Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 323
 One of the most beautiful books I've ever read July 22, 2004
Barbara Kingsolver has an uncanny understanding of human nature. The characters in this novel are by no way perfect, and if you knew them personally, you would be able to list off exactly what makes them drive you crazy. That is what I love about them. The symbolism is beautiful, and her language is brilliant. I find myself speaking like I'm from Kentucky if I read for too long (this is quite a feat, being from prairie Manitoba). I very strongly recommend this book to those who have felt trapped in their surroundings, and who long for a community of friends with an ounce of analysis, conviction and honor. If you have ever been convinced that every person around you is nuts, this book will help you find humour and empathy in your situation, rather than fear. I find I can relate to these characters on a more personal level than in her equally, if not more brilliant, "Poisonwood Bible". That book, based on her literary skill alone, was one of the greatest works I've ever read, but it tore out my heart. But I'm finding "Bean Trees" to be a story I would share with my children. To sum it up: this book will make you smile.
The reason I gave the book 4 stars is because I would have appreciated a more positive male influence in the novel. However, I understand that the lack thereof is due to the main character's overwhelming exposure to men who are not worth any effort of personal association. For that, Kingsolver is forgiven.
Next on my list: Pigs in Heaven.
This book was my first purchase based on my newly developed customer review technique: when I can't decide whether I want to purchase a book or not, I read the lowest ratings first. If the reviewers are illiterate, inarticulate knobs, then I can conclude with relative certainty that the book will be worth reading. If the lowest reviews are prepared with thought and careful analysis by mature readers, then I hesitate on my purchase until I can find a copy of the book and page through it myself. To frequent Amazon shoppers: this technique works! Unless, of course, you are one of the illiterate inarticulate knobs mentioned previously. Then I don't recommend you follow my example.
The Bean Trees: Metaphors and Similies July 16, 2004
Teresa Owen (Redlands, CA)
The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver is a book rich in metaphors and similes. It is a story about a young girl who escapes her small town, where most young people drop out of school, and the girls get pregnant. For Missy, these are not options. She buys herself a car and heads out for maturing experiences. Her first decision is that since she is starting a new life, she needs a new name, so she calls herself "Taylor." As she is driving, she tells herself she will stop and live in the city in which her car breaks down. This doesn't happen because along the way, she picks up a passenger, a little Native American baby. Now she has herself and the baby to worry about. She stops in Arizona and loves it. So, she decides to stay. It is in this town, she discovers friendship, love, responsibility, maturity, and the true meaning of family.The physical descriptions in the book, while at times, may seem over done, are truely what make the book a vivid, potent journey. Before Taylors journey begins, she is working in a hospital and one of the girls she went to school with, but got pregnant and married, is brought into the hospital covered in blood, and Missy says she was, "...like a butcher holding down a calf on its way to becoming a cut of meat" (10). She also witnesses a tire blowing up and says, "... Newt Hardbine's daddy flying up into the air, in slow motion, like a fish flinging sideways out of the water. And Newt laid out like a hooked bass" (15). Then when she gets to Arizona, she see rocks that were "...stacked on top of one another like piles of copulating potato bugs" (47). These are just a few of the similies that enrich the story. She also uses metaphors in abundance to create a picture. She compares driving in traffic during a hail storm as ...moving about the speed of a government check" (49). Kingsolver uses metaphors to compare some of the characters' lives. Taylor says "...but I had to give her credit, considering that life had delivered Sandi a truckload of manure with no return address" (89). In comparing a park she loves to visit, Taylor says, "Constellations of gum-wrapper foil twinkled around the trash barrels" (148). The best description comes in the combination of metaphor and simile in the description of the night-blooming cereus: "The petals stood out in starry rays, and in the center of each flower there was a complicated contruction of silvery threads shaped like a pair of cupped hands catching moonlight. A fairy boat, ready to be launched into the darkness" (249). The pictures are that vivid. If you need a book that is rich in description using similies and metaphors, read The Bean Trees.
 Not too good. July 14, 2004
Patrick (new york)
This book was not to interesting for me because of the plot.It started out interesting when they found Turtle but after that it got boring. Nothing else interesting happend.
 Wonderful story July 12, 2004
Brittany (Bland, VA)
I was assigned to read this book for my 11th grade English class. I loved it so much that when it took the class two months to completely read it, I took it home and finished it in a couple of days.I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a very descriptive book about love, motherhood, and just starting over. Definately a must-read!
The Bean Trees June 24, 2004
I like had to read this book for school and i really thought it waz boreing. Why on earth wood you name a child turtle when thta is a animals name. I thought that it had no plot excpet the part when the girl was there and she was soo mot talking because she was not her moms kid becuse she was an indian, i think cherokke. I would not recomdne this book for people who dont read a lot becuase they just wont get it. It was pretty good overall but(...) i wwod not recomend for a guy because its about girls and kids and they always complan...boreing
Showing reviews 1-5 of 323
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