Barbara Kingsolver - Pigs in Heaven

Pros: Good story told exceptionally well.

Cons: Where's the sequel?? I want a sequel!!

The Bottom Line: Highly recommended, especially for women, mothers, and/or those interested in adoption and Native American customs and families.

Review: 'Pigs in Heaven,' copyright 1993, was reissued in 2004. I suppose it would be silly to hold my breath any longer-- obviously, there's no sequel, at least not yet. While Kingsolver's 'The Poisonwood Bible' garnered more press than this book, I think this ...

Pros: Poignant, funny, meaningful story, written in Kingsolver's unique, poetic style.

Cons: Readers may at times wonder what's the point and where she's headed.

The Bottom Line: Kingsolver's unique literary voice and vision make this a poignant, humorous and ultimately thought-provoking tale of a clash of cultures.

Review: Barbara Kingsolver's uniquely eccentric, free-wheeling, poetic literary voice is, to the readers' delight, amply on display in "Pigs in Heaven".
In a story brimming with off-beat humor, poignance, and powerful insights into human foibles,...

Pros: characters, story, setting, descriptive quality of writing

Cons: none

Review: As with all of Barbara Kingsolver's books, "Pigs In Heaven" is a warmhearted, interesting book which made me forget my own slice of the world just for a little while. It is a story of love and courage and family; about a lost girl, a woman who...

Pros: An elegant, carefully researched look at the cultural differences between Native Americans and Whites

Cons: Ephemeral characters, slightly forced plotting

The Bottom Line: Turtle Greer's chance appearance on Oprah may be the catalyst for radical change in the six-year-old's life, as the Cherokee Nation seeks to reclaim its own.

Review: There's a classic song about differences of opinion from a Broadway musical:

You say 'po-TAY-to,' and I say 'po-TAH-to.'
You say 'to-MAY-to,' and I say 'to-MAH-to.'
Po-TAY-to, po-TAH-to, to-MAY-to, to-MAH-to;
Let's call the...

Pros: strong cultural and legal research, entertaining and engaging, good even without reading earlier book

Cons: some contrived romance

Review: Be colorblind...open your heart to any child...and what is the worst that can happen? You can ignore the ignorant stares of strangers, but Taylor, a white mother with a Cherokee daughter, is approached by a Cherokee and asked to return this child to the...

Pros: wonderful characters

Cons: none

Review: I usually enjoy Barbara Kingsolver's books. Her characters spring to life from her books' pages. This novel is no exception. I found myself quickly drawn into the lives of the characters. I could imagine the events in the novel happening the way they are...