Barbara Kingsolver - The Bean Trees

Pros: lessons in love, responsibility, humility, and the truth about what makes a family
Cons: slightly dated

If you grew up in the USA in the fifties and the sixties (as I did) there's a better-than-average chance that the word "family" conjures up a fairly specific image. It's easy to see why; your malleable young mind was constantly bombarded with images of...

Pros: A Heartwarming tale.
Cons: Some people jsut don't like to read.

If you are considering reading this book, it is essentiel that you understand Kingsolver’s message: with support for those who care about you, you can accomplish anyhting.

There are many of these relationships between characters in...

Pros: easy reading; likable characters; good morals about the importance of family
Cons: profanity, long chapters (some are 30 pages)

The Bean Trees, by Barbara Kingsolver (author of The Poisonwood Bible) is a very good book. I hate to be that blunt, but there's really no way to put it. I began this book for my book club, not really knowing what to expect, as I had not...

Pros: excellent characterization, an easy read
Cons: there is a fair bit of discrimination

I must say that before I even opened up to the first page of this book, I already had thought that it would be another incredibly boring novel that I couldn't relate too. Later my opinion was swayed after I found myself more and more involved in it. One...

Pros: wonderfully written, couldn't put it down
Cons: too short!!

Barbara Kingsolver does a wonderful job with this book. She brings us the character Taylor Greer, a girl growing up in Kentucky who, like all of us, feels the need to "get out" of our lives for some time to find ourselves. She heads west with...

Pros: Great character development
Cons: None

My daughter brought this one home as a book review for school (10th grade). After reading the first few pages, I couldn't help myself - I digested the whole thing in two days.

Normally, this is not my kind of book. I like mysteries and spy...

Pros: Easily read, wonderfully developed sotry line and characters
Cons: I wish there was more to tell

After reading the Poisonwood Bible by the same author, I was eager to read something else she had written. This novel was written in a much lighter tone than the Poisonwood Bible and has all the appeal of a fairly easy weekend read. Snuggle up with...

Pros: Poignant, lot of discussion material
Cons: Political and social commentary may rub people the wrong way.

An elderly, deeply religious, friend of mine ordered The Bean Trees several years ago from the church publishing company. Upon completion, she denounced the book as "not something the Church should be putting out." Well, I had to read it after that! I ...

Pros: Taylor Greers willful spirit, and the affectionate love she has for Turtle
Cons: None

In the fine state of Kentucky lives hopeful, blue-eyed, clearheaded Missy Greer, who's goals are A) Don't get pregnant B) Graduate, and C) Leave town. She succeeds on all counts, and thus begins Barbara Kingsolver's magical story, The Bean Trees. I admit...

Pros: Easy to read; takes you on a good journey
Cons: None

I read this book in my eleventh grade English class, and I enjoyed it. I did not expect it to interest me. The novel was about a young woman from Appalachia who decides to drive west to Arizona. On her way there, she finds an infant girl, and decides...

Pros: Excellent character development, excellent plot. A quick, fun, read!
Cons: Predictable ending...but not necessarily a bad thing!

I was pretty skeptical when a girl at my local bookstore recommended this book to me. I mean, The Bean Trees? Not necessarily a catchy title, huh?
I took the book on vacation with me, and after getting past the first few pages, I was completely...

Pros: good descriptions
Cons: doesn't apply to everyone's life

This book is very well written and is easy to read. It includes many descriptions that are true and very well described. I was almost always able to picture the scene in my head from the descriptions. However, I do not think that was a great book...

Pros: Easy to read,good book
Cons: Some long chapters

I had to read this book for a class,and I was thinking,oh no,I'm not going to like this a whole lot because I am not big on reading.But this book turned out to be a pretty good book by Barbara Kingsolver.Very well written and it kept me very interested...

Pros: Evocative language and hearty storytelling. A true American novel.
Cons: The characterization of Native Americans is a bit antiquated and may offend some readers.

With typical plain-speaking prose, Barbara Kingsolver details the daily life of her characters beautifully. By the end of the novel you will feel as if you have sat down to tea with each of these people and you will likely consider them close friends....

Pros: Great writing, and an eye-opening subject
Cons: none that I found

This is my first Epinion, so help me out if it's bad

I have read so many books by Barbara Kingsolver. Five actually, and all of them have been great reading material. Anyone who is conscience of the world around them should read some of her...