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Title: Small Wonder: Essays by Barbara Kingsolver ISBN: 0060504072 Publisher: HarperCollins Pub. Date: 02 April, 2002 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $23.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.87
Rating: 5
Summary: A thought-provoking collection of personal/political essays
Comment: I am a long-time fan of all of Barbara Kingsolver's novels (The Bean Trees, Pigs in Heaven, Animal Dreams, The Poisonwood Bible, Prodigal Summers), so I was interested to hear more about the person and the views behind the stories. Small Wonders did not disappoint. Kingsolver makes it clear that for her, the personal is political, meaning that the choices that we make as individuals have political impact. So, the essays are wide-ranging, from her family life and her garden, to her concerns about the natural environment and thoughts about the U.S.'s reaction to Sept. 11. The essays are well-written, interesting, and thought provoking. I found myself agreeing with most of the points that she makes, and many of her ideas linger afterward; for example, she asks us to consider the environmental costs of shipping food all over the world, instead of eating what is grown locally. Or what it means to have TV streaming into your home every day. Or what the consquences of genetically engineering food might be, not just for our health, but for the environment. I recommend the book highly to fans of her novels as well as to people interested in a thoughtful read.
Some may disagree with her post-Sept. 11 analysis -- her concern about our country's agressive response. To those I would say, all the more reason to read the book, and hear her side of it, even if you ultimately disagree, exactly because voices such has hers have received little airplay. Here, her own words say it better than I could:
"Questioning our government's actions does not violate the principles of liberty, equality, and freedom of speech; it exercises them, and by exercise we grow stronger. I have read enough of Thomas Jefferson to feel sure he would back me up on this. Our founding fathers, those vocal critics of imperalism, were among the first leaders to understand that to a democratic people, freedom of speech and belief are not just nice luxuries, they're as necessary as breathing. The authors of our Constituion knew, from experience with King George and company, tha governments don't remain benevolent to the interests of all, including their less powerful members, without constant vigilance and reasoned criticism. And so the founding fathers guarenteed the right of reasoned criticism in our citizenship contract--for always. No emergency shutdowns allowed. However desperate things may get, there are to be no historical moments when beliefs can be abridged, vegetarians required to praise meat, Christians forced to pray as Muslims, or vice versa. Angry critics have said to me in stressful periods, "Don't you understand it's wartime?" As if this were just such a moment of emergency shutdown. Yes, we all know it's wartime. It's easy to speak up for peace in peacetime--anybody can do that. Now is when it gets hard. But our flag is not just a logo for wars; it's the flag of American pacificists, too. It's the flag of all of us who love our country enough to do the hard work of living up to its highest ideals."
Rating: 2
Summary: Pretty but preachey
Comment: The first time I read a Kingsolver novel I remember thinking, wow, here's a writer to watch. Her first novel had that special spark, and I could tell her next book would be even better. Then came Animal Dreams, and I remember being so moved at this astonishing story of flawed humans trying to love in the midst of an environment in peril--great stuff. In High Tide in Tucson, her ability to write accessible, heartfelt, fresh essays was encouraging. I rushed to buy Small Wonder, eager to see what she had to say now.
Unfortunately, the essays on the natural world very quickly began to appear to be jumping off places for political statements. Sometimes parallel themes are a revealing way to explore a subject, but mostly I was left feeling that there was no cohesive thematic resolution to them. Kingsolver delivers poignant factual accounts of American society that are deeply unjust, and she is one brave writer who does not "look away." However, instead of illustrating that social change can come about in new ways, her words made me feel hopeless and guilty of crimes so entrenched in American society that they can't possibly be undone--by me or anyone else. I couldn't help thinking that the author lives a lifestyle most of us dream of, and that perhaps she might want to take that into consideration. Much as we'd like to, we can't all emulate her ways. Television to me is educational and entertainment, and hasn't ruined my intellect. Does a 99 cent hamburger ruin the environment and promote slave labor, or is it a cheap way to fill a child's belly when you work so much you have no time to cook? If buying a new car is an implied waste--hers is over ten years old and still runs fine--can she please tell me where she bought hers, so I can get the same model?!? I came away from these essays wondering where is the hope she "rages" for? Kingsolver on love, family, the natural world, and other cultures, is pure treasure. I want to understand her politics, but the book reminded me of a grade school teacher wagging her finger at students who make unforgivable mistakes sometimes out of ignorance, and sometimes because it's so difficult to live in this costly, complicated world. If we don't have the money to buy land on which to grow our own food, are we bad parents? I don't think so. Those of us who are single parents, work two jobs, well, we simply do the best we can. I wish she had more compassion for that aspect of society.
Kingsolver claims to have begun Small Wonder on September 12, 2001. If the material steeped a while longer than eight months, would it have come across kinder? I'll read her again, but this book is clearly not up to her usual standards. Sorry.
Rating: 5
Summary: Life Changing...
Comment: I read 'Small Wonder' while on vacation last month and it was life changing. Reading this collection of personal stories has sparked my interest in being a better citizen - something I'm ashamed I never thought about in much depth before. Now I find myself reading about politics, hoping to inform myself enough to make an educated vote for our country's future leaders. And this book has inspired me in countless other ways. I want to introduce 'Small Wonder' to everyone I know, and I hope that they find it to be as amazing and poignant as I do.
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Title: High Tide in Tucson : Essays from Now or Never by Barbara Kingsolver ISBN: 0060927569 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: September, 1996 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: Homeland by Barbara Kingsolver ISBN: 0060917016 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: April, 1991 List Price(USD): $13.00 |
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Title: Prodigal Summer: A Novel by Barbara Kingsolver ISBN: 0060959037 Publisher: Perennial Pub. Date: 16 October, 2001 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Another America / Otra América by Barbara Kingsolver, Rebeca Cartes ISBN: 1580050042 Publisher: Seal Press Pub. Date: April, 1998 List Price(USD): $12.00 |
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Title: Last Stand: America's Virgin Lands by Barbara Kingsolver, Annie Griffiths Belt ISBN: 0792269098 Publisher: National Geographic Pub. Date: October, 2002 List Price(USD): $40.00 |
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