The Poisonwood Bible

My first Kingsolver book was "Animal, Vegetable, Mineral" and I loved it. I have heard her name through the years, and just never jumped on board. Then I found "Animal..." and became interested. She has a witty nearly self deprecating confidence that should verge on pretentious, and would on many people, but does not.

Since devouring "The Poisonwood Bible" I have purchased "Blood River," another book about the Congo, and I am hooked. The story of Kingsolver's fictional Baptist family is crazy and unbelievable but honest. And while i say unbelievable... mainly i mean the story of the Congo itself is unbelievable. The villagers story is amazing and heart wrenching, and the years of white rule is sickening. Even though it is such an old and oft repeated history it never fails to shock me. Diamonds and power and land and wealth... old white kinds sending over weapons and men and taking over... I still can't understand.

The characters in this book are rich. I don't really relate to any of them, but I devoured their story lines. I actually despised a few of the characters, the father included.

Their family is a perfect example of everything wrong with missionary work. I would say that the label of "Missionary Work" has a bad connotation to my ears, so this just reiterated everything i think of when I hear it. I am sure there are good works out there, but this was horrible.

It all started with a feast with a goat, something very special for the people of the village, something that this spoiled Georgia family not only turned their noses at, but practically spit out. The characters claimed to try and eat portions of the dinner, but all they did was spit in the face of amazing generosity from a village of people who starve during major portions of the year, yet share a huge gift with this white family simply because they are guests.

And it just got worse from there.

I enjoyed this book so much. mostly it inspired me to learn more about the Congo area. I love it when books inspire books! It also cemented my anger towards missionaries who pound their beliefs as THE beliefs and THE way. It is disgusting. And they should all be round up in a room together and forced to listen to bad 80's keyboard music while someone farts in tune.