Helpful Score: 7
I loved this book. It has been added to my "keep" collection, and I don't keep that many so that's saying something. It is the story of Taylor Greer, a girl from Kentucky, who moves out west to Arizona. On the way she acquires an Indian child as her own. A wonderful read.
Helpful Score: 6
I've only read a couple of Barbara's books - and I need to read more. Down-to-earth stories about average folks going through average challenges. Yet the story is a page-turner. I felt like I knew the characters intimately and was rooting for good things to happen to them. Reading Kingsolver is kind of like rafting down a river. The story unfolds slowly, but there's always something interesting around the next corner.
Helpful Score: 5
I think I own this book, but I had to request a copy from the library in order to re-read it for a group discussion. I'm glad I did. Taylor and her friends and family are the sort of people I wish I knew in real life, human and flawed but really trying to do the right thing. Now I'm eager to re-read the sequel, Pigs in Heaven.
Helpful Score: 4
Loved this book! Barbara Kingsolver develops such interesting characters in her stories that you become instantly involved in their lives and want to see what happens next. A great read!
Helpful Score: 3
I enjoyed this book. I love Kingsolver's witty, funny narrative and the characters are very likable. I would recommend for a nice easy read.
Helpful Score: 3
Unlike any other book I have read. The central character becomes part of your life as you watch her go from adolescence to adulthood in the midst of difficult circumstances and a life lacking financial opportunities. You can't help but admire her determination as her story changes your perspective.
Helpful Score: 2
I just finished this book tonight, and I really enjoyed it. My first exposure to Kingsolver was "The Poisonwood Bible," yet this book is significantly different, but both are good. This book isn't as dark as "The Poisonwood Bible," but when putting these books together, you get a good sense of Kingsolver's fascination/interest in how people survive in worlds where nothing is perfect, and in fact, many things are worse than you'd like to imagine. Even when dealing with these themes, "The Bean Trees" remains light enough that you'll have some laughing moments, and you probably won't fall asleep crying about it. The characters cling to you, just like Turtle does, and once they've gotten their hold on you, you might have a hard time shaking them loose. It kind of makes me want to go on an adventure - you'll never know who or what you'll find. Read it.
Helpful Score: 2
you will not regret reading this book.
Helpful Score: 2
My favorite book. I was glad to learn there was a follow up with "Pigs in Heaven." I wish the story went on.
Helpful Score: 2
The story is interesting and the characters delightful. If you liked other Barbara Kingsolver novels you will like this one, too.
Helpful Score: 2
LOVED THIS BOOK! It was so different from what I usually read. Great book!
Helpful Score: 2
I loved this book. You really believe in the characters. Even though it's probably set in the 70's, the lives each lives rings true with the "real life". It was such a quick read but left a nice lasting impression. I would definitely recommend this one.
Helpful Score: 1
One of my favorite books. The story of a poor girl from Kentucky who has big dreams of going to California. These dreams get curtailed, however, when she comes out of a truck stop to find that someone has left a native american baby on the front seat of her car.
Helpful Score: 1
This was a wonderful, sweet, and very easy read. Hated to finish it...need to look for more by this author.
Helpful Score: 1
I found this book entrancing. Barbara Kingsolver has a wonderful, magical way with words. I love being caught up in the story and having it so well written!
Helpful Score: 1
A favorite author's first novel. I've read it so many times, and loved it each time! Colorful characters, difficult real-life situations, and the joy of finding support in other people - even strangers. Highly recommended!
Helpful Score: 1
Taylor Greer buys a 55 Volkswagon and heads west....On the way she "inherits" a 3 yr old American Indian girl named Turtle. You just wish this story never ended. It is that satisfying.
A friend from my book club recommended I read this book. I wasn't the least be interested but what a surprised. It turned out to be one of the best books I have read in a long time. I won't try and explain the plot. You just have to read it for yourself!
I have read this book several times....every now and then I get it out to read it again. I fell in love with the characters and their journey. A good read! This is actually one of my favorite books.
