I LOVE THIS NOVEL!!!! It is one of my all time favorites. There is so much going on in this novel--- It's like peeling away layers of an onion. Loved reading the various chapters from the perspective of each of the five women in this novel. Barbara Kingsolver is an awesome writer.

I'll be mailing it off as part of the 2010 International Women's Day Book Exchange I've organized.

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

I am releasing this novel for the International Women's Day Book Exchange. Happy Reading!

I read this book several years ago and absolutely loved it--it's one of my all-time favourites. I've been meaning to reread it for years, so now I will! A perfect choice for International Women's Day. Thank you so much, FeistyPom2Love!

Thank you, FeistyPom, for the chance to revisit a much-loved book.

Offered in Annimanni's All About Africa VBB. Sent by surface mail to ApoloniaX today. Enjoy!

Just received it, along with a wishlist book and tea!
Thanks a lot, jumpingin!

Haven't read it yet, but got my own copy in the meantime. And this one will travel to Bloedengel soon - either by post or handed over personally (I hope for the latter...).

ETA: Read it in the meantime. Brilliant novel that combines a family saga with Congo's history. All I knew about it beforehand was that it's about some missionary family in Africa - and I hoped that it wouldn't be some annoying tale about proselytising the "heathens". Far from it, it's rather about the destructive forces of missionary zeal. In the end the preacher didn't even convert his own family but goes wandering into the heart of darkness. I was often reminded of Theroux's novel "The Mosquito Coast".
I found the characters well-depicted, but still a bit one-dimensional - they didn't come alive emotionally for me, instead they sometimes seemed more like caricatures. I enjoyed the portayal of the Congolese village though, and the descriptions of the daughters' slowly growing awareness to African realities. The writing is beautiful, and the technique of rotating viewpoints good. However, in the end "things fall apart, the centre cannot hold..." and I mean the novel (not the Congo or Achebe), the narrative becomes a bit tedious.

This is one third of a triple tag.
Off to Bloedengel.

It's impossible to find a copy over here, so I'm very happy that I can now read yours :-)
I'll pass it on afterwards.
It's not only part of the 1001-list, it is part of Belgiums shameful colonial history and I feel it is therefor necessary our youngsters read and get to know about this.
Not that I am that young anymore LOL

Gripping, surprising, often 'deep'. I liked this book - a lot. I finally found myself my own copy to reread later.

Of to Finland in the wishlist tag game, enjoy !

Thank you very much for this wishlist book! I look forward to reading it:)