From Publishers Weekly
A beguiling departure for Kingsolver, who generally tackles social themes with trenchantly serious messages, this sentimental but honest novel exhibits a talent for fiction lighter in mood and tone than The Poisonwood Bible and her previous works. There is also a new emphasis on the natural world, described in sensuous language and precise detail. But Kingsolver continues to take on timely issues, here focusing on the ecological damage caused by herbicides, ethical questions about raising tobacco, and the endangered condition of subsistence farming. A corner of southern Appalachia serves as the setting for the stories of three intertwined lives, and alternating chapters with recurring names signal which of the three protagonists is taking center stage. Each character suffers because his or her way of looking at the world seems incompatible with that of loved ones. In the chapters called "Predator," forest ranger Deanna Wolfe is a 40-plus wildlife biologist and staunch defender of coyotes, which have recently extended their range into Appalachia. Wyoming rancher Eddie Bondo also invades her territory, on a bounty hunt to kill the same nest of coyotes that Deanna is protecting. Their passionate but seemingly ill-fated affair takes place in summertime and mirrors "the eroticism of fecund woods" and "the season of extravagant procreation." Meanwhile, in the chapters called "Moth Love," newly married entomologist Lusa Maluf Landowski is left a widow on her husband's farm with five envious sisters-in-law, crushing debtsDand a desperate and brilliant idea. Crusty old farmer Garnett Walker ("Old Chestnuts") learns to respect his archenemy, who crusades for organic farming and opposes Garnett's use of pesticides. If Kingsolver is sometimes too blatant in creating diametrically opposed characters and paradoxical inconsistencies, readers will be seduced by her effortless prose, her subtle use of Appalachian patois. They'll also respond to the sympathy with which she reflects the difficult lives of people struggling on the hard edge of poverty while tied intimately to the natural world and engaged an elemental search for dignity and human connection.

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent to CanberraPenny in Austria, winner of my Halibut #2 RABCK Kingsolver draw. Congrats and enjoy! Travelling via surface mail.

Received this book in yesterday's mail - I love everything by Barbara Kingsolver, she's a great author. Hope to read this over the Christmas break.

Status change

Sending to Haugtussa as prize in my RABCK. Will mail on 16/04/08

The book arrived safe and sound today. Thank you very much.

Yet another book that has spent a very long time on my shelves - I never quite understand how it happens.
Well, I've now finished the book and it was (is!) a good read. The book took some time getting into, but it hooked me.
Three intervowen stories; Deanna the Forest Warden and coyote lover, Lusa the goat farmer and widow, and Garnatt and Nannie the not-so-loving-neighbours! All but one bug-lovers and dead against pestocides. They are individual stories, but are all somewhat related.
In my mind I've already decided what will happen next to them all.

This book is reserved for Panzeranzi, for completing the reading challenge: Spark-i-baken-10 (literarly translated with: Kick-in-the-behind)
Will be mailed out when she has her new address up-and-going.

Enjoy!

Thank you so much! =)

I really enjoyed reading this novel, loved all the lovely, crazy, passionate and natureloving women in it!

I picked the book up at the BC convention in Göteborg and brought it with med to Norway.

I really liked this book and would have liked to know more about what happened to the characters. It is obvious that the Author has a strong feeling for and respect for nature and animal life. I think there are some really good female characters in this book.

I will bring the book to the Bookcrossing meetup at la Baguette and leave it on the shelf if nobody takes it home.

This will be my first Kingsloverbook.
Looking forward to it.