I love the way Barbara Kinsgslover writes, it is like poetry, so vivid and beautiful, this was the first book of hers that i have read, and i am looking forward to more. i love the way she brings a scene to life - you can picture it all in your mind, even the smells. Very talented writer.
A great story set in the southwest! inspirational and fun characters!!
This touching tale of instant motherhood and the friends she meets along the way makes for a very enjoyable read.
Although the book was very slow in the beginning, once I plowed through that it became a very good read.
This was my first Barbara Kingsolver book, it won't be my last. I found her descriptions of the desert acurate and the story was so believable. There are many sides to the problem of illegal imigration and Kingsolver highlights the most desperate. The main character shows typical weaknesses and strengths that we all harbor and deals with them in a very realistic manner. I highly recommend this book.
Fantastic!
loved this when I read it but it's been a long time ago
Kentucky-born Taylor Greer sets out for Tucson, Arizona to escape rural poverty and a barefoot & pregnant fate. Along the way, she acquires a 3-yr-old American Indian girl named Turtle. This is a story about love and friendship, abandonment and belonging, and the discovery of surprising resources in apparently empty places. Author Anne Rivers Siddons calls this book "tough and tender, gritty and moving." You'll have to judge that for yourself!
AFTER READING POISONWOOD BIBLE, I COULD HARDLY WAIT TO READ ANOTHER OF HER BOOKS. WHILE NOT NEARLY AS IN DEPTH, I LIKED THIS ONE VERY MUCH AS WELL. I AM STARTING ANOTHER ONE OF HERS TONIGHT AND WILL LIST IT AS SOON AS I'M DONE.
Ms. Kingsolver has a talent for writing hauntingly surreal and beautiful descriptions of the world around her. Very inspiring to me.
I would certainly recommend The Bean Trees as well as it's sequel Pigs in Heaven.
I would certainly recommend The Bean Trees as well as it's sequel Pigs in Heaven.
Appealing characters, good dialogue, good sense of place, with a sweet and moving story.
Great little quick read, but the ending was very anti-climactic. Cute story, though.
This book, along with Pigs in Heaven, are my two favorite books by Barbara Kingsolver.
Great book. It's an easy read about a young woman who is all but forced to adopt a Cherokee baby. They have great adventures together.
You must read the Bean Trees before moving on to Pigs in Heaven.
You must read the Bean Trees before moving on to Pigs in Heaven.
Top notch.
A classic, a must read for all well read book enthusiasts.
The description on the back of the book is vague, but this book surprised me, it is really good, quick and easy read, but very worth picking up. Wish there was a series about the characters.
My favorite book of all time! I read this book for the first time in high school and have read it several times since. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone!
I read this book when I was younger and really like it.
My sister turned me on to Kingsolver and I've loved everything of hers I've been able to get my hands on! You will enjoy this book!
good book on the coming of age. brief encounters/adventures of a young girl leaving home, discovering herself and what life is about.
A good book about several women growing up.
Wonderful story. Caught me up in the first few pages. Rich characters...I wanted to jump in and be along on their quirky journey!
It ia an interesting read. Enjoy!
This debut novel follows the gritty, outspoken Taylor Greer, who leaves her native Kentucky to head west. She becomes mother to an abandoned baby and, when her jalopy dies in Tucson, is forced to work in a tire garage and to room with a young, battered divorcee who also has a little girl. With sisterly counsel and personal honesty, the two face their painful lot (told in ponderous detail). The blue-collar setting, described vibrantly, often turns violent, with baby beatings, street brawls, and drug busts. Despite the hurt and rage, themes of love and nurturing emerge.
I got this book years ago and it has been collecting dust on my book selfs but i loved it. It is the type of book that i think alot of people would love.
A journey that starts in Kentucy and ends in Arizona, very funny yet also full of life's struggles we all face growing up.
Barbara Kingsolver makes you feel as if you were there yourself. The terrain and characters bring this story to life! Highly recommend!
Wow, this was a great book. I really had it at the bottom of the pile for a long time because I didn't think it would be very good. I will be looking for other books by this author.
Really enjoyed this book. I felt I knew the characters. Good quick read.
