
This book was inticing the whole way through. It not only opened the reader's eyes to different things, it also had a lot of intresting things that made the reader think. I was by far my favorite book I read this year (2011) and I will surley be reading it again.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Little Nan , September 20, 2011 (view all comments by Little Nan)
This book stayed in my mind long after I had read the last page. The story is tragic, but uplifting at the same time. This Baptist family travel to deepest Africa as missionaries with preconceived ideas of what they will need and how they will convert the natives to their religion. The author creates very lively settings and characterizations to the point that you can see the deep greens of the jungle and feel the humidity and smell the exotic fruits and flowers of the jungle. Also she has good insight into the minds of teenagers as her dialog suggests. The history of Africa is seen through her characters' eyes and this commentary is very accurate as to events during the 1960's. Probably the main attraction in reading this novel is the drama and conflict of the Baptist minister with his family. He is completely out of touch in his beliefs and teachings of the Bible, for which the natives are mostly resistant and look on him as being foolish. For example, the minister wishes to baptize all the children. So he takes them to the Congo River, telling them to immerse themselves in the water. Well since the river is full of crocodiles, the natives think the good minister has lost his mind. The story is really amusing and very entertaining. Barbara Kingsolver is such a talented and creative writer. Her knowledge of her characters and setting of Africa and also its history is all-encompassing. The reader can never say that he was bored while reading this wonderful story.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
ofmyhandds , September 01, 2011 (view all comments by ofmyhandds)
Right at the top of my faves. list is "The Poisonwood BIble". Not only is Barbara Kingsolver's writing absolutely beautifully/perfectly layered, engaging the reader in the story of each and every character's life, but also informative and mind-expanding. A real treat for all one's senses!

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
KDub , July 21, 2011
I carried this book with me for two weeks after I finished reading it because I simply could not let go of the characters. A year later and it still is fresh on my mind. This book is simply a work of art.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Joan Bodnar , January 01, 2011
Kingsolver's treatment of the inner dialog of multiple adolescent and preadolescent characters gives this piece a depth I was not expecting. I enjoy "reading" how young people view their parents and their worlds.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
Rachel Coker , October 14, 2010 (view all comments by Rachel Coker)
This book is a masterpiece. A moving story about a family, woven into the heartbreaking story of Africa's recent past, with numerous interesting insights into family dynamics and the allegiances and rivalries that form between sisters. It was NOT a quick read, but the time I devoted to it was richly rewarded.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
2chickadees , February 11, 2010 (view all comments by 2chickadees)
Every story Kingsolver tells is beautifully written and engaging. But The Poisonwood Bible is her magnum opus. It is both a powerful and gripping narrative and a mythic tale, a story with many layers and themes that seamlessly blend together. This is a profound novel that will take the reader on a unique journey.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(3 of 8 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
tktowne , January 05, 2010 (view all comments by tktowne)
This book is a masterpiece. We learn about the Price family and the father's determination to convert the indigenous peoples without understanding them or the land he is now in. This story is skillfully told through the voices of his four daughters. As the book progresses we learn some history and politics of the Belgian Congo. There are lessons in this book that we still need to learn or be reminded of today.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(3 of 5 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
Charles Adams , January 05, 2010 (view all comments by Charles Adams)
Growing up in "the church" and having found my own way and defining my own worldview helped me to appreciate Kingsolver's brilliant work and the troubled relationships in it.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(1 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
Emily Rosenberg , January 04, 2010
Barabara Kingsolver uses exquisite descriptive language. She is a master at setting a scene both emotionally and politically. This is a book that knocks your socks off.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(3 of 7 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
Lydia Pryor , January 03, 2010
It is hard to choose one book and name it the best book in a decade, so many come to mind. For me a really good book should take me to a different place, capture my attention and hold it. Anticipating getting back to reading it should be the driving force getting me through the chores of the day. It should also be a book that can be read many times and something new learned with each read. The Poisonwood Bible is a wonderful story, long and engrossing. I highly recommend it.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(3 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
Sorry Gnat , January 01, 2010 (view all comments by Sorry Gnat)
Clearly a book with multidimensional themes, one of them being skin color privilege, and then fundamentalism and spirituality have their duke out sessions, and insight into the deep happenings in the Congo, and the US's blind actions in the name of most likely "democracy." Outstanding book-incredible author.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
omalleyk , January 01, 2010
It's hard to pick the best book I read in ten years, but this was the one that came to mind. I've constantly recommended it to friends and family, have purchased several copies to give and have, and really enjoy the story.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Marsha Peterson , January 01, 2010
I voting this as one of the best books of the decade. It's an extraordinary story of people, places, and politics.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Amy Purcell , January 01, 2010
Hands down, the best book of the decade. You'll find yourself siding with one of the Price girls as they encounter every good and bad thing about the Congo. It's even better when you read it again...and again.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

report this comment

`
Dear Reader , May 10, 2008 (view all comments by Dear Reader)
Kingsolver is able to take us to places we have never been, let us smell the air, feel the breezes, hear the voices, suffer the harships, and become passionate about things we never even thought about. The division of the book from the perspective of each sister transitions well and gives a better understanding of how one situation can be viewed and acted upon so differently by the same family members. I could not put it down.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(3 of 5 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
Samsara , October 08, 2007 (view all comments by Samsara)
It's been a long time since a book has affected me as much as The Poisonwood Bible. Kingsolver reminds us that "ignorance is not innocence" and reveals to us our complicity as Americans in the tragedy of the Congo. No longer can I claim ignorance or innocence, but by accepting my small portion of responsibility, I feel empowered, and compelled, to make changes in my life. The Poisonwood Bible is much more than just the emotional "women's literature" that we've come to expect from Oprah's Bookclub. Instead it's a passionate call to arms for all Americans to examine our unacknowledged privilege and do something about it.

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(13 of 22 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

`
walkabouts3 , August 26, 2006 (view all comments by walkabouts3)
Written in a style that pulls you into the story and won't let you go. Not only an engaging story, but I learned more about the role of the US in the world (the side of us we don't like to acknowledge). It is also a dramatic portrayal of often misplaced missionary blindness and zeal. Fantastic book. Can't believe I didn't read it sooner!

Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No

(11 of 20 readers found this comment helpful)
report this comment

View all 24 comments


Product Details

ISBN:
9780060786502
Binding:
Trade Paperback
Publication date:
07/05/2005
Publisher:
HARPERPERENNIAL
Pages:
576
Height:
1.20IN
Width:
5.20IN
Thickness:
1.25
Series:
Perennial Classics
Number of Units:
1
Copyright Year:
2005
UPC Code:
2800060786504
Author:
Amity Shlaes
Author:
Barbara Kingsolver
Subject:
Congo (Democratic Republic)
Subject:
Americans
Subject:
Literature-A to Z
Subject:
Domestic fiction
Subject:
Missionaries

Ships free on qualified orders.
Add to Cart
$7.50
List Price:$17.00
Used Trade Paperback
Ships in 1 to 3 days
Add to Wishlist
QtyStore
2Local Warehouse

More copies of this ISBN

  • New, Trade Paperback, $17.00
  • Used, Trade Paperback, Starting from $5.95

This title in other editions

  • New, Hardcover, $30.00
  • New, Trade Paperback, $19.00
  • Used, Hardcover, Starting from $6.50
  • Used, Mass Market, $6.95
  • Used, Trade Paperback, Starting from $5.95
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

  • Help
  • Guarantee
  • My Account
  • Careers
  • About Us
  • Security
  • Wish List
  • Partners
  • Contact Us
  • Shipping
  • Sitemap
  • © 2022 POWELLS.COM Terms

{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##