The Poisonwood Bible

I finished another book yesterday. This one was lent to me after I finished all of the books that I brought with me and it's called "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver. The book is set it the Democratic Republic of the Congo/Zaire from 1959 until the 1980s. It follows the four daughters and the wife of a Baptist missionary who drags his teenage daughters on his quest to 'save' the Congo. The book is written from each of the females' perspectives, each with a very distinct voice and view of their situation. It also touches on some important events in Congo's history, such as independence, the murder of the first democratically elected prime minister, and the coup by the CIA to replace him.

Although I did not recommend the last book that I read, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a relatively quick, yet thoughtful read. It's a little heavy, but it definitely has redeeming aspects. I'm not very good at determining a 'chick flick' equivalent of a novel, but since this book is part of "Oprah's Book Club", I think that might be a good indicator. But it definitely has something for everything.

The most interesting part of it for me was the way the characters analyzed their own faith, and how that differed from their religion and the religion that had been imposed upon them by their overbearing minister father. Basically it comes down to the fact that every culture has to demonstrate their faith differently, and certain aspects of religions can look downright preposterous to outsiders. There is a conversation that occurs between the father, Nathan Price, and his predecessor at the mission, Brother Fowles, that I think illustrates this very well:

[Brother Fowles] said, "I'm a plain fool for the nature images in the Bible, Brother Price. That fond of it. I find it all so handy here, among these people who have such an intelligence and the great feeling for the living world around them. They're very humble in their debts to nature. Do you know the hymn of the rain for the seed yams, Brother Price?"

"Hymns to their pagan gods and false idols? I'm afraid I haven't got the time for dabbling in that kind of thing."

"Well you're that busy I'm sure. But it's interesting, just the same. In keeping with what you were quoting there in your Romans, chapter twelve. You remember the third verse, do you not?"

Father answered with his teeth showing: "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought..."

"...For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office, so we, being many, are one body in Christ..."

"In Christ!" Father shouted, as if to say "Bingo!"

"And every one, members of of the other," Brother Fowles went on to quote. "Having then gifts that differ according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, or ministry, or he that teacheth. He that giveth, let him to it with simplicity... He that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. Let love be without dissimulation. Be kindly affectioned to one another with brotherly love."

I like books that challenge you to think about your beliefs - whether they are actually your beliefs or if you have just accepted them out of convenience, and whether they are so right that you should be imposing them upon other people.

Really, what this post comes down to though is totally selfish: I want ideas for books. I have an ongoing list of books that has been accumulating for about the past year, but if anybody has ideas for books that are pertinent to where I am right now that would be great. I have read three books so far since I've been here, one from Tanzania, one from Rwanda and one from DRC, and I would like to stay within the region since I'm here. It's so much easier to picture what you're reading when you can look outside your window and get a better idea. So, if anyone has any recommendation for books that take place in East Africa, please leave a comment and let me know what they are and then I will try to get my hands on them. Thanks!