Really good story with interesting characters that you'll be pulling for.
A lesson in persistance in life!
A little dark though, so don't read this one if life is getting you down. Wait for a brighter day...
A lesson in persistance in life!
A little dark though, so don't read this one if life is getting you down. Wait for a brighter day...
Wonderful book!!!!
"This is the story of a lovable, resourceful 'instant mother', one who speaks, acts and learns for herself, becoming an inspiration for us all."
Truly a great read. Amazing author.
This is one of Kingsolver's wittiest works. Made me want to read her other novels.
A true heart warming story.
Barbra Kingsolver really keeps this, her first novel, alive with her always excellent style and the strong themes that are evident throughout the book. Her weaknesses here are her character developments and a weak plot. Overall this was a very enjoyable read and it kept me entertained to the point of laughing out loud & waking my husband many times while reading it.
The book starts out with a very catching tale of a girl named Taylor preparing to go out on her own right out of high school with very little money . After that the author keeps it interesting by combining the story of Lou Ann's character with that of Taylor so that eventually their paths cross. Kingsolver throws many things into the story that both Lou Ann and Taylor have to deal with such as an abandoned baby, a one-legged rodeo husband, and illegal refugees that affect everyone's lives. This story keeps you entertained and is a joy to read.
The author uses a strong family theme throughout the story and adapts it to fit with the characters. The theme of family isn't the normal one. It shows that you don't have to be related to people to love and care for them and consider them your family. She uses two examples of this type of family in her story. First we learn of Lou Ann, Taylor, Duwayne Ray, and Turtle. They all love and depend on one another and consider themselves to be a family. We also learn of Mattie, Esperanza, Estevan, and all the other illegal refugees who live in Mattie's apartment. They care for one another and take care of each other just like a normal family would. Kingsolver uses imagination and style to keep the story entertaining and upbeat. She keeps it flowing and makes it easy to read. She uses realistic dialect to make the characters come alive and to make them seem real. She also uses figurative language like similies and extended metaphors to indirectly help the reader understand what is going on.
Then too, she uses symbolism to represent certain parts of the story that she finds important. She uses the song sparrow to represent Turtle and to show what developments she might make throughout the course of the book. Her style is her best feature through the course of this book. Most of the main characters go through major changes throughout the course of the story. Lou Ann changes from having very low self-esteem to being more confident and believing in herself. Taylor, a major character in this book, develops a sense of independence and feelings of love for her new family. Turtle is maybe the most dynamic character in the story. She goes from being completely untalkative to being like a normal little kid. Over all the characters seemed real and true. This story was entertaining and interesting.
I loved it and highly recommend it.
The book starts out with a very catching tale of a girl named Taylor preparing to go out on her own right out of high school with very little money . After that the author keeps it interesting by combining the story of Lou Ann's character with that of Taylor so that eventually their paths cross. Kingsolver throws many things into the story that both Lou Ann and Taylor have to deal with such as an abandoned baby, a one-legged rodeo husband, and illegal refugees that affect everyone's lives. This story keeps you entertained and is a joy to read.
The author uses a strong family theme throughout the story and adapts it to fit with the characters. The theme of family isn't the normal one. It shows that you don't have to be related to people to love and care for them and consider them your family. She uses two examples of this type of family in her story. First we learn of Lou Ann, Taylor, Duwayne Ray, and Turtle. They all love and depend on one another and consider themselves to be a family. We also learn of Mattie, Esperanza, Estevan, and all the other illegal refugees who live in Mattie's apartment. They care for one another and take care of each other just like a normal family would. Kingsolver uses imagination and style to keep the story entertaining and upbeat. She keeps it flowing and makes it easy to read. She uses realistic dialect to make the characters come alive and to make them seem real. She also uses figurative language like similies and extended metaphors to indirectly help the reader understand what is going on.
