A novel like this is my favourite way of learning about the wider world and a moment in its history, in this case the Belgian Congo and its revolution to Zaire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Tragic but pleasant, easy but educational.

best book read for school ever!

May be my all time #1.

I enjoyed this novel of life in Africa's Congo in the early 1960's, as narrated by the wife and four daughters of a missionary. Kingsolver does a wonderful job with her characters, and since each character is very different from the others, once you come to know the personalities there is little confussion as to who is narrating at any one time. (Oct 2003)

A bit of a slow read so it was hard to read it quickly. But Kingsolver is an amazing author and I have not read a book yet that I have not enjoyed.

Great read! The book was told from the perspectives of 5 different people, which can get confusing but the author did such a great job of keeping the story complete. It was cohesive and flowed nicely. The characters' personalities were so distinct and well laid out that it was almost as if 5 different people had written their accounts, rather than just one! Highly recommend.

Excellent. Kingsolver's thought provoking best, in my opinion.

I've read the Poisonwood bible many times. It is that good. The author does a careful job of constructing a believable family placed into a world that is extraordinarily different from where they came from. Kingsolver does a fabulous job of showing the arrogance of family's mission and the reality of life in the Belgium Congo. It is a sad and beautiful book.

A treat to read!

Amazing writing. I love how the story is told from multiple viewpoints - each chapter is in the "voice" of a different character.