The Poisonwood Bible

An allusion to a type of tree that lives in the Congo where the Price family of missionaries travel in order to convert the natives to Nathan's brand of Christianity. The full allusion doesn't become clear until Adah, the second youngest daughter, mentions that she wants to start buying Bibles that have typos in it. Loins are changed to lion, murmur to murder, etc. In the Kikongo (please forgive any spelling errors I might make in my ignorance of the language, I don't have the book in front of me to correct them, it's not out of disrespect, just my own ignorance), the term for "precious" is the same as the name of the poisonwood tree with slight pronouncation differences. Throughout his brief term as preacher, Nathan ended his sermon by alluding to Jesus as being precious, but he used the wrong pronouncation and called Jesus the poisonwood. In one sweeping generalized sentence, I loved this book.

This one explanation of where the title came from is a perfect example of what the book focuses on. The misunderstandings, misuse, and ignorance of the American and European cultures and its damage to the African culture, the people, and ultimately the world. A story of seven different sections, six of which are named for books of the Bible, and open with verses from that book, followed by an introduction by Orleanna, the mother. Each section of the book unfolds through the eyes of one of the four daughters, Rachel, Leah, Adah, or Ruth May, and tells us of their strife and the damage that Nathan causes each of them as they grow. Used as a means of parallel, the way Nathan treats the women in his family is the same that America and Europe treated Africa. The book follows how the girls grow and, while they leave the missionary in Kilanga, the Congo never necessarily leaves them. In some ways haunted by what had occurred in their lives during those 20 or so month, the girls grow and establish themselves in whatever venue they choose to take. They are very distinct characters, even the twins, Adah and Leah, couldn't be more different, but at the same time so similar.

Each character's narrative draw us deeper and deeper into the story and the life that is both happening in and around them, but at the same time, crashing down around them. It's a beautiful and well written story, that provides, though fictional, incredible insight into what occurred in Africa in the 60s and onwards. While the story focuses on missionaries, I believe that it is less about God and Christianity, and more about the crimes that were committed by our country in the name of colonization and democracy. Much of what is written or said by the characters is poignant and powerful, spanning well beyond the limits of Africa.

My only concern was that at first I thought it was a bit long. There is a great deal of story following the exodus out of Kilanga. As these pages began to unfold, I realized more and more how necessary it was for the story. The story doesn't start or end with their mission project. It had started well before the Price family ever arrived and, I'd imagine, not only will continue after the death of the Price family, but all of their progeny. It is an ongoing story of our own greed, and self-interest.

I honestly don't think that I could recommend this story enough. It's beautiful and touching and emotional. Kingsolver's insight into humanity is incredible and it appears through the mouths of babes, as it were.

Moral of the Story: Those who never have, and don't know that they don't have, are probably 100% content. It isn't our job to force them otherwise.