What readers think of The Poisonwood Bible, plus links to write your own review.

This is the best books I have ever read. The way the author tells the story from every character's point of view is really interesting. The character's are all well developed -- I hated to leave them at the end of the book. The story tells about a missionary family that travels to the Congo to convert the people to Christianity. Because they don't understand the culture their words become meaningless. The family believes they are going to the Congo to change the hearts of the people, but the real story is how the missionary family is changed instead.

Being and adent believer in the rights of the people of underdeveloped countries, and of the evils imposed by white parasitic and imperialistic societies mascarading themselves as "christians", I loved reading the ugly implications of all of the above.

Incredible incite into fanatical missionary work through the eyes of 5 very different characters.
Each character is so well developed and portrayed, that it is diificult to believe that this is a work of fiction.
The various threads of the storyline are woven in such a way that the reader finds it extremely compelling.
I would recommend this book to all, it is simply, brilliant.

I'm 14. I was assigned this book. I agree very much so with Haley. Although the book was very well written and was a great challenge for me to read, I found the book overly depressing. I understand that the author was trying to make a point but I strongly discourage anyone under the age of 16 from reading this book. The Poisonwood Bible covers a wide range of racial and politcal dissagreements I can't possibly understand at this young age. Therfore I got nothing out of this book other than: I discovered how very much I like the works of Emily Dickenson and I had the bejjeebees scared out of me. The story tells of a family falling apart. This is a very real fear to a young adolesant and this book intensifies that fear. It also magnifies the concept that the world is a big place and I am so small and utterly helpless. As a professing Christian I was also angered by the portrayal of Nathan Price who's character is a distorted view of Christianity. To those that are not of my faith this may cause them to accidentally sterotype people of my Faith. I found the culture of the Congolese fascinating but I feel the author was too radical in proving her point. Overall there is seriously not a happy moment in the book and unless you have reached complete mental maturaty do not, do not read this book.

i hate this book its horrible and depressing i had to read it for a summer reading project and i hate it. nothing goes right for the family and too many tragedies occur. im a freshman and i couldn't read the book after 4 in the afternoon it was so disturbing i couldn't sleep if i read it any later. i am also filing a complaint with the school to remove this book from their curriculum.

This masterpiece captivates the mind as you twist and turn through the horrific but fantastic events the Price family encounters during their stay in the Congo. Seemingly real, this fiction portrays a young family of missionaries willingly receiving God's call to bring the Congolese people to the Light and in doing so they learn more about the reality of life than the Africans learn from the Bible. This amazing novel teaches countless lessons about American culture and the truths of religion through one family's journey. If you are considering this book, stop considering and run to the bookstore!!

Someone left a copy at our summer Wisconsin home. The title did not intrigue, but the writing, the story told via many characters, the humor held me as no other novel in many years. Though I toured in Africa last year, this book illuminated much I had missed. There is a deep spirituality Kingsolver has captured in a tale with pace, zest and wisdom. She ranks up there with Nadine Gordimer. I am 78 but felt youthful as the story unfolded throught the Price daughters--Rachel, Leah, Adah and Ruth May.