Description
The Poisonwood Bible is a story told by the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, a fierce, evangelical Baptist who takes his family and mission to the Belgian Congo in 1959. They carry with them everything they believe they will need from home, but soon find that all of it -- from garden seeds to Scripture -- is calamitously transformed on African soil. What follows is a suspenseful epic of one family's tragic undoing and remarkable reconstruction over the course of three decades in postcolonial Africa. The novel is set against one of the most dramatic political chronicles of the twentieth century: the Congo's fight for independence from Belgium, the murder of its first elected prime minister, the CIA coup to install his replacement, and the insidious progress of a world economic order that robs the fledgling African nation of its autonomy. Taking its place alongside the classic works of postcolonial literature, this ambitious novel establishes Kingsolver as one of the most thoughtful and daring of modern writers.

Those familiar with Kingsolver's earlier novels will recognize her ironic wit, uncanny human insight, and extraordinary character development. But this novel, by far her most ambitious, will also be a surprise in its scope, depth, complexity, and sheer power.

About the author
Barbara Kingsolver's previous books include the novels Pigs in Heaven, Animal Dreams, and The Bean Trees; the bestselling essay collection, High Tide in Tucson; as well as collected works of short fiction and poetry. She was trained as a biologist before becoming a full-time writer, and has lived and worked in Europe, Africa, and the United States. Her articles on culture, politics, and natural history have appeared in the New York Times as well as The Nation, Smithsonian, National Geographic, and many other magazines. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Arizona and the southern Appalachian mountains.

Process
This book discussion guide is part of a series appearing in the REACH packet. The discussion guides, written by a variety of UU leaders, are intended to provide an accessible, enjoyable, and meaningful way for UUs to explore oppression issues and their own experiences and values. For goals and process suggestions, see REACH February 2000.

Reflection and Discussion Questions

1. What were your predominant feelings while reading The Poisonwood Bible?
2. With which character do you most identify and why?
3. The story is told through the eyes of five females; never through the eyes of a male. What did this approach mean to you?
4. How would you describe each of the six members of the Price family (the father, mother, and four daughters) in a few words or phrases? What do you think each represented?
5. What do you think each of the daughters learned from their mother? From their father?
6. What do you think of the characterizations of the Africans in this story? Do the portrayals seem positive? Respectful? Stereotyped? Realistic?
7. What do you think of Kingsolver's representation of Christian missionary efforts in Africa?
8. What did you learn about European and American colonialism in Africa? What are the implications for Africa today?
9. Colonialism includes both an attitude of cultural superiority and the power to exploit human and natural resources. How has colonialism operated within the United States (or within your country) in the past? In the present?
10. What did you learn about the United States from this book?
11. What did you learn about yourself?
12. Have you ever lived in a culture very different from your own? If so, why were you in that culture? How did that culture affect you, and how do you think you affected that culture?