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The Bean Trees: A Novel | |||||||
 
| 80% Recommended by our customers. Publisher: HarperTorch Catalog: Book Release date: 1998-09-09 Media: Mass Market Paperback Number of pages: 336 Ean: 9780061097317 Book Isbn: 0061097314  Tip: compare prices with similar booksAuthor:
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Clear-eyed and spirited, Taylor Greer grew up poor in rural Kentucky with the goals of avoiding pregnancy and getting away. But when she heads west with high hopes and a barely functional car, she meets the human condition head-on. By the time Taylor arrives in Tucson, Arizona, she has acquired a completely unexpected child, a three-year-old American Indian girl named Turtle, and must somehow come to terms with both motherhood and the necessity for putting down roots. Hers is a story about love and friendship, abandonment and belonging, and the discovery of surprising resources in apparently empty places. Available for the first time in mass-market, this edition of Barbara Kingsolver's bestselling novel, The Bean Trees, will be in stores everywhere in September. With two different but equally handsome covers, this book is a fine addition to your Kingsolver library. |
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Written on June 9, 2008 Summary: The Bean Tree by Barbara Kingsolver Barbara Kingsolver has stimulated the minds of readers through her book THE BEAN TREES. In the novel, 22 year old Taylor Greer, a young woman searching for a different path in life, abandons her home town in Kentucky and travels down to the sunny state of Arizona. On her way to her new adventure Taylor is given a 3 year old child, who she names Turtle, and has no other option but including her into her life. This heartfelt novel tells the story of Taylor and Turtle as they grow and evolve their lives over time in a tire shop located in Tuscon, Arizona. Reading this book made me both tear and smile from its unexpected turns and captivating adventures. As piece of literature for all age groups to relate to, it is impossible to put it down. I recommend this novel to anyone in search of an entertaining story. Written on March 26, 2008 Summary: Good not great... I've heard about "The Bean Trees" for years and finally had an opportunity to read it. As seems to often be the case, the first 100 pages or so were delightful and then after that things got a little choppy and heavy handed. My overall reaction is that this feels very much like a first novel, as it hasn't quite achieved the full potential in terms of character development and nuance. Things I liked: the set-up (young woman, Taylor Greer, traveling cross-country improbably aquires a toddler ), the Tuscon setting (including some lovely descriptions of the desert), the sense of community and alternative families. What I didn't like: the book at times ceases to be a narrative and starts to feel like a political treatise. There is also a half-baked relationship between the protagonist and a married man which didn't entirely make sense to me. It seemed to come out of no-where and disappear just as quickly. In addition, I found the friendship between Lou Ann and Taylor to be a little too ideal. Would this really happen? I have my doubts. There are things that happen at the end that seem to strain credibility to me on several levels. In fact, the entire book has a slightly kooky premise. Don't let my criticism fool you: I did like the book. That said, I'm in no rush to read its sequel, "Pigs in Heaven." Based on this, I'd say Barbara Kingsolver is one of those authors I'm happy to read every five years or so. Written on January 14, 2008 Summary: SIMPLE STORY...WONDERFUL CAST An early offering, Bean Trees is an often overlooked Kingsolver work but, like her other novels, it is peopled with unforgettable characters that stay with you long after you have replaced the book on the shelf. Written on December 6, 2007 Summary: Journey into the desert Kingsolver's "Bean Trees" presents the story of a young woman, Taylor, who is hellbent on getting out of Appalachia and making something of her life. All her life she had staved off the "disease" that affected her peers, teenage pregnancy, but soon finds herself the default caretaker of a neglected and abused Indian (errr, Native American) girl. Throughout the novel, the trials and tribulations of this reluctant mother and the other cast of characters is explored. Undoubtedly, one of Kingsolver's main motivations was to elicit sympathy for illegal immigrants, as Estevan and Esperanaza are portrayed sympathetically (and justifiably so) as recent (illegal) immigrants from a war-torn Guatamala. Mattie, a tire store owner in Tucson who helps illegals to find sanctuary, is portrayed as the hero. It is she who helps Taylor when she first arrives in Tucson with child in hand. It is she who helps to run illegals between different sanctuaries, and it is she who is portrayed as the most knowledgeable and compassionate of all the characters. However, Kingsolver does not come with a "holier than thou" approach toward illegals, for she doesn't condemn those who are against illegals as cold-hearted but merely portrays them as ignorant. It seems to follow that if they knew some of their true stories, then they would change their ways. Of course, those illegals that Mattie does help are actually refugees. I can't say how many of the illegals in the 1980s, when this book was written, were refugees, but certainly today the lion share of the illegals are those looking for work to earn money and not escaping from persecution back home. Furthermore, unlike her portrayal in the book, most of the illegals today are victims of the unscrupulous "coyotes" who view them as dispensable human cargo. Although I may disagree with Kingsolver's premise about illegals, I will say that I do have sympathy toward them and certainly do understand their desire to live a better life, if not for them then for their children. Kingsolver also explores the roles of women in their family, particularly single mothers, namely Taylor and her Kentucky counterpart, LuAnn. Their life is not glamorized, and are shown in their gritty, raw form. LuAnn, the constant worrier and the classic example of low self-esteem after her husband leaves her, makes a perfect complement to Taylor. Through trials and determination they eventually succeed in carving out a content life for themselves. Overall, "Bean Trees" is an insightful, interesting story and keeps one's interest. I certainly wasn't in the target demographic, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. Although you may disagree with Kingsolver's central premise, it is a well-written and entertaining book.  Written on September 25, 2007 Summary: Cute, but didn't impress me This is a story of Taylor Greer. Taylor is from a small Kentucky town and is lucky enough to stay in school, get an education, get a job, save some money, leave town and head west. After inheriting a little girl named "Turtle" she settles down in Tuscon, Arizona where she gets a job and makes some interesting friends. There was something missing from this book. I am struggling with exactly what. I thought some of the characters, like Lou Ann and Taylor, were developed well enough. Some characters could have been developed more. I thought the story dragged in some parts. I felt like I was missing some key points that should have been mentioned in the book but weren't. Although there was some good humor and some interesting parts that kept my attention, I can't say this book left an impression. |
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| Price comparison |
 The Bean Trees: A Novel |
 Pigs in Heaven |
 The Poisonwood Bible: A Novel (P.S.) |
 Animal Dreams |
 The Secret Life of Bees |
 Prodigal Summer: A Novel |
| Our price | $7.99 | $11.20 | $10.17 | $10.92 | $8.59 | $10.17 |
| List price | $7.99 | $14.00 | $14.95 | $14.95 | $15.00 | $14.95 |
| Lowest used price | $0.01 | $0.01 | $1.90 | $0.01 | $7.50 | $0.01 |
| Lowest new price | $3.60 | $3.99 | $8.00 | $2.10 | $8.36 | $4.00 |
| Collectible price | $45.00 | $14.00 | $14.95 | $14.00 | $40.00 | $14.95 |
| Catalog | Book | Book | Book | Book | Book | Book |
| Release date | 1998-09-09 | 1994-03-18 | 2005-05-31 | 1991-06-21 | 2008-08-20 | 2001-10-16 |
| Media | Mass Market Paperback | Paperback | Paperback | Paperback | Paperback | Paperback |
| Number of pages | 336 | 352 | 576 | 352 | 336 | 464 |
| Ean | 9780061097317 | 9780060922535 | 9780060786502 | 9780060921149 | 9780143114550 | 9780060959036 |
| Book Isbn | 0061097314 | 0060922532 | 0060786507 | 0060921145 | 0143114557 | 0060959037 |
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