Pigs in Heaven
|
|
I just finished reading "Pigs in Heaven" by Barbara Kinsolver. I didn't read the prequel to it, but I have to say that this book even by itself was a wonderful book. I really enjoyed it. It was a touching story that left you beging for more at the end.
|
|
An unusual story that will get you thinking
|
|
An insightful work from the other side of the Atlantic. You mean middle class, white Americans aren't ALWAYS 100% right??! This is really thought provoking stuff that makes you realise no side of an argument or belief system ever holds all the answers. Don't me misled though, this isn't 'worthy' soap box stuff, it's a darned good read, full of sympathetic, three dimensional characters. Read the Bean Trees first though, this is the sequel. For Ms Kingsolver's real masterpiece, I'd recommend The Poisonwood Bible. Absolutely brilliant.
|
|
|
Good, but "The Bean Trees" is better
|
|
Kingsolver is one of my favourite new discoveries. "The Poisonwood Bible" is so good it hurts, "The Prodigal Summer" oozes great characters and descriptions of both human and animal behaviour that take your breath away. Kingsolver still has her moments of brilliance in this novel; I wanted to copy out the description of Turtle's reaction to being in a plane and make everyone I know read it, but the whole is not as satisfying as many of her other works. "Pigs in Heaven" does not disappoint exactly, but the ironic, intelligent voice of Taylor Greer, which made "The Bean Trees" such a delight is missing, and with it goes much of the charm of the earlier work.
|
|
|
Very Special!
|
|
What a wonderful world I had the pleasure of sharing last night. Could not put this down. I read the 2nd half of it last night (until 2am!). Don't bother about the reviews crit'ing the use of Americanese... it suits the characters perfectly! Just buy it straight away. It is truly wonderful.
|
|
|
An unusual subject, treated with a great lightness of touch
|
|
American indians, so often the "bad guys", and despite terrible treatment in the past are shown to have a culture which still has a lot going for it compared with modern day "American" life. Kingsolver, with a wonderful lightness of touch teaches us a lot about tolerance and seeking out the best in competing cultures while giving us a novel which is impossible to put down...a stoy of love, motherhood, family and compassion in unconventional setting way outside the traditional western nuclear family. One of the few American writers whose writing does not jar for an English reader.
|
|
|
United States | 
United Kingdom | 
Canada