I really enjoyed Barbara Kingsolver’s Prodigal Summer. It’s perfect pre-summer reading for anyone interested in relationships between people, and between people and their environment. I listened to the audiobook version, which is read well by the author.

I got about halfway through this novel before I gave up on it. While I appreciate the setting (the mountains of North Carolina) and the themes (what is man’s relationship to nature? how do we steward the earth while looking after our own needs?), I could not relate to any of the characters, and I disliked the dynamic of male vs. female, destroyer vs. nurturer that was being set up. I definitely didn’t find this novel as engaging as either The Poisonwood Bible or Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.

This books is all the lyrical wonderfulness that I miss about Barbara Kingsolver (meaning, when will she release another book?!). I am rereading a number of Barbara Kingsolver books, and this is the first. This time I am listening to the audio version.

Barbara Kingsolver narrates this book herself and does a fabulous job (unlike most authors). I was surprised to find her voice softer and quieter than I expected from such a strong woman. She also has a gentle southern accent, which is pleasant and appropriate for this story set in North Carolina.

I relate to the characters in this book so much better now than the first time I read it. I think I must be getting older. :-)

“Her body moved with the frankness that comes from solitary habits.”

Kingsolver had me hooked with this opening sentence and I was hardly able to tear myself away from this book after starting it. “Prodogal Summer” is beautifully written. What a wealth of knowledge this book is! It’s truly a treasure to read. Her words literally soaked into my skin, and I was once again reminded of the natural world that I inhabited when I was young and how much I miss being able to connect with it.

It left me wanting the simplicity of life. No fuss. No muss. Just good old honest living with all the simple pleasures that life holds and a true desire to learn from all that life has to offer.

I usually say things are worth consuming on here, unless they really suck, because, you know, everything doesn’t have to be life changing to be worth it. But this book really is worth the read.

I started it a bit defensive because she isn’t from around here and yet she is writing about my home, my mountains, my people, trying to use my accent, catch my phraseology, etc. Hey, she did pretty good. I especially appreciate her observations of large families, and fitting in to them, and how folks give each other a hard time as a matter of affection.

I appreciated the age range of her characters, and their strength. I didn’t much like the marginalization of all the male characters—although the geezer Garnet, she drew him well. She drew all the characters well, but, well, love and live and reproduction is not solely a female endeavor and truly, to be healthy it takes more than a sperm donation from the male.

Despite that bone to pick, Kingsolver’s writing is a constant pleasure to read.

Ok. So I had heard of Barbara Kingsolver (Yes, even in the Antipodes she’s a star) but I had never read anything. I was suspicious that she was a ‘should read’ – you know. Worthy etc. But OH WOW this book (cliche warning) blew my mind!! So wonderful! I learned things from this book. About people, about animals about wilderness and it didn’t hurt one bit. This is not greenie didacticism, (it’s as much about love and loving) but you will learn and you will be amazed.

This is one of my favorite books; I reread it at least once a year, and each time it moves me. I think about it often, relate to the characters, and love the way Kingsolver weaves in the natural world that so many of us ignore in our daily lives.

I love Barbara Kingsolver because she never fails to really make me think. This book was no exception. Also, despite the deapth of the lessons, she manages to make them complement the story rather than getting in the way of it – a rare feat indeed.