Val de Saire Book Club
The Poisonwood Bible: by Barbara Kingsolver
Lorraine, Sally and Caroline met at Jan’s
house (new member) on 6th November to discuss the above book. We all found this to be a good and
substantial book to read with an interesting structure and we were impressed
with the depth into which the author went with her characters and the quality
of the writing. The narrative tells the
story of missionary family,
the Prices, who in 1959 move from the U.S. state of Georgia to the village of
Kilanga in the Belgian Congo close to the Kwilu River.
Orleanna, the
mother narrates the introductory chapter in five of the novel's seven sections.
The narrative then alternates among the four daughters, with a slight
preference for the voice of the most outspoken one, Leah. The four girls
increasingly mature and develop differently as each adapts to African village
life and the political turmoil the Belgian Congo in the 1960s.
The story ends
with a final chapter from Ruth May reflecting on her sisters and mother
attempting to visit her grave but not being able to find it, and a woman
telling them a place named Kilanga never existed. She watches her sisters and
her mother, and has seen how they have matured; she has matured as well.
Through her death, she finally is able to understand the Congolese term muntu,
which describes the concept of unity and how all life is connected in some way.
She understands that she is muntu, and a part of all that is around her.
Ruth May only wants her mother to understand the concept and for her to move
on. She asks for her mother to forgive herself and not live with the guilt
anymore.
Sally
particularly drew attention to the final sentences of the book
We all felt there
were so many details in the book, far too many to recall but we all clearly
enjoyed the fact that the family had to wear as many of their clothes as
possible on the flight out to Africa to get round constraints of luggage
weight!
The title of the
book was cleverly chosen. The father,
who we found to be a thoroughly unlikeable character would hector the locals in
his sermons saying "Tata Jesus is a bangala!" He meant "something
precious and dear", but the way he pronounced ‘bangala’ meant the
poisonwood tree." As for the
‘bible’ this reflects that the novel is made up of the four daughters’
versions, like the four disciples who tell their story in the New
Testament. Sometimes titles of books can
be rather obscure but Kingsolver’s title is so apt.
We awarded the
book Five Stars.
Future dates and
venues:
December 6 Jane. Remains
of the Day
January 11 Sally. A Good Place to Hide.
(at the meeting Lorraine said that her
original choice was not as satisfactory as she thought and the Peter Grose book
would be a better telling of the story)
February 15 Christine Days Without End
March 15 Caroline The Essex Serpent
April 19 Lorraine Rebecca
May 17 Jan The Light Between Oceans
June 14 Jane Hundred Years of Solitude
Finally, an idea
that came out of our conversations was that in future the chooser of a title should
say a bit about the author before we discuss the book of the day.
Our next meeting,
then, is on December 6th at Jane’s.
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