Appeasing my Conscience

Reading André Bernard’s book reviews in “The Kenyon Review” bring back the shame of my last review for The Herald. Rushed and in no particular mood to write, I forced a review of The Poisonwood Bible. Having read the novel nearly two years ago my memory was hazy. My words were hardly compelling and barely focused as I was more concerned with my deadline then with my words. I even confused my description of the characters. To appease my own conscience I would like to take this time to re-write my review of Barbara Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible.

Of the Dark Continent

Lindsey Renée

The first time I picked up Barbara Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible was at the end of my junior year in high school. I read it for my Advanced American Literature class. For our final assignment, my teacher brought in a throng of contemporary literature from varying genres and required that we choose one book to read and present a brief, informal presentation on to the class. Her hope being that this assignment might remind us that literature is enjoyable, after the many “boring” books that we had been condemned to trudge through. I quickly devoured the first book that I chose and, while the rest of my class struggled to finish the assignment before the last day of school, I asked for another. She lent me The Poisonwood Bible. I both loved and hated it.

While there are some novels that slowly draw your attention, waiting till possibly the middle of the book before you are unable to set them down, Kingsolver captured my attention from the first page. She tells her tale through the mouths of the wife and four daughter of Nathan Price, a Baptist missionary in the Congo. From the beginning chapter, the narrative had a haunting quality. The narrators serve as a catalyst to draw the audience into the novel, and yet while they intensify the reaction they are also consumed in the process: drawn in and captured. The Poisonwood Bible is empowered by their voices, their burdens, their deepest thoughts and emotions.

In many ways, Kingsolver’s narrative is reminiscent of Alan Paton’s Too Late the Phalarope, which also relies on a deeply emotional, personal narrative to relay a multi-layered and complex tale. Similar to Too Late the Phalarope, Kingsolver’s novel is not without a political agenda. Her passion for the Congo’s history clearly comes through the pages, as does her research. Her novel portrays the deep white scar that marks the Dark Continent, which is continually aggravated.

Though the beauty and depth of Kingsolver’s tale touched my heart, I was also often outraged at her presentation of Christianity. Though, I will admit that it most likely reflects her experience with Christians. I could not help but be angered and frustrated by Nathan Price who serves as the antagonist in The Poisonwood Bible. His character is hypocritical, blindly legalistic and cold hearted. He is the embodiment of the “white man” who had oppressed, enslaved and raped Africa. Even the other mild presentations of Christianity within The Poisonwood Bible do not reflect the essence of the Christian faith. Kingsolver’s understanding of Christianity is appalling, while at the same time entirely expected since it reflects the common face of Christianity in the world.

Two years have passed since I first read The Poisonwood Bible. Kingsolver’s novel is now a piece of my growing library. Readers of this novel must read her words critically,giving her grace when reading passages that seem to discount their faith and with the ability to be understanding, having an open mind to learn but not be hoodwinked by her words. Each reader will be mesmerized by the beauty of her prose, amused by the variety and quirks of her narrators, and moved by her heart for Africa.