Then too, she uses symbolism to represent certain parts of the story that she finds important. She uses the song sparrow to represent Turtle and to show what developments she might make throughout the course of the book. Her style is her best feature through the course of this book. Most of the main characters go through major changes throughout the course of the story. Lou Ann changes from having very low self-esteem to being more confident and believing in herself. Taylor, a major character in this book, develops a sense of independence and feelings of love for her new family. Turtle is maybe the most dynamic character in the story. She goes from being completely untalkative to being like a normal little kid. Over all the characters seemed real and true. This story was entertaining and interesting.
I loved it and highly recommend it.
Very good story about real life situations and working through them.
like her other books its a easy and fun to read
I absolutely loved this book. It was part of a high school summer reading list at an amazing expeditionary learning school. I was interested in the amount of culture this book presented and I genuinely enjoyed Ms. Kingsolver's style of writing. It was about a young adult, but I would certainly say that it reaches a wider range of readers. It's a sweet story worth reading and in my opinion, holding on to.
Will keep it forever, loved it.
Great story. It took 20-30 pages to draw me in, but once I got into the story, it was hard to put the book down. I LOVED this story.
funny and sweet story by a great writer
An interesting read about a girl's journey leaving home and unexpectedly becoming a mother. She finds a community and shares her adventure through simple-minded young eyes. An easy read that will only take a few days.
I loved this book! I have several bean trees in my own yard. Just goes to show that people are placed in our lives for a reason and that we need to be open and available to them.
I enjoyed this book very much. Quick read, and I fell in love with the characters.
This is the first of Barbara Kingsolver's books that I have read and I loved it! So different, so touching, and so inspirational in a strange way! This is a story of a young girl who has left home with nothing much but a broken down Volkswagon. Totally on her own, she takes an Indian child from a total stranger and agrees to raise her. It is a story of how those who have nothing can still thrive and survive without anything but the support of friends and a loving mother who can only give support through a pay phone. Bet you will love this book, also! Genny
I really enjoy this author.
One of my favorite Barbara Kingsolver books.
The novel begins in Pittman, Kentucky, a fictitious place that has the character and type of people you might find in any small Kentucky town. The characters pass through the Cherokee Nation area of Oklahoma. However, most of the action takes place in Tucson, Arizona around the imaginary Roosevelt Park, surrounded by low-rent homes, a porn shop, a Chinese grocery and a tire repair shop.
A wonderful descriptive story, hated when it ended.
Barbara Kingsolver is near the top of my great authors list. This one has a light heartedness that is welcome after the "Poisonwood Bible".
Taylor has completed her high school graduation, not gotten pregnant and, is off on the road to a different life. She encounters many unexpected things on her way to the American West, not the least of which is a mute three year old child, Turtle.
The characters both major and minor are engaging, and the plot moves along seamlessly--not unexpected in a Kingsolver novel. A great diversion!
Taylor has completed her high school graduation, not gotten pregnant and, is off on the road to a different life. She encounters many unexpected things on her way to the American West, not the least of which is a mute three year old child, Turtle.
The characters both major and minor are engaging, and the plot moves along seamlessly--not unexpected in a Kingsolver novel. A great diversion!
Ever just wanted to pick up and leave? That is what sets this story in motion. The main character heads out in her beat up old VW Bug and literally drives until her car dies. The story that follows is exciting, difficult, wonderful, and complicated.. just as life should be. Great read!
I loved this book. So much so that I'm now onto the second book of this story, Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver. This author has a way of writing that can make you go from laughing hysterically to crying your heart out on the same page. The main character, Taylor, is inspiring. Here's this young girl, not much more than a girl herself, who's had an Indian toddler dumped in her lap. She embraces this child and accepts her for all that she is..... with her problems and all. I've just started reading the second book and it's looking like some person is going to attempt to take Turtle (the Indian child) away from Taylor, just because Taylor is not also Indian. I'm panicking already! NoOoOoO....... you can't take Turtle from her momma!!! It would destroy both of them. Ooops.... sorry........ but I gotta get back to my book!!! :o)
This one of my favorite books.
Barbara Kingsolver is an artist with words.
light and entertaining fast read. very sweet.
