Book Review: Bean Tree by Barbara Kingslover

The Bean Tree
By Barbara Kingslover

My own copy




The Bean Tree,  is the story about Taylor. She is raised by her single mother. She thinks the world of her daughter and is glad, that she traded her husband for her.


Taylor doesn't want to be like the other teen age girls in the rural town of Kentucky, barefoot and pregnant at the age of 16. 
Instead she chooses a different route, with her mother's encouragement, she gets a job in a hospital as a lab technician for 5 years. Until she buys herself a old dilapidated, old 1955, VW Bug, then she decides she wants to leave, and find her roots in Oklahoma, where her grandfather's roots are from, Cherokee blood. 


She arrives in Oklahoma, and her car breaks down. While, there she is left with a Cherokee child, in her care. Which is ironic. Since, that was the reason she left Kentucky. Not be saddled with a child to begin with.  She leaves Oklahoma, after the car is repaired with her new charge,  named" Turtle", toward Arizona.


She arrives at a old tire shop, called Jesus is Lord Tire Shop. The tire shop owner named Mattie, she befriends and turns out that she runs a "Safe house for illegals". She becomes friends with a couple, named Estevan and Esperanza. They are illegals, from South America. They were forced to leave because of political tyranny. 


Esperanza, has a void in her heart because she had to leave her daughter behind.  She becomes very attached to Turtle. 


In the meantime, Taylor becomes friendly with another fellow Kentuckian, LouAnn.
She just had a child, Ray.  Her husband, a Mexican has left her. 


 LouAnn is a quiet, subdued young woman, she doesn't have confidence in herself. 
Where as Taylor, is rebellious and upfront, and opinionated. They both decide it would be a good idea financially to live together.  


Spoiler-Don't read any further if you plan to read The Bean Tree.




Turtle, is observed by LouAnn, and a few friends think something is wrong with Turtle. 
She does talk, and very slow. It is slowly revealed that possible she was abused, sexual, and physically. Taylor takes Turtle to the doctor and reveals she is not 2, but actually 3 years old. There is a diagnosis" Failure to Thrive". This is due to poor nutrition, and poor interaction with people.  But, because of Taylor's care and concern she eventually comes out of it. 


LouAnn finally starts taking a stand for herself and gets a job at a Salsa Company. She becomes her own person, and learns to become self reliant, and independent. She develops a friendship that develops, and possible will blossom to something more, LouAnn hopes.


 Taylor has to take Turtle to the physician because of a incident. Here she eventually is exposed. The social worker in Arizona find out. She has two options search out Turtle's true parents, and ask her to be adopted by her, and give her up to be taken in foster care.  


The other, is Estevan and Esperanza have to leave Mattie's Safe House. Taylor at the same time has to go back to Oklahoma to search for Turtle's parents, she takes Esperanza and Estefan with her.  


My Thoughts:  I have been wanting to read, The Bean Trees for a very long time. It has been on my pile of books for years. Finally by my recommendation we are reading The Bean Trees for our book club.  This is my first book I am posting for the new year of 2012.  It is going on both of my challenges that I am participating in.  Where are You Reading 2012, and Southern Fiction Challenge.


I am glad I read this novel, it was very different kind of book that I am used to reading. It was a breath of fresh air. It was at times sad, but uplifting at the same time. The author, knew how to combine the two to not make this not a depressing novel. She does make a stand, with her issues of illegal immigration, feminism, sexual and physical abuse and harassment, ecology, vegetarianism, and her science education, and Kentucky roots.  But, she does not make it, so overpowering obvious.


The novel, was written over 20 years ago.   Oops! This age me. 


  The book reminded me of living in the 1960's. I got the feeling of a hippie age, beatnik, take a stand, revolution. You remember the Beatles song, REVOLUTION? That song kept popping in my head, while I was reading The Bean Trees. This would have been a perfect book, for college students during the 1960's. With lots of social issues.


  Motherhood, and community, was the large theme.  what is the definition of  a traditional family? What makes up a family? Several places in the book, I saw what Kingslover was