The Bean Trees

The Bean Trees

I admit, I am no great fan of modern American literature. Apart from Ernest Hemingway, Philip Roth, and Raymond Carver, I hardly touch the stuff. I prefer a foreign setting, not to mention a different genre. And with that bias, I approached Barbara Kingsolver at long last, and found The Bean Trees to be remarkably compelling. The story of Taylor Greer, on a journey across the country, heading nowhere in particular, simply seeking to escape her dreary life. Only to be handed a life she could not have expected when a baby is thrust into her car and left in her care. Kingsolver has created characters who seem quite far from me, lives and experiences distinct from my own. Yet somehow she manages to make me care about these people. She can weave a tale around a superficially simplistic setting, a deceptively banal event - and inject it with such meaning, such feeling. Cheers to you, Ms. Kingsolver. I look forward to reading more of your works.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

A great quick read

I really enjoyed this book. I was hooked on the characters and loved the way she described the different scenarios. I have passed this on to my daughter and she is enjoying it.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Good read!

The Bean Trees is a heartwarming book about a girl from a small town, Taylor, and her journey as she tries to avoid getting pregnant and escape her small town. Taylor meets many people such as Mattie who works at a tire shop and is motherly towards her. She also meets a young abused girl named Turtle and even though she had avoided pregnancy,took care of her. Mattie provides a save house for illegal immigrants, and Taylor gets very attached to them as well. I really enjoyed this book because it shows how hard it is to be a woman. All throughout the story womens' struggles are portrayed and it inspired me. I also liked how it showed many great relationships were built, and you get to know the characters.I didn't like how the book became slow at parts, and it was sad to hear the horrible encounters Turtle had gone through. I would recommend this book to mainly women who are interested in an inspiring story about real life situations. Overall, I enjoyed this book and I'm incredibly glad I read it!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Not what I expected

I was not hooked from the begining. But in a few brief turns of the pages the characters came to life. Bean Trees is a bit quirky. The characters are strange and the locations even stranger but the reader begins to care about the characters. Taylor seems to be floating thru life accepting whatever comes to her but as the story progresses she finds herself and her voice. The relation with LouAnn deepens and LouAnn deepens as a person. The caring of Mattie for the people you know and those you don't is unique. And the relation between Esteven and Esperanza to each other and Mattie and Taylor and Turtle is beautiful and deep.
This is not the best book I have ever read but it is worth reading from beginning to end.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

An interesting story

The bean trees was a very interesting story to read to hear about the girls life story and where all she travled in her life trying to get out of the state she is in Kentucky. She ends up with a child that a women just left in her car which was somehthing that was put on her shoulders as to moving away from things and getting away of any stress. I would recomined this book to those who are wanting to move out of state and search for a new life.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A Waste of Time

Unfortunately, this book was required reading for my freshman year English class. At that time, I was interested in classics, and books with great lessons and symbols for everyday life. After reading and enjoying many books with boring names I was actually excited to read The Bean Trees. Having read To Kill a Mockingbird multiple times, I was looking for another great book. When I rented The Bean Trees from the library, I started reading immediately, looking for symbols and lessons comprable to To Kill a Mockingbird. What I got was a pointless story where the greatest conflicts include choosing to have an affair with a man, and getting papers for a little girl. The only lessons this book teaches you are that euthanasia should be used, abortion should be used, and that Child Services is evil. Seriously, if you are an average Conservative, do not read this book, unless you are unfortunate enough to be assigned it.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Excellent book

This was Kingsolver's first novel and it's very well written. Makes you want to read it in one sitting. Charming story. OK for middle school and up.

Engaging Read!

Love Barbara Kingsolver's beautiful prose. I read this after my high schooler read this for required reading and loved it. I got plenty of great insight by following the analysis that he and his classmates were writing. A beautiful and moving story of the power of women and friendship!

Entertaining

Lacked character development but overall an easy, entertaining read.

Favorite book

I initially read the book in high school and loved it then. I've reread it several times since, and get just as wrapped up in it every time I do. Barbara Kingsolver does an amazing job of telling an amazing story.

Worth the time

I have read several of Barabara Kinsolver's books and was anxious to get into "The Bean Trees". I initially found it difficult to enjoy. I considered not finishing it, but came back to it and am very glad that I did. The imagery of her writing and the detail that she creates are what got me through - and it was definately worth the effort. It is one of those books with the kind of characters that you will continue to think about long after you have put the book back on your shelf (or archived it on your Nook!)

I like this book

Heartwarming!

A story of friendship, hardship, and new beginnings......definately a win from Kingsolver! Her stories of transformation always keep me coming back........Who wouln't love Turtle?!

Nuff said

No text was provided for this review.

Highly Recommended

I read this book with my niece. This was assignment for her, freshman year high school. I enjoyed it and thought it was thought provoking touching. I love the Main Character and thought she had great spirit and an independent women- A good lesson for young women.....

Barbara Kingsolver, The Bean Trees

I admit, I am no great fan of modern American literature. Apart from Ernest Hemingway, Philip Roth, and Raymond Carver, I hardly touch the stuff. I prefer a foreign setting, not to mention a different genre. And with that bias, I approached Barbara Kingsolver at long last, and found The Bean Trees to be remarkably compelling. The story of Taylor Greer, on a journey across the country, heading nowhere in particular, simply seeking to escape her dreary life. Only to be handed a life she could not have expected when a baby is thrust into her car and left in her care. Kingsolver has created characters who seem quite far from me, lives and experiences distinct from my own. Yet somehow she manages to make me care about these people. She can weave a tale around a superficially simplistic setting, a deceptively banal event - and inject it with such meaning, such feeling. Cheers to you, Ms. Kingsolver. I look forward to reading more of your works.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Enjoyed it.

Not as good as Poisonwood, but still a good read.

Good book

Lot of the same themes as Poisonwood Bible, about family, culture, morality, Did not affect me in the deep way Poisonwood Bible did, but I still enjoyed the book. Also a quick, easy read-can accomplish in a weekend,

Good book. Would read again.

I thought this book was a very interesting read. It was not my favorite but i would definitely read this book again amd tell my friends about this book. I had to read this book for my english class and i think it was a good choice for a summer reading assignment.

Some was good

I loved this book but my mom was breathing down my neck to finsh the book i could have enjoyed it more if my mom was on me like that