Barbara Kingsolver's "Prodigal Summer"

[L.J.]

I've just read this book and LOVED it!
Anyone else?

I especially liked that it was totally into green, natural ways of dealing with things, respect for all plant, animal, human life etc. plus some really great characters, story lines etc.

Great book.

[sarahwebb]

I read it several years ago and loved it. I especially liked the way the widow character realizes that she has to be creative to keep the farm going and how she finds solutions.

Sarah

[Girl In The Fire]

I love Barbara Kingsolver and loved Prodigal Summer. I have read most of her books, if you havent read The Poisonwood Bible yet I highly reccomend it

[mags]

A friend of mine recommended this book and at first I was not sure if I would like it, however the more I read it, the more I got into it and when I finished it, I loved it. I would like to read some of her other books too, but last time I checked our library didn't have any of her other books (unless I ordered it from another branch). So, it will be a while before I get to read some of her other books.

[Jazmommie]

Another fan here--I felt like I lived the story as I read it .

I enjoyed her other books also but this one hit home.

[hopefulfaith]

Barbara Kingsolver is one of my favorite writers! I really recommend her essays - "High Tide in Tucson" is the first book, and "Small Wonder" is her second collection. If you appreciate NFL, you'll connect with her stance on conscious eating/organic food. What an amazing woman!

[Viola]

Yes, I loved it. I now find myself wanting to read more books just like it and Poisonwood Bible, which I put off reading for so long, convinced I'd hate it. Just the other day I was wishing I had a book like Prodigal Summer to read, and I'm thinking of re-reading it now that summer is here. It was very evocative of the season.

[LEmama]

This is my favorite book ever. I especially enjoyed the parallel between the characters actions, feelings and conflicts, with those of the natural world around them...the animals, plants and people are sometimes predatory, territorial, adapting to live in a changing environment..etc. The story made me think about th web of life and how we are all connected.

[kwilki8]

Barbara Kingsolver is one of my favorite contemporary authors. She has an awareness that speaks so deeply to my way of experiencing the world, and I found that most prominently in Prodigal Summer. I highly recommend her collection of essays High Tide in Tucson. My favorite summertime authors have to be Kingsolver, Anne Lamott, and Annie Dillard--there's just something about reading them when the hot sunshine pours over my backyard that is absolutely delicious.

[L.J.]

I'm glad to see others who loved it too.

It really solidified the reasons I've felt about nature. Yesterday when I heard about spraying to kill thousands of bugs, I started to think.....but now what will happen? What other bugs or life will be effected? What other thing will then become in abundance or in excess as a result?

I love books that really make me think about my life and the way I do things!

[Mihelinka]

I loved the book, read it a few years ago. Had strong female characters.

[Shonahsmom]

Kingsolver is my favorite contemporary writer and I've read everything she's written. I liked Prodigal Summer but it was probably my least favorite book by her. I loved the biology in it- it just didn't grab me the way that Poisonwood Bible or Animal Dreams did. I do second the recommendation of her books of essays, especially Small Wonder. Every single sentence resonated with me down to my core.

[mama ganoush]

Originally Posted by Shonahsmom

Kingsolver is my favorite contemporary writer and I've read everything she's written. I liked Prodigal Summer but it was probably my least favorite book by her.

i'm so glad to see someone else say this, i didn't want to come and be the only one to rain on this thread. I love her as a writer, love all of her other books, but this one was the least favorite for me. I'm not sure why, but i kind of felt like she was beating me on the head with her environmental message-and it is a message I share! It just felt sort of dogmatic and heavy-handed and obvious to me.

[kblue]

Originally Posted by mama ganoush

i'm so glad to see someone else say this, i didn't want to come and be the only one to rain on this thread. I love her as a writer, love all of her other books, but this one was the least favorite for me. I'm not sure why, but i kind of felt like she was beating me on the head with her environmental message-and it is a message I share! It just felt sort of dogmatic and heavy-handed and obvious to me.

I totally agree. If you love Prodigal Summmer, that definitely does not mean you'll love The Poisonwood Bible and vice versa. I read The Poisonwood Bible first and was quite disappointed by Prodigal Summer. I might have liked it better if I'd read it first.

[littlecityfarmer]

I love all of Barbara Kingsolver's writing, but especially Prodigal Summer and Animal Dreams... First read the former when DH and I were just getting serious, then again after I had DS, and the sensuality of her style really drew me in...

[mtnsunshinemama]

I have enjoyed all of Barbara Kingsolvers books immensely and Prodigal summer was no exception! I really enjoyed the separate stories weaving together, although I remember having a little trouble getting into it at first. My favorite was Poisonwood Bible, which I've read several times but I really liked Prodigal Summer, even after PB. I haven't read Small Wonder, think I'll get that to keep me company during my home stretch of pregnancy.

[Shantimama]

I loved it too - that and The Poisonwood Bible are two of my favourite books.

[KnitterMama]

I used to be in love with Barbara Kingsolver :LOL . She is wonderful.

"Prodigal Summer" was a fantastic book. I read it a while ago so I can't remember specifics ... but I looooooved the idea of living in the backwoods alone for extended periods of time. I was about to do just that when I met DH. :LOL The "stroke" scene was hilarious.

I have to second the "Poisonwood Bible" recommendation - that book was great. Oh what am I saying, everything she writes is great!

I saw an interview once with her and her daughter when her daughter was about 9 ... she was the cutest! She was talking about how Kingsolver fans always think she's Turtle. Seemed like a really sweet kid.

[lorijds]

If you liked that book, then I definatley suggest "All Over Creation" by Ruth Ozeki (the author of My Year of Meats, also a great book). It has a similar theme, but is absolutely a different book.

Lori

[Linda on the move]

I like Prodigal Summer, but it took me awhile to get into it.

Poisenwood Bible is one of my all time favorites.

Has anyone else read The Bean Trees? I liked it as well, though it was very very sad.

I'll have to check out Animal Dreams!