One wonders, though, why Kingsolver didn't portray Price after someone more successful as a missionary, like Dr. A novelist is entitled to create fiction. Since Nathan is a fictional character created by Kingsolver, he is one hundred percent what Kingsolver wants him to be and nothing other than Kingsolver wants him to be. He is a failure as a husband, a failure as a father, and a failure as a missionary. One wonders why Kingsolver portrays Nathan Price, an imaginary Baptist preacher, as such a total failure. They are a product of Kingsolver's imagination. The story of Nathan and Orleanna Price and their four daughters is, as Kingsolver states in her 'author's note,' 'a work of fiction.' The main characters do not exist.

Having given her credit for her skill, I am now going to explain my problems with this book. Kingsolver is so skilled in writing that these layers are easily discerned in her book. And there's the overall view of the author, the rationale of why the author wrote the novel. There's the setting for the story, in this case the Congo, the real Congo of the 1960's. There's the story itself, in this case, a purely fictional story. A skilled writer doesn't merely tell a story there are several layers to a skillfully crafted novel. Her point-of-view through the eyes of a snake at the beginning and end of the book make you imagine that it is you who is witnessing the events.

Her vivid imagery makes, not only the characters, but also the locale, come alive. Here is my take on it.īarbara Kingsolver, a truly gifted writer, shows considerable skill in 'The Poisonwood Bible.' Her skill with words makes the book easy to read. It was a best seller, receiving rave reviews by The Media, and praised by Oprah Winfrey on her TV show. One such example is “The Poisonwood Bible,” written by Barbara Kingsolver. Examples are books, written as fiction, or not really fiction but passed off as fiction, that express private opinions contradictory to positions held by the people who buy and praise these books. I think many people, in an effort to be tolerant, accept and praise opinions that are destructive to opinions they dearly cherish.

The poisonwood bible author