Small Wonder: Essays

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I've very much enjoyed Kingsolver's fiction; this is a collection of essays, some co-written with her husband, on various issues. As with her fiction, she is on very solid ground when writing about family life and about the places where she lives or has lived. A recurrent theme is finding harmony with the environment, both locally and globally. There is a memorable clash of cultures with a visiting journalist in the last chapter, who "went back to the big city and reported that I am not very open with strangers, have quaint ideas, and pay too much attention to my kids." There are a lot of good insights into the human condition here. She is on less firm ground with political commentary; I am show more pretty aligned with her instincts, but her pieces are emotional reportage rather than the analysis which I find more interesting. Anyway, it's an interesting insight into the daily preoccupations of an author whose work I like. show less

I am struggling with how to rate this book. I loved parts of it, and some of the writing, but then I'd read something that made me roll my eyes and grit my teeth. As Kingsolver says, "This is a collection of essays about who we seem to be, what remains for us to live for, and what I believe we could make of ourselves." So there's a lot in these 260+ pages.

Kingsolver channels some Annie Dillard in writing about the landscape and nature near her two homes (she doesn't match Dillard's skill, though). She also channels a vein of smugness and self-righteousness that I find distasteful. It's easy to bemoan the state of something and not propose a solution beyond, "Well, if politicians had to take care of babies, they wouldn't go to war" (see show more page 252). I loathe that kind of non-sensical triteness.

But then, at times, she spoke to me so clearly and articulated so well, thoughts that I have. About reading and books. About family. About what makes up a good life. In the first essay, she writes, "However much I've lost, what remains to me is that I can still speak to name the things I love." And in the last, "Maybe life doesn't get any better than this, or any worse, and what we get is just what we're willing to find: small wonders, where they grow."

A final note: the essay "And Our Flag Was Still There" is an excellent rumination on the meaning of flags, national pride, the co-opting of symbols to specific (often hateful) rhetoric, etc. I found it particularly worthwhile reading given the current state of political discourse in the US. As Kingsolver says, "We're a much nobler country than our narrowest minds and loudest mouths suggest. I believe it is my patriotic duty to recapture my flag from the men who wave it in the name of jingoism and censorship." Amen. And I think I just decided to up my rating. show less

In this book of essays, Kingsolver expresses so eloquently my feelings on such topics as parenthood, stages of being a female, corporate swallowing of small businesses, war, the evils of TV, responsibility for homelessness, sex in literature, and poetry in school. Her non-fiction touches me much more than the previous novels of hers I’ve read. Although a bit naive and too liberal on the topics of homelessness and war, her way with words simply amazes me. This is the book that finally shows me what writing talent the author has. I think it surprising that, “dafka” in the last essay, she stated not to call her naive! I guess she knows the audience she is addressing. Interestingly enough, that particular essay was the only one of show more those she chose for this book that I didn’t care for all that much. show less

3.5***

This is a series of essays Kingsolver wrote in the year following the 9-11 attack on the World Trade Center. It started when “someone from a newspaper asked me to write a response to the terrorist attacks.” As she wrote – and wrote, and wrote – she found that writing at times “seemed to be all that kept me from falling apart in the face of so much death and anguish.” What we have here are the ways Kingsolver found to refresh her soul, to think about the joys in life, the small wonders, the possible solutions to seemingly intractable problems, and the activities that renewed her sense of peace and purpose and hope.

Kingsolver can come across as preachy, but she also writes elegant passages about the restorative power show more of connecting with nature. I am reminded of long walks in the woods, or taking my lunch break in the park, ostensibly to read, but more often just staring out at the scenery, absorbing all that green and fresh air.

There’s plenty of horrible in the world still, but reading this book of essays reminds me of those things that can help me relieve the terror, fear, anguish, and find joy and hope again. Recently, I’ve spent quite some time sitting by the guest-room window which has a perfect view into a robin’s nest in my backyard. As I write, her eggs are about 10–12 days old, and any moment they may hatch. It’s a marvel of life and I cannot stop watching it unfold.

