Fans of Barbara Kingsolver discussion

There are only six of us? is goodreads dead or what? Barbara is my all time favorite author, I wish she would write more, more, more.

I would love to chat with other BK lovers!!

There are others of us out there! I just found this group, and although it's a small group, hopefully it will expand. I was just chatting with a couple of friends today about Poisonwood Bible. It has been a few years since I read it, but it is still powerful even today. What a wonderful writer she is!

I'm here too. I loved the Poisonwood Bible, but have read nothing else by her. I do own the Lacuna, but it keeps getting passed over for other books that I want to read. Is it worth putting to the top of the pile?

I have not read Lacuna yet either, although it is also on my to-read list. My second favorite book of Kingsolver's is "Prodigal Summer." I would put that high on your reading list, as well. It was that, after "Poisonwood Bible," that sealed her as one of my favorite authors.

I have re-read Prodigal Summer as a summer escape!

It is a year to the day of the last posting and I am just past the halfway point in Pigs in Heaven Anyone who wishes to comment I am here on a regular basis.

I'm brand new to this group, and fairly new to Goodreads, but I'm a Kingsolver fan. I own The Bean Trees, Animal Dreams and the Poisonwood Bible. I read them all well over 10 years ago, and just pulled out Animal Dreams for another read the other day. Finished it in three days.

I haven't read Pigs in Heaven, but my Mom swears it was one of her favorites. I probably need to re-read The Bean Trees first. :)

sadly no, not a lot of activity on here. She's got to be my favorite author, read everything at least once, most things at least twice. Poisonwood Bible I loved. Prodigal summer is another favorite. I've read the cooking/farming book too it was real interesting. I have not been able to find her one poetry book. I was not overly thrilled with Flight Behaviour but I think i was not in a good place emotionally/mentally when i read it so I have to give it another read, and Lacuna again also. I just love her some people think she is preachy and too much on the feminism and pacificism but I see it only as humanism. I think it's beautiful that she cares and speaks it. Her non-fiction essays are wonderful too if you haven't read them - high tide in tucson and small wonder. Welcome sorry there's not many of us here I think I will try to find an actual Kingsolver discussion group elsewhere.

Judy

Well I just read the Poisonwood bible after several of her other novels. When I read the plot summary I kept thinking this is not going to be something I'm going to enjoy how wrong I was. Love the book love the characters was sad to see it end. I kept nursing it along like a fine wine not wanting to get to that last bit

Frank, that's exactly how I was with Poisonwood! It's been at least ten years since I read it, but I can remember feeling like "well, what now?" after I finished it, like there was no other book I could possibly be interested in after it.

your classic book hangover. I definitely had one after Poisonwood.

New to the group...Barbara is the BOMB! Her early novels...Pigs in Heaven, Bean Trees and Animal Dreams are three of my all-time favorites. Her poetry is beautiful and her book Animal, Vegetable, Miracle is an absorbing read about how we eat/consume as a culture. Her book High Tide in Tucson is one of my favorite books of all time...essays about daily life that I truly relate to...

I am a long-time fan of BK. I recently read the Lacuna and was blown away by it's greatness. It is definitely my favorite to date. It was one of those books that I loved so much, that words are hard to find. I wrote a review here, (if anyone wants to take a look): http://www.huffreadsstuff.blogspot.co.... I have started Flight Behavior and I just can't get into, which is surprising after my Lacuna high. I'm about 100 pages in. Does it get better?

Nice review Dena, thanks for that. I anticipate every new novel by BK, and sometimes I think that anticipation makes me expect too much. I think i was distracted by life when I read the Lacuna and it deserves a serious re-read (I've read Poisonwood Bible and a few of the others more than twice)

Flight behavior did not thrill me, and i don't know why, maybe it just didn't come together for me. As a former junior Lepidopterist and having experienced the thrill of real life encounters with butterfly gatherings, I thought it was right up my alley.

I will still await her next novel and devour it as soon as it's available. I'm curious what you'll think of it once you're done. Judy

Thanks, Judy! I don't know if I'll finish it, but I too will anticipate her next book.

Hi, just found the group. I am a big fan and thought I had read everything by BK but not aware of the poetry.
I found Flight Behavior enjoyable (but could see the green/environmental theme affected the flow of the book). I think my favorite book is Animal Dreams.

I have read everything Kingsolver, and love her immensely. I still think the Bean Trees is my favorite, but am amazed at how versatile she is. Poison-wood Bible was an amazing book (agree about not wanting it to end, and think a sequel would be awesome), and so was Lacuna. Flight Behavior was weird. I liked it, but it was the 1st Kingsolver I didn't love, but not sure why. The ending was bizarre.

The Lacuna is my absolute favorite. I love the way she writes this book! Poisonwood Bible was great in that she wrote in different voices in each chapter...and ages...Prodigal Summer was great fun as well. I liked the new one, Flight Behavior, because she "nailed" the locals...not insultingly written. I was not fond of the ending, but could relate to the "locals" meeting the scientists...

I love her books, especially since many have a nature setting and theme. PWood Bible is great. I liked all the women characters and the African setting. Prodigal Summer was in Kentucky. I learned a lot about predators and their importance in nature.

Yes the nature theme has always resonated with me. I used to be a Biologist, and now when I read her books I'm an armchair naturalist.

Well, sadly, I gave up on Flight Behavior. I am someone that almost never stops reading a book, once I start it, so I surprised myself. Oh well, I guess BK can't win 'em all (for me)!

Michelle wrote: "I am reading animal,vegetable,mineral again. Looking for some added inspiration to start my vegetable garden again. Purchased this around Christmas in hardcover to add to my collection. Love this b..."

I love this book too, I have it by my bed to dip into every now and again.

Bean Trees was my favorite (I think!), although I loved the two others almost as much. The Poisonwood Bible comes highly recommended but after reading the comments in this thread, I'm not so sure I want to start it, if it's not worth finishing (Anna Karenina, anyone?? blech). I've only never finished one book, and I would be seriously bummed if BK's was the second.

I think Poisonwood Bible is one of her best. I vote for: give it a try!

I have read everything published by BK except the Lacuna. I need to get on it!

Prodigal Summer, Flight Behavior and Animal Dreams are my favorites of her work.

Kellidee, I also haven't yet read the Lacuna. I'm saving it for...something? I suspect it's going to be great.

I've read High Tide in Tucson and loved it.

Hi,
Just discovered this group as I am considering reading Ms. Kingsolver. Which of her books would be a good starting point ?

Bob

My favorite is the Lacuna. Poisonwood Bible and Prodigal summer and my next two favorites. I also love High Tide in Tucson. Enjoy!

I just started Prodigal Summer. I'm currently on page 58, and don't want to put it down!

Denise I have read it 3 times. It's my favourite novel of hers and in my top 5 of all time...