“Kingsolver is a gifted magician of words.”—TimeThe extraordinary New York Times bestselling author of The Lacuna (winner of the Orange Prize), The Poisonwood Bible (nominated for the Pulitzer Prize), and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, Barbara Kingsolver returns with a truly stunning and unforgettable work. Flight Behavior is a brilliant and suspenseful novel set in present day Appalachia; a … brilliant and suspenseful novel set in present day Appalachia; a breathtaking parable of catastrophe and denial that explores how the complexities we inevitably encounter in life lead us to believe in our particular chosen truths. Kingsolver’s riveting story concerns a young wife and mother on a failing farm in rural Tennessee who experiences something she cannot explain, and how her discovery energizes various competing factions—religious leaders, climate scientists, environmentalists, politicians—trapping her in the center of the conflict and ultimately opening up her world. Flight Behavior is arguably Kingsolver’s must thrilling and accessible novel to date, and like so many other of her acclaimed works, represents contemporary American fiction at its finest.
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I admire Kingsolver’s ability to create characters we care about, in a setting that brings out their best and their worst. What appeals to me about this book: the parallels between the young housewife who dreams of flight and the imperiled Monarchs in the mountains. Lovely.
It’s been a while since I picked up anything literary, and since I love Barbara Kingsolver and this book has been sitting on my shelf for years, I figured it was about time I gave it a shot. While I didn’t enjoy Flight Behavior as much as I did The Bean Trees (admittedly, it is a very high bar), Kingsolver is still a masterful character developer …
This book was okay, definitely not one of her best. Nonetheless, it’s a unique story and has her style which is beautiful.
Flight Behaviour is a story told through the eyes of Dellarobia, a married-too-young woman living a tedious life in rural Tennessee. With an unobservant husband and two small children to look after, she yearns for something more. Along comes an apparent miracle – a huge migration of Monarch Butterflies settles near on their farm. So two themes …
This is my first book by Barbara Kingsolver, recommended to me by several friends. I really liked the science behind the book, and learning so much about the butterflies. I listened on audiobook, and may have enjoyed it more if I had actually read it— there are some pretty technical passages. The pace was slowed because of the “science” content, …
Since Kingsolver is one of my favorite authors, it’s unusual for me not to give one of her books a very high rating. But this book couldn’t decide what it wanted to be – a well-conceived novel or an environmentalist activist’s manifesto. For me, it couldn’t quite manage either option.
This book was utterly absorbing. Whenever I wasn’t reading, I wanted to get back to the characters and I miss them now I’ve finished it. Topical and beautifully written (of course).
With this rich, gripping story Barbara Kingsolver makes a global disaster racing towards us -climate change – both informative and deeply personal. Farmwife Dellarobia Turbow’s world is upended the moment she witnesses a glorious, baffling sight – an Appalachian valley seemingly ablaze with the orange monarch butterflies.
Like most Kingsolver novels. Nature and caring what happens.
Read this book for a Book Club. I don’t think this one was as good as her previous book The Poisonwood Bible. It was just a little unsettling, but not in a dark way. I think it is good for me to read a book that is a little unsettling once in awhile. Hopefully it broadens my mind a little. I am an avid reader and will frequently re-read my …
A very well written and thought provoking novel
Barbara Kingsolver is an excellent writer, but this one was just okay, to me.
I loved every single page of this book!
It caused me to think about global warming as a real issue in dealing with not only climate change and “warm and cold,” but also the impact it has on the lives of every existing being — animal, vegetable and mineral. The story itself was interesting enough to keep the person who does not want to address the science involved.
A good read for …
This is a very timely story told only the way Barbara Kingsolver can tell it. Another wake up call for our beautiful planet.
Not as good as some of her others!
Another great read by Barbara Kingsolver!
Kingsolver is one of my favorite authors. I have read all of her book and learned from every one.
The Great American Novel has been written.
Nuff said.
It is easy to get involved in a Kingsolver novel. Her books are informative and have interesting characters.