I read this as a book, and it’s due back at the library now, but I think this is a collection that would be good to have handy to read a chapter or two every once in a while show less

Collection of thought-provoking and beautifully worded essays. On everything important, it seems. Many are very personal and close to home- she writes about family life, what it means to be honest, raising food for yourself, connections with the land. She writes about her youngest daughter's chickens. She writes a letter to her teenage daughter, and another to her mother- very heartfelt. Other essays range more broadly- the importance of biodiversity, and what currently threatens it, the nonsensical pervasiveness of war, patriotism wrought into a fervor against others, how large impassionate corporations are pushing out small business. In particular I liked her essay about writing, love of books, how small independent bookshops helped show more her career as a young writer, her feelings for the importance of poetry in schools, and the time she first wrote sex scenes into a novel (makes me look at Prodigal Summer differently, I admit). There are also has several essays written in response to 9/11, and to the Columbine school shooting. I struggled a bit with the first of these, but dealt better with the other two, later in the book. Woven seamlessly through these essays are also some lovely bits of nature writing- observations on habitats in Arizona where she lives part of the year, especially the delicate, richly diverse belt of riverside plant and animal life. Close look at a hummingbird building a nest. Retelling of an account where a bear apparently nurtured a young child until it was found. And so much more. Homelessness. The strength of being a woman. The dangers of ignoring what's going on around us. Why she doesn't have a TV in the house. How fiction can teach truths, why mythology is important. Definitely a book that's staying on my shelf, that deserves many re-reads, that inspired me to give another honest try at appreciating her early works too.

from the Dogear Diary show less

Small Wonder is the second collection of essays I have read by Barbara Kingsolver. Like her first collection, High Tide in Tucson, this collection is heartfelt and thought provoking. Written in response to September 11, Kingsolver expresses her sorrow through her writing, covering a variety of subjects including parenting, world peace, agriculture, nature, social protest and homelessness. While reading Small Wonder, I was maddened, saddened and moved all at once – an exhilarating ride that left me near breathless when I was done.

I learned so much about our country in this book. My first reaction, as Kingsolver criticized how wasteful Americans can be, how inappropriate war can be and how our planet and its resources are dwindling, was show more anger toward the writer. I considered her un-American, a non-patriot, and a loud liberal complainer who should move to another country if she thinks it’s so terrible here.

But as she continued to write, to tell – I saw a writer just wanting to make a better place for herself and her family. I began to soften and become more objective.

In her last chapter, she made a point that will resonate with me for a long time. By protesting, by objecting, by making people aware – she is being very American. Isn’t that how this country was founded? What if Susan B. Anthony didn’t protest for women’s suffrage? Or Martin Luther King didn’t stand up for civil rights? The best changes are country has ever made were moved by people who wanted to make a difference. Kingsolver and those like her can make a difference- if people like you and me remain open-minded and listen to what they have to say.

I listened, and I am ready to take some steps to help make our country and Earth better for my fellow Americans (and especially my children):

1) Recycling – I am so ashamed that all of my aluminum cans, plastic bags and newspapers go into the trash. No more!
2) Purchasing fruits and vegetables from local farmers – By buying from a local farmers’ market, I won’t be supporting an industry that transports fruits and vegetables from all parts of the world – a way to help curb gasoline waste. My local farmers only have to come a few miles, and I bet the food will taste better.
3) Paying attention to the upcoming 2008 election – I have not been a conscientious voter. I really don’t research the candidates like I should. I will do a better job picking my candidates in the upcoming elections.

Inspired, yes. Motivated, absolutely. I am proud to be an American and a citizen on this planet. If you want to learn some ideas on how to make your little section of the world better, I highly recommend Small Wonder. Be ready to be moved. show less

Collection of twenty-three essays, published in 2002 and written in the wake of the 9/11 tragedy. Topics include nature, ecology, power, family life, love, society, and politics. Kingsolver is a keen observer of the world, and she writes beautifully detailed anecdotes that are incorporated into broader messages. Many of her points are still pertinent, such as environmental responsibility, sustainable agriculture, and building understanding across cultures. She speaks of her sadness at the decline of the independent bookstores and conveys her experiences as a writer. A few of these essays feel a bit dated, which is not surprising since I am reading this in 2022, looking back twenty years, but the distance also provides perspective. She show more elegantly portrays her attempts to overcome grief and recapture her optimism for the future, finding solace in the small wonders of everyday life. show less