The Bean Trees (original 1988; edition 1988)

The Bean Trees is Barbara Kingsolver's first published novel (1988). Having read The Poisonwood Bible and Prodigal Summer and thoroughly loved both, I was excited to read another one of her titles. I think her style has evolved since this first book and her character development is stronger in the later novels but The Bean Trees still showcases her talent for simple storytelling. Read more at http://thekeytothegate.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-bean-trees-by-barbara-kingsolver... ( )

The Bean Trees takes place in the 1970s and follows 23-year-old Taylor Greer as she leaves her small town Kentucky home in a beat-up, windowless 1955 Volkswagen bug and travels west seeking her destiny. After a quick bite to eat at a diner somewhere in Oklahoma, an Indian woman follows Taylor to her car carrying something wrapped in a blanket. The woman places the object in Taylor’s car revealing a two-year-old child, insists she to take the child with her, and promptly leaves the now-deserted diner before Taylor could so much as voice an objection. Not knowing what else to do Taylor takes the nearly catatonic child with her to Tucson, Arizona where her travels end due to car trouble. There, a new life begins for her and her newly acquired ward, who she names Turtle.

Shortly after arriving in Tuscon Taylor meets Lou Ann Ruiz, a new mother also from Kentucky whose husband recently left her, through an ad that Lou Ann places in the newspaper for a roommate. Taylor and Lou Ann become fast friends and together they learn about love, life, motherhood and friendship.

One problem I had with the book is its implausible story. It seems far-fetched for someone to keep a child that is given to them unexpectedly and without warning from a stranger and not contact the police or someone of authority. Especially after having been given the child by someone you’ve never meet in a town in which you’ve never been and are just traveling through.

The Bean Trees is an effortless book without much depth, but is a quick and fun read. Kingsolver excels in her writing and storytelling abilities and connects with her readers on an intimate level, but falls short in developing any type of plot with intrigue or substance. Ultimately, the book was enjoyable while reading, but afterward I was left feeling disappointed and uninspired. It seemed as if the story was leading to something bigger, but in the end it failed to deliver. This is not a book that incites passion or inspiration nor is it complex or thought provoking. However, if what you seek is a light and undemanding book for the summer, this is a good start. Readers who enjoy this book may be pleased to know there is a sequel called Pigs in Heaven.
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I loved The Bean Trees. All of the characters are so believable. And who wouldn't fall in love with little Turtle? Taylor Greer is heading out west to escape her small Kentucky town. On the way she is literally handed an abused little girl to keep. Yes, keep. This is the story of how sometimes we do get to choose our families. ( )

This wasn't the type of book I normally pick up, but my son asked me to read it with him for his summer reading project. At first, I wasn't sure I would like it- especially with the way the author changed from first to third person in chapters 2 & 4. However, the characters are engaging and I became absorbed in how it would all turn out. ( )

I really liked the literary style of Kingsolver's The Bean Trees, and the story was compelling. I enjoyed the motifs that the author wove through the text, and the symbolism of the bean tree itself was very well executed.

There were a great many quotable moments throughout the text, and Kingsolver touched on family, relationships, love, and life itself.

The story was powerful, and the storytelling was enjoyable.

The only thing that bothered me about the book at first was the copy I originally was reading from had a ton of inane writing in it, but that was rectified after I changed over to an e-book copy.

I will say that the significance of Newt also took quite a while to come through, although it was worth the wait. The epiphanies just kept rolling at the end of the book - it was overwhelming. I did a lot of highlighting on my Nook copy as the book drew to a close. ( )