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Cathryn_Conroy
When the World as You Know It Inexorably Changes, What Would You Do?
What happens when the world view you have always known inexorably shifts? Do you embrace the change as forward-thinking or fight it for all you're worth? If you simply deny that the change is real, will those words be enough to bring back the good old days? That is the fascinating premise of this remarkable novel by Barbara Kingsolver that is, more than anything else, a philosophical statement about the sociopolitical times in which we live now.
A beleaguered house in Vineland, New Jersey is the backdrop of this book that alternates between two families who have the great misfortune to live on that site. Thatcher Greenfield lives there with his family in 1874-1875. He is newly hired as the high school science teacher, but when he professes the new theories of evolution as espoused by Charles Darwin, his world is shattered when virtually everyone around him objects, insisting the Bible is the only valid reference for scientific thought. Fast forward to 2015-2016 when Willa Knox and Iano Tavoularis, both recently laid off, move into the home she inherited from her aunts. Their family's life is awash in tragedy and troubles, while they watch horrified as a man only identified as "the Bullhorn" appears destined for the presidency and global warming shifts from scientists' dire warning to real-life consequences.
The book is a fascinating exposition on the power of cultural change—change that feels uncertain and threatening, but is so deep-seated and long-lasting that it is called a paradigm shift—and how we as a society adapt to it or not.
Because Kingsolver is a creative genius, the chapters on Thatcher are written in the style of a Victorian novel, while the chapters on Willa are written in a modern-day tone. And here is fun tidbit that took me several chapters to notice: The last words of each chapter are the title of the next chapter.
Bonus: Iano Tavoularis very creatively swears in Greek, and translations are helpfully provided. Some of this is hilarious! (Beware, in case you are offended by such language in books.)
Camille
I love ALL of Kingsolvers fiction.
There isn't a book by Barbara Kingsolver that I didn't like. Her writing style and command of the language always amaze me. She creates vivid, accurate descriptions I can identify with. The thoughts and dialogue of the characters are always reflective of the depicted era, insightful and often quite humorous. Just loved back and forth between Willa and other people.
Christine_Schaefer
Loved it!
I very much enjoyed this book on many different levels. Our family lived in an 1880’s historical home that we lovingly named “the money pit,” as everything was in disrepair. The modern day story that was told was very similar to our family - especially the mother/daughter relationship. I so could relate to Willa. Now that my husband and I are of retirement age, going through the boxes of family history was exact - down to owning a Navajo rug that was my grandparents. I love BK and her stories. She’s one of the best writers of our generation.
John
Excellent read.
Great book. The drama of this novel is enhanced in its telling by its setting in the world of nature and scientific inquiry. As a nature lover, gardener, and one who esteems science I couldn't have stumbled upon a better choice when perusing the books at my small town local library.
Cloggie Downunder
an interesting, thought-provoking and eminently enjoyable read
Unsheltered is the ninth novel by best-selling, prize-winning American novelist, essayist, and poet, Barbara Kingsolver. Now in her fifties, Willa Knox never expected to be living in a run-down house in Vinelands, New Jersey, still the hub of a family that includes her two adult children, her new grandson, her debilitated, demanding father-in-law and an ageing dog.
Virtually unemployed, Willa is writing some freelance articles; her university professor husband Iano has a low-paid teaching job; her recently-widowed son Deke is juggling single fatherhood with setting up a personal financial advice company; her daughter Tig has abandoned college for protest action; her father-in-law Nick needs urgent medical care; and due to a lack of foundations, the house she inherited is literally starting to fall apart. Any sort of windfall, though not expected, would be helpful.
Some hundred and forty years earlier, Thatcher Greenwood has moved from Boston to teach science at Vinelands High School. Newly married to Rose, he has taken on the responsibility of both his late father-in-law’s family and house. His bright young sister-in-law, Polly is a bonus, whereas Rose’s mother, Aurelia falls into quite a different category. The house is not as sound as Aurelia believes, and his teaching position is a source of great frustration, as the school’s principal undermines his every attempt to infuse his students with current scientific knowledge.
The timelines alternate between chapters with the events of the 1870s told from Thatcher’s perspective, while Willa narrates the story set in 2015/6. Kingsolver uses a clever device to bridge the chapter: the final words of one chapter form the heading of the next. Between the narratives, parallels and echoes abound, and not just the residency at 744 East Plum Street. And with them, Kingsolver deftly demonstrates that many of the challenges we think we’re facing for the first time are by no means unique or new phenomena.
Kingsolver is highly skilled at creating believable characters: she writes about ordinary people facing everyday challenges, and yet, the reader can’t help but be enthralled. These are people who face hardships yet still worry about the greater good, about their country and the world. Their dialogue is credible, their relationships, realistic, and while there is naturally some friction between certain characters, their interactions (between couples, friends, siblings, parents/children, in-laws) are often entertaining.
Kingsolver’s depiction of these pre-Trump-era characters who have made good decisions, doing the right thing and working hard all their lives, and still ending up effectively on the poverty line, is absolutely spot-on. Her analysis of the mindset of those who support Trump (who remains unnamed herein) is astute and insightful. “…we’re overdrawn at the bank, at the level of our species, but we don’t want to hear it. So if it’s not this exact prophet of self-indulgence we’re looking to for reassurance, it will be some other liar who’s good at distracting us from the truth. Because of the times we’re in.”
Kingsolver gives Tig the voice of caution, making her intelligent, perceptive and articulate. If some readers feel this has a preachy tone to it, well, perhaps that’s because nothing else has worked and the situation is truly becoming dire. But it’s not all doom and gloom: there are also plenty of laugh-out-loud moments in the conversations; and if those nations that consider themselves highly developed could take a leaf out of the book of a country that has had no choice but to curb their consumerism/materialism, then Cuba apparently has much to teach us all.
As always, Kingsolver’s descriptive prose is exquisite, and her love of nature is apparent throughout, as is her concern for the state of the nation and of the world. Again, she gives the reader an interesting, thought-provoking and eminently enjoyable read.
Doris
I feel lectured
Barbara kingsolver crafts wonderful tales and interesting characters. But she hits the reader over the head with her views on social issues. I am sure she is passionate, but I feel lectured. And the more accomplished she becomes, the more she abuses (in my view) her bully pulpit. My grandparents lived in Vineland from 1904 and I know the town well. It was fun to connect images and experiences from growing up to the names and places in the stories. I appreciate the research that goes into her books. My cousins and I learned many things about Vineland history, even though my cousins were schooled there.
Catherine
Disappointed
Took a long time to grab my interest and get past the political diatribes.
Susan_C
A disappointment from one of my favorites
This book could have been much better without all of the editorializing regarding the 'state of the union past and present.' I agree with Ms. Kingsolver's political views and yet I felt I was being reprimanded by the author. We are all getting plenty of that in our daily lives. I might have liked this more if I were in a different state of mind. It wasn't my time to read this book, sad to say.
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