Oct 11, 2010

It's Monday: What Are You Reading?

Sheila from One Person's Journey hosts this weekly meme with links to all those who participate. Click on her website to join in!

Another surprise for me. I picked up The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver, expecting to put it back down as uninteresting. A family living as missionaries in the Congo? Been there, read that. I had flashbacks to Conrad's Heart of Darkness (Norton Critical Editions) and visions of Apocalypse Now: Redux, the film with Marlon Brando based on Conrad's book.

Imagine my surprise when I saw the family went there in the 1950s, at a much later date than the time in Conrad's book, which had traders in the Belgian Congo in the 19th century.

I have only just begun The Poisonwood Bible but I'm intrigued by the first chapters - the preparations the family makes, the items of clothing, household goods, and other things they decide they will most definitely need. More on the book later.

Cloud Mountain
Cloud Mountain

Here's another book I found in a pile of books I am "fostering" while a friend undergoes house renovation: Cloud Mountain: A Novel by Aimee E. Liu. Based on the lives of her grandparents, the book is about a teacher Hope Leon and her husband Liang Po-Yu, separated by war in China in the 1940s. The story spans four decades.

The historical aspects should be interesting. China in the 1930s and early 1940s has a fascinating history of war and upheaval. This is also what I'll be reading!

Would you believe I have other books that I've started and have to finish, too many to list here.

What are you reading this week and next?

7 comments:

  1. Glad you are enjoying The Poisonwood Bible, I did as well.

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  2. I just started reading an interesting Christian fiction book called "Rain Dance" by author Joy Dekok. So far, the author has written a story about two women from opposite sides who are dealing with infertility and abortion. I especially like how there is no condemnation. I can't seem to put it down.

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  3. I've heard wonderful things on The Poisonwood Bible! I'm not sure why I've not read this one yet!! Here's my Mailbox: Coffee and a Book Chick -- Mailbox Monday...

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  4. The Kingsolver book sounds very good. Thanks for this post.

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  5. I'm reading and listening to Poisonwood Bible now and enjoying it a lot.

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  6. Someday my dear friend, I will read The Poisonwood Bible :)
    Have a great week ahead :)

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  7. The Poisonwood Bible is one of my favorite books - glad you are liking it too!

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