The Bean Trees is bestselling author Barbara Kingsolver’s first novel, now widely regarded as a modern classic. It is the charming, engrossing tale of rural Kentucky native Taylor Greer, who only wants to get away from her roots and avoid getting pregnant. She succeeds, but inherits a 3-year-old native-American little girl named Turtle along the way, and together, from Oklahoma to Tucson, … Tucson, Arizona, half-Cherokee Taylor and her charge search for a new life in the West.
Written with humor and pathos, this highly praised novel focuses on love and friendship, abandonment and belonging as Taylor, out of money and seemingly out of options, settles in dusty Tucson and begins working at Jesus Is Lord Used Tires while trying to make a life for herself and Turtle.
The author of such bestsellers as The Lacuna, The Poisonwood Bible, and Flight Behavior, Barbara Kingsolver has been hailed for her striking imagery and clear dialogue, and this is the novel that kicked off her remarkable literary career.
This edition includes a P.S. section with additional insights from the author, background material, suggestions for further reading, and more.
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Barbara K is a great author. Great book
All of her books are wonderful, but her early work is very different from Poisonwood Bible and other later works. Recommend anything she writes, she is a literary treasure.
Well written, character development, held my interest
I think that anything Barbara Kingsolver has written is a “must read”.
I have taught this book to seniors, because it is one of the best books I have ever read and I wanted to share it with my students. Having lived in Phoenix, there was a locale thing going on which I have experienced and some of the things in the book still have a place in my heart such as the story about the difference between Heaven and Hell. …
Barbara Kingsolver is a genius. I love her books and her way of thinking. I always read them as soon as I can get them in my hands.
I love Kingsolver. Period.
Reread for third or fourth time. One of my all time favorites. I envy anyone reading it for the first time.
A great read.
Touching, real characters.
Strange, and often unlikable characters, but fascinating and believable. It was a compulsive read.
One of my all-time favorites.
This is one of my favorite books of all time. It’s witty and wise and a great story.
I love her writing
I think ‘wonderful characters’ and ‘original’ are two of the best words for this book. I absolutely love it, and it’s sequel. A story about finding your way and the obstacles that pop up like the moles in the carnival game, where and when you least expect them. A truly wonderful work of art, enchanting read, and you will fall in love with …
These characters! Delicious.
This ranks as one of my favorite books. I loved the characters and their trials and tribulations. The author’s use of words is marvelous and inspiring. Her descriptions of the terrain and people is amazing. I wish I could write 1/2 as interestingly as Ms. Kingsolver.
very well developed and seem like someone you might come across someday. Her writing tugs at the heartstrings as she tackles some tough issues. And her descriptions of the setting will pull you into the story.
Always a delightful read.
This book was a different read then what I usually read but I love Barbara Kingsolver’s books. This one tells a very unlikely story which warms my soul and parts of it are very upsetting. You will love following these 2 characters and can follow the story in the second book.
I’m not sure what I was expecting, but this book was wonderful. It is a tale of a young woman (Taylor) setting out on her own, leaving her home and small town behind. Along the way, she is handed a young child (Turtle) to help escape an abusive situation. As the two travel west the car is in need of tires, so they end up staying in a town in New …