The Poisonwood Bible

by Barbara Kingsolver

This book is about the missionary family Price that moves to the Congo in the 1960s because the family patriarch, Nathan Price, is set on converting the Congolese to Christianity and make them believe in his vengeful and testing God. His mission is (mis-?)guided by his lack of understanding of the African culture. He regards himself as being superior to the village people as well as the women in his family.

The story itself is told through said women, alternating the particular 'voice' with every chapter. Orleanna Price, the mother 'tells' the introductions to the various parts of the books.

The daughters are:
Rachel Price. Rachel is described by her sister Leah as having 'the emotional complexities of a salt shaker'. She is the oldest, 15 at the start of the book, and very much the princess of the family that expects the world to treat her as such. Disgusted by the prospect of having to live in the Congo, she never changes her opinions, even though she eventually ends up staying in Africa, running a hotel in South Africa and believing in the idea of white supremacy.

Leah Price. She is 14 years old when the story starts. Initially a devout follower of her father and his faith, she loses her belief in him and his god over time. Leah probably adapts best to the life defined by famine and floods. She stays on in the Congo, and later in Angola, despite all hardship.

Adah Price. Adah is Leah's 'crippled' (hemiplegic) twin sister. The parts told by her were to me the moste entertaining. She choses not to speak most of the time, enjoys reading books forwards and backwards and making up palindromes. She is the only one of the sisters to leave Africe for the US with their mother.

Ruth May Price. The baby of the family is mother's favorite. She arrives in Africa at age 5 and is the one that will not survive. It is her death that gives Orleanna the final push to leave her husband with her daughters.

The story is set to the backdrop of 30 years of Congo's (and, later, Zaire's) history and dictatorship. The pace is good but seems to be slacking in the part entitled 'Exodus', which drags on a bit - probably because it tries to be too informative and educational.

Very good.

8/10

Edit (May 13, 2013):
Barbara Kingsolver on The Poisonwood Bible from The Guardian Book Club