Poisonwood Bible

[Robert Tulip]

Poisonwood Bible would be a great selection here, with echoes of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness and also the Bible, re the cultural arrogance of the West.

The American preacher tries to say Jesus is 'dearly beloved' in the local Congo language, but mispronounces and so sermonises every week that Jesus is a fatal poisonwood tree. He is regarded with such contempt and fear that nobody informs him of his error. This counter-productive farce is a parable for all conservative evangelism, making a pathetic attempt to connect with an audience but preaching a stupid and ignorant message that only turns hearers off from converting to Christianity.

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/poisonwood/themes.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Poisonwood_Bible

http://www.amazon.com/Poisonwood-Bible- ... 0060930535

http://www.enotes.com/poisonwood-bible

http://www.readinggroupguides.com/guide ... bible1.asp

Baptist-preacher father, Reverend Nathan Price, assigned to Kilanga mission, is determined to enlighten the savages and to rule his family with strict biblical sanction. Leah's twin, Adah, the victim of hemiplegia at birth, limps along and maintains silence. Fifteen-year-old Rachel resents being dropped on "this dread dark shore" far from America's fashions and comforts. Ruth May, five years old, faints. And their mother, Orleanna, readies herself to protect them all from whatever perils may come--from jungle, river, or father and his terrible God. From 1959 through 1998, the Price sisters tell their stories, in alternating narratives

[lindad_amato]

This is an extraordinary book. I don't know why, but I didn't read Kingsolver for years and then finally discovered her. Her writing is amazing. Her language is exquisite, the narrative flows beautifully and the message in everyone is thought provoking.
I agree, we should discuss one of her books.
Stennix, welcome to the group.

[rjp]

Well I agree Reverend Price was ignorant, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it's a "parable for all conservative evangelism". Kingsolver writes him as so clearly defective in his role that one could not possibly mistake this monster for a serious evangelist. Even his own Baptist foundation wouldn't fund him fully. I wholeheartedly enjoyed his talk with Anatole around the Price's table early on in the book. Anatole really put him in his place, and with total class.

[lindad_amato]

Price's arrogance is amazing and so topical in today's world. He definitely has a nut loose, but his stridency and closed-mindedness is all too common.