A few weeks ago I read Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver. I had to read Poisonwood Bible for my freshman English class at ISU, and I enjoyed Kingsolver's prose then, although the book wasn't my favorite. This book also had quite nice prose, but overall I enjoyed it much more than Poisonwood Bible.
Both of the books use the technique of switching the narrative voice in each chapter to a different main character in the book. Prodigal Summer has 3 main narrative voices, a middle-aged woman who lives a solitary life as a Park Service/Forest Ranger/wildlife biologist in a National Forest in the mountain, an elderly farmer who's mission in life is to develop a blight-resistant American Chestnut by multiple back-crosses with resistant Chinese Chestnuts, and a young, widowed, entomologist-turned-farm wife.
The book shows an interesting intersection between modern science, rural Kentucky farm life, and the current environmental ethos. The story telling is excellent, and although I would say that Kingsolver definitely lets her perspective and opinions show through the book, she does not go to the extent of demonizing the other viewpoints, but rather portrays them sympathetically and honestly.
Overall, I would highly recommend the book, if for no other reason than the beautiful word pictures of nature and wildlife that Kingsolver weaves throughout the book.
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