The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Review by: Candi

In 1959, a Baptist preacher, his reluctant wife and four daughters travel to the harsh Belgian Congo to bring the people salvation. To say that they were unprepared for the harsh differences in culture is a huge understatement.

The preacher spreads his words of hellfire and brimstone, speaking of "baptisms in the river" to people who believe he is trying to sacrifice their children to the crocodiles. Needless to say, what he is wishing for will never come to pass, and his obsession and religious fanaticism steadily escalate until he begins to alienate his family's affections, let alone the villagers.

As turmoil in the village against the preacher increases in fervor, so does the political upheaval at the time. The book is a historically accurate account the Congolese as they try to gain independence from Belgium.

The book is told by all five females, each chapter representing a different voice - while confusing at first, all have extremely unique characters that emerge quickly and take hold. The story is immensely engrossing - Kingsolver's imagery allows you to almost FEEL the humidity, taste the inedible food, breathe in the dust. It's the most amazing book I have read this summer, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is curious about far-off places and people.

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