All great choices, Jeremy. Like everyone else, I saw “The Color Purple” when the movie came out. While I liked it, there was so much more to the book as I later found out. . . Walker refuses to permanently segregate people by good and bad, instead showing redemption coming from wisdom hard earned. Such that a long-sundered intimate relationship could find reconciliation. Not a story of you blew it, buddy, and I survived and found a new man. Walker’s story is miles away from the memes of so many movies in our secular society, movies that narrowly center on good women with bad men, or fantasy heroic battles between good men and evil ones. Purple the novel is so worth finding and celebrating! (comment excerpted from my "The River Beyond the Dam.")
Ah that's interesting! Thanks for sharing, Jean. Movie/TV adaptations can only capture so much by their very nature. And I definitely agree that Walker portrays the complexity of human relationships better than just about any book I've encountered.
Good to know Barbara Kingsolver has some shorter books in her back catalogue! I read (and loved) Demon Copperhead last year and have been debating getting into The Lacuna but it's another big one so I keep moving it down the list!
That introduction of The Color Purple gave me goosebumps! My next read for sure
I'll be curious to hear what you think!
I was so excited to see The Bean Trees on your list! It is one of my all time favorite books.
I can tell it's going to stay with me (perhaps more than Poisonwood).
Try Prodigal Summer. I have read it twice and would happily read it again.
Good to know — thanks Susan!
All great choices, Jeremy. Like everyone else, I saw “The Color Purple” when the movie came out. While I liked it, there was so much more to the book as I later found out. . . Walker refuses to permanently segregate people by good and bad, instead showing redemption coming from wisdom hard earned. Such that a long-sundered intimate relationship could find reconciliation. Not a story of you blew it, buddy, and I survived and found a new man. Walker’s story is miles away from the memes of so many movies in our secular society, movies that narrowly center on good women with bad men, or fantasy heroic battles between good men and evil ones. Purple the novel is so worth finding and celebrating! (comment excerpted from my "The River Beyond the Dam.")
Ah that's interesting! Thanks for sharing, Jean. Movie/TV adaptations can only capture so much by their very nature. And I definitely agree that Walker portrays the complexity of human relationships better than just about any book I've encountered.
The Bean Trees is fantastic, and even more amazing that it was a first novel. Love that book!!
Will the Poisonwood bible be the Feb.2024 selection. Thanks Dianne
Hi Dianne — I'm not sure I understand what you mean. Are you asking about The Big Read? You can find that schedule here: https://thebigread.substack.com/cp/139462581
Good suggestions.
Good to know Barbara Kingsolver has some shorter books in her back catalogue! I read (and loved) Demon Copperhead last year and have been debating getting into The Lacuna but it's another big one so I keep moving it down the list!
Yeah her first few are much shorter. :)
The Bean Trees sounds fantastic!
Hard agree.