A New York Times Bestseller Named one of the Best Books of the Year (2018) by NPR, O, The Oprah Magazine, San Francisco Chronicle, Christian Science Monitor and NewsweekThe New York Times bestselling author of Flight Behavior, The Lacuna, and The Poisonwood Bible and recipient of numerous literary awards—including the National Humanities Medal, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and the Orange … The Lacuna, and The Poisonwood Bible and recipient of numerous literary awards—including the National Humanities Medal, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and the Orange Prize—returns with a timely novel that interweaves past and present to explore the human capacity for resiliency and compassion in times of great upheaval.
How could two hardworking people do everything right in life, a woman asks, and end up destitute? Willa Knox and her husband followed all the rules as responsible parents and professionals, and have nothing to show for it but debts and an inherited brick house that is falling apart. The magazine where Willa worked has folded; the college where her husband had tenure has closed. Their dubious shelter is also the only option for a disabled father-in-law and an exasperating, free-spirited daughter. When the family’s one success story, an Ivy-educated son, is uprooted by tragedy he seems likely to join them, with dark complications of his own.
In another time, a troubled husband and public servant asks, How can a man tell the truth, and be reviled for it? A science teacher with a passion for honest investigation, Thatcher Greenwood finds himself under siege: his employer forbids him to speak of the exciting work just published by Charles Darwin. His young bride and social-climbing mother-in-law bristle at the risk of scandal, and dismiss his worries that their elegant house is unsound. In a village ostensibly founded as a benevolent Utopia, Thatcher wants only to honor his duties, but his friendships with a woman scientist and a renegade newspaper editor threaten to draw him into a vendetta with the town’s powerful men.
Unsheltered is the compulsively readable story of two families, in two centuries, who live at the corner of Sixth and Plum in Vineland, New Jersey, navigating what seems to be the end of the world as they know it. With history as their tantalizing canvas, these characters paint a startlingly relevant portrait of life in precarious times when the foundations of the past have failed to prepare us for the future.
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I am a huge Barbara Kingsolver fan — and I think she outdoes herself in this wonderful novel set in the town of Vineland, New Jersey with the action occurring in alternating chapters 100 years separate from each other. Metaphoric shelter is not only a roof over the characters’ heads but also shelter from unemployment, grief, unrequited love, and the tragedies and sadness that accompanies all life.
Well written but not my cup of tea. Too political – sounds like a recitation of most overheard conversations these days. I enjoyed the historical fiction aspect though and the botanical and scientific discussions. Mary Treat was the best character.
Barbara kingsolver’s books are all excellent and very original. The subject matter varies widely but always draws on her interest in the natural world, and makes us aware of the problems being caused by the carelessness of our own behavior. Excellent, as always!
I have loved all her books. This was no exception. I liked the interplay of history and modern day political issues. Some thought she was ‘preachy’. I don’t care for books that preach, but I did not get that vibe myself. I thought she was offering her position. It kept my attention and I look forward to her next book with much anticipation.
In a time that bridged two centuries, two families occupy the same house. Were the poor materials and carpentry the cause of the problems of the two families? Kingsolver challenges the reader as she travels back and forth between the two situations. Beautifully written.
My favorite of all Kingsolver books is PRODIGAL SUMMER. UNSHELTERED is about #4 on the list of her books that I like. This title has many elements to recommend it: a keen observation that the norms Boomers were brought up with have crumbled to dust; the cultural clash between science and religiosity in the 19th century that roughly parallels our current time; the complex family dynamics we share in any time. But I didn’t feel she completely made her parallel times case, and felt often her daughter character was too preachy.
B. Kingsolver does a good job depicting challenging family dynamics in Unsheltered as she did in The Poisonwood Bible. Unsheltered has less shock value in comparison. She ties the characters together with similar struggles during different time periods. Using the last few words of the previous chapter for the title of the next chapter is a clever way of tying the two stories together.
Loving Barbara Kingsolver as I do, this was a disappointment.
I love all that Ms. Kingsolver writes, and her fans will not be disappointed with this one. While not one of my favorites, I really appreciated the setting for this as I live in New Jersey. It was history of which I was unaware, so that made it informative for me. But because it hit me at a challenging time in my life I found it almost too realistic, like looking in a mirror. I hope this book generates some interest in the history of southern NJ and the Pine Barrens, Vineland in particular.
Unsheltered is Barbara Kingsolver at her finest a mixing scientific curiosities and historical facts with the emotional drama of a family. The interplay between modern day Willa and nineteenth century Mary Treat and the ongoing concerns of home and security throughout the novel make for a wonderful backdrop for the drama to unfold. Besides telling the tale of a modern day family struggling to live below the poverty line, Kingsolver takes this opportunity to comment on capitalism, the environment, and politics without it seeming overly intrusive to the plot. My favorite character was true-to-life Mary Treat who was a naturalist and botanist and correspondent of Charles Darwin living in the planned Utopia of Charles Landis. I was fascinated by Kingsolver’s research and portrayal of this world. Unsheltered is rich with theme and emotion, a great read.
This book blends two stories – one set current day and the other set in 1870. I don’t usually like this literary approach but Kingsolver delivers with such grace, it works perfectly. The story contains a lot of current observations about the values of young people today. Very well written.
I love Kingsolver. This may be my new favorite from her.
A thought provoking story about a possible scenario involving the consequences of climate change. The story is entertwined with a small town woman’s awakening to the possibility of a different life. The story is well written and keeps you engaged.
I have read every single Kingsolver book and this doesn’t disappoint!