Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver

Prodigal Summer- A Novel

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver is a novel that weaves together three stories of human love within a larger tapestry of lives inhabiting the forested mountains and struggling small farms of southern Appalachia.

At the heart of these intertwined narratives is a den of coyotes that have recently migrated into the region. Deanna Wolfe, a reclusive wildlife biologist, watches the forest from her outpost in an isolated mountain cabin, where she is caught off-guard by Eddie Bondo, a young hunter who comes to invade her most private spaces and confound her self-assured, solitary life.

On a farm several miles down the mountain, another web of lives unfolds as Lusa Maluf Landowski, a bookish city girl turned farmer’s wife, finds herself unexpectedly marooned in a strange place where she must declare or lose her attachment to the land.

And a few more miles down the road, a pair of elderly, feuding neighbors tend their respective farms and wrangle about God, pesticides, and the complexities of a world neither of them expected.

The main themes of Prodigal Summer are respect for and understanding nature and the final, urgent truth that humans are only one part of life on earth. Kingsolver also includes long discussions about whether humans are somehow separate from nature or an intrinsic part of it, as well as politically-tinged debates about the economics of farming, the dangers of pesticides, and the ethics of hunting.

What I Liked

I liked the setting, the forest, and the connection to land themes. Kingsolver is also just an outstanding writer. This was not a book that I normally would’ve continued reading – but it was just so engaging that I kept at it.

What I Did Not Like

The whole book gave off divorced-woman-of-a-certain-age-looking-for-new-found-freedom vibes. Now – that’s not a bad thing at all. In fact, I’m glad I read it. It gave me an interesting window into a genre that I normally would never read (I picked the book up after reading the amazing Poisonwood Bible). But – just to set expectations, it was that type of book.

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver
$10.44
In Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver, the story intertwines three narratives set in the Appalachian mountains, exploring love and our connection to nature. I really enjoyed the lush setting and Kingsolver's writing style, which kept me engaged even though I usually wouldn't pick up this genre. The book dives into themes of respect for nature and the complexities of rural life, but it also gave off a vibe of a divorced woman seeking freedom, which felt a bit cliché at times. Overall, I’m glad I read it—it opened my eyes to a different perspective.
Pros:
  • Engaging storytelling that kept me reading.
  • Outstanding writing by Kingsolver.
  • Strong themes of nature and connection to the land.
Cons:
  • The book gave off "divorced-woman-of-a-certain-age-looking-for-new-found-freedom" vibes, which may not appeal to everyone.
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02/11/2025 06:47 pm GMT
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