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Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Feisty Marietta Greer changes her name to "Taylor" when her car runs out of gas in Taylorville, Ill. By the time she reaches Oklahoma, this strong-willed young Kentucky native with a quick tongue and an open mind is catapulted into a surprising new life. Taylor leaves home in a beat-up '55 Volkswagen bug, on her way to nowhere in particular, savoring her freedom. But when a forlorn Cherokee woman drops a baby in Taylor's passenger seat and asks her to take it, she does. A first novel, The Bean Trees is an overwhelming delight, as random and unexpected as real life. The unmistakable voice of its irresistible heroine is whimsical, yet deeply insightful. Taylor playfully names her little foundling "Turtle," because she clings with an unrelenting, reptilian grip; at the same time, Taylor aches at the thought of the silent, staring child's past suffering. With Turtle in tow, Taylor lands in Tucson, Ariz., with two flat tires and decides to stay. The desert climate, landscape and vegetation are completely foreign to Taylor, and in learning to love Arizona, she also comes face to face with its rattlesnakes and tarantulas. Similarly, Taylor finds that motherhood, responsibility and independence are thorny, if welcome, gifts. This funny, inspiring book is a marvelous affirmation of risk-taking, commitment and everyday miracles.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
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. A refreshingly upbeat, presentable first effort by an author whose subsequent novels will probably generate more interest than this one. Edward C. Lynskey, Documentation, Atlantic Research Corp., Alexandria, Va.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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First Sentence
I have been afraid of putting air in a tire ever since I saw a tractor tire blow up an throw Newt Hardbine's father over the top of the Standard Oil sign. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
I have been afraid of putting air in a tire ever since I saw a tractor tire blow up an throw Newt Hardbine's father over the top of the Standard Oil sign. Read the first page
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Most helpful customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
One of the most beautiful books I've ever read,
By "k_hoyak" (Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Bean Trees (Mass Market Paperback)
Barbara Kingsolver has an uncanny understanding of human nature. The characters in this novel are by no way perfect, and if you knew them personally, you would be able to list off exactly what makes them drive you crazy. That is what I love about them. The symbolism is beautiful, and her language is brilliant. I find myself speaking like I'm from Kentucky if I read for too long (this is quite a feat, being from prairie Manitoba). I very strongly recommend this book to those who have felt trapped in their surroundings, and who long for a community of friends with an ounce of analysis, conviction and honor. If you have ever been convinced that every person around you is nuts, this book will help you find humour and empathy in your situation, rather than fear. I find I can relate to these characters on a more personal level than in her equally, if not more brilliant, "Poisonwood Bible". That book, based on her literary skill alone, was one of the greatest works I've ever read, but it tore out my heart. But I'm finding "Bean Trees" to be a story I would share with my children. To sum it up: this book will make you smile.The reason I gave the book 4 stars is because I would have appreciated a more positive male influence in the novel. However, I understand that the lack thereof is due to the main character's overwhelming exposure to men who are not worth any effort of personal association. For that, Kingsolver is forgiven. Next on my list: Pigs in Heaven. This book was my first purchase based on my newly developed customer review technique: when I can't decide whether I want to purchase a book or not, I read the lowest ratings first. If the reviewers are illiterate, inarticulate knobs, then I can conclude with relative certainty that the book will be worth reading. If the lowest reviews are prepared with thought and careful analysis by mature readers, then I hesitate on my purchase until I can find a copy of the book and page through it myself. To frequent Amazon shoppers: this technique works! Unless, of course, you are one of the illiterate inarticulate knobs mentioned previously. Then I don't recommend you follow my example.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
Aimless, drifting plot lost this reader.,
By
This review is from: Bean Trees (Mass Market Paperback)
After reading The Poisonwood Bible, I decided to read some of her other works. The story started out with promise - a young woman on here way to anywhere is handed an unwanted child. Taylor's character was plucky and quirky enough to keep me interested.Once she finds a destination to settle in, Tuscon, AZ, the plot begins to meander without much conflict to stir things up. I usually go by the "fifty page rule" - if I'm not totally involved by page fifty, I stop reading. In this case, I got halfway through the book - over a hundred pages before I gave up and quit reading. As this was written well before the Poisonwood Bible, one can see a dramatic improvement from The Bean Trees to her more recent works.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
It's all down hill from the Poisonwood Bible.,
By Amanda Bradley (Edmonds, Washington) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Bean Trees (Mass Market Paperback)
The first book I read of Barbara Kingsolver's was The Poisonwood Bible. It was so good that I decided to read more of her stuff. Unfortunately, it's all down hill from there folks. Poisonwood is fabulous and I've not found her other books to be any where near as good. In fact I read The Bean Trees a few months ago and I really can't remember much about it. Barbara Kingsolver is a talented writer, but this one just didn't hit the mark for me.
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