Has any Christian here read the Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver?

Question

I just finished it, and was wanting to get the perspective of a Christian who has read it.

Answer 1

no............sounds weird.....stick TO NEW KING JAMES AND NEW REVISED STaNDard

Answer 2

I knew I liked you justagirl. I've read Poisenwood several times. It's one of my all time favorites. Kingsolver knocked it out of the park with that one. The depth of characters, the story, all of it. Fantastic. Read Prodigal Summer - totally different topic, but a great read.

From the Christian perspective (at least New Thought Christian which is what I am) I think it's a fantastic representation of what can happen when we don't use our minds along with our hearts and souls.

All the different reactions to that experience from all of those female voices (which I think traditional Christianity sometimes dismisses too easily) is such an insight to personal experience and relationship with God and without it.

Everyone here should get it if they want a fantastic book to read. I ate that thing up with a spoon.  

Answer 3

Oh, for heaven's sake.  I can't believe you had to tell people it was a novel.

I enjoy Barbara Kingsolver's books.  She sometimes gets a little preachy about the green planet and ecosystems and such, but that's her passion and also her husband's life's work, so it's understandable.  She writes incredibly well and I think "Poisonwood Bible" is in many ways her best so far -- it seemed to stretch her as she was writing it.  The story is not so much about the domineering preacher father and his rather odd ideas as it is about the daughters and mother, and how they responded to the circumstances in which they found themselves in the background of the political situation in the Congo of the 50s and 60s.  It is a story about character and resilience -- or lack thereof -- not religion.

Answer 4

Yes I have read it. I think it shows that you should not share Christianity via the fire and brimstone way. I think that's how some non-Christians view Christians. Christians should share their faith in Christ by showing love to others because God is Love.  

Answer 5

It's Poisonwood-tastic.

Answer 6

wtf is that

Answer 7

No, don't read other things, it takes true wisdom and understand to interpret the Words of God.

Answer 8

I haven't read it, but I looked up the summary of it on wiki.

Sounds like what can happen when legalism and fear are the overwhelming characteristics of a person, rather than the true meaning of Christianity.

Answer 9

try reading the comic book,wormwood.its a good read.

Answer 10

It has been a long time since I read it, but I remember that the main point of the novel was that misguided religious zeal is not a good idea for those who do not understand it or those possessing it.  Basically the fathers zeal caused the destruction of his family.  Jesus never ran around yelling at the sinners - except at the temple when he was angry at the money changers and the temple prostitutes.  Otherwise, he joined them as they were and listened to them without judgment.  It was a good read.

Answer 11

Sounds interesting, I'll give it a read...

Answer 12

I remember I loved that book! I'm sorry that I don't consider myself a practicing Christian, and it's been yeeears since I've read that book, although I still have my copy here on my bookshelf.

It actually called out to me because I was a gringa (white girl) from the Midwest, safe town, suburbs (almost rural), safe school, safe jobs, safe everything!!! Then I started traveling to Latin America and my first major trip was to Nicaragua. We lived with low-to-middle class families (who by US standards are actually way sub-poverty). Risky public transport, risky relationships, strong beliefs, poverty everywhere, so much need .... it was such a paradigm shift!

Anyway, long story short I didn't have a way to express how I felt when I came back to Cincinnati (where I went to college) from Nicaragua - my acclimation back here took longer than down there. There's a section in the Poisonwood Bible that I still remember after years of reading it that explains exactly how I felt.

It's something about how the girl's standing on the sidewalk, watching all the order and precision in the US (recently arrived) and as cars get a left-turn arrow, they file away in orderly fasion one after the other, as the yellow stripes painted on the street flash in front of her eyes. I swear I broke into tears reading that, and it seems so silly ... unless you've lived it.

(I'm trying not to cry now, although I may go flip through my copy!)

Answer 13

It is an excellent novel, and using the word "Bible" in the title was probably meant to be ironic. The book gives some excellent insights into the dangers of religious zeal, racism, and learning to live with different cultures, as well as being written in beautiful English.