"The Bean Trees" is about the serious business of life (the true meaning of love and friendship, the definition of family and other significant issues)and yet it manages, thanks to the humane and compassionate touch of Barbara Kingsolver's "pen," to be light and lovely and funny and sweet and sad and redemptive. What's the point of being subtle: I loved this book.
Loved it! Not as good as "The poisonwood Bible" but still really good! Quick heartfelt read. I like that there is a sequel: "Pigs in Heaven" which is really good too!
simple interesting, different story that kept the pages turning. Liked it & recomend it.
I loved this book and would like to read more by Kingsolver. I will be sharing it with a few of my friends before I put it back on my list.
I really enjoyed this book. I read it once before & there's a sequel to it!
One of my favorite books of all time from one of my favorite authors of all time.
Excellent book, keeps your interest. Very different but worthwhile reading.
I loved this book which I read years ago. The protagonist is a spunky young woman, who discovers all sorts of things about herself and the world when she leaves her home in Appalachia. There are descriptions and situations and people who still pop up in my memory after all these years.
Taylor Greer, from rural Kentucky, buys a 1955 Volkswagen and drives west. Along the way, she picks up an abandoned 3-year-old Native American girl named Turtle, and by the time she pulls up at the Jesus Is Lord Used Tire Auto Repair Shop, Taylor is well on her way towards establishing an adventurous new life in the desert land of the Southwest.
I enjoyed this book.
I just could not get into this book at all.
Easier to read than "The Poisonwood Bible".
Clear-eyed and spirited, Taylor Greer grew up poor in rural Kentucky with the goals of avoiding pregnancy and getting away. But when she heads west with high hopes and a barely functional car, she meets the human condition head-on. By the time Taylor arrives in Tucson , Arizonia , she has aquired a completely unexpected child, a three-year-old American Indian girl named turtle and must somehow come to terms with both motherhood and the necessity of putting down roots. Hers is a story about love friendship, abandonment and belonging, and the discovery of surprising resources in apparently empty places
Characters you won't forget. This story will stay with you a long time. Kept me glued to the chair to read this book. Very enjoyable & love Kingsolver's writing. Can't wait to read the sequel, Pigs In Heaven. You will fall in love with Turtle & her adotive mother.
Great read
Great read
Barbara Kingsolver's novels are the kind you pick up on a whim and don't want to put down at the end.
A typically wonderful arbor Kingsolver book! loved it!
Wonderful story about the families we build for ourselves.
Meet Taylor Greer. Clear-eyed and spirited, she grew up poor in rural Kentucky with two goals: to avoid pregnancy and to get away. She succeeds on both counts when she buys a '55 VW and heads west. But by the time she pulls up on the outskirts of Tucson, AZ at an auto repair shop called Jesus is the Lord Used Ties that also happens to be a sanctuary for Central American refugees, she's "inherited" a 3 year old American Indian girl named Turtle. What follows - as Taylor meets the human condition head on - is at the heart of this memorable novel about love and friendship, abandonment and belonging, and the discovery of surprising resources in apparently empty places. Kingsolver is one of my very favorite authors for richness of characters and insightful story. I have read most all of her novels - Prodigal Summer, my alltime favorite - I highly recommend this one as well. Enjoy!
Wonderfully great read!
My book club loves Ms. Kingsolver!
A story of a young woman raised poor in Kentucky, who buys a '55 volkswagon and heads west. On the way she "inherits" a 3yr old American Indian girl, learns about love, friendship and belonging.
Marietta (Missy) left Kentucky in her '55 Volkswagen bug for anywhere. In route she acquired a homeless baby (Turtle.) On two flat tires they made it to 1-800-THE LORD in Tucson. As she said, her whole life "had been running on dumb luck and she hadn't even noticed."
Meet Taylor Greer. Clear eyed & spiritual, she grew up poor in rual Kentucky with 2 goals: to avaid pregnancy and get away. She succeeds on both counts when she buys a '55 Volkswagon and heads west. Very good reading. Enjoyable.
"This is the story of a lovable, resourceful "instant mother", one who speaks, acts and learns for herself, becomong an inspiration to us all." - Glamour
never opened or read, got at a confrence. great book if you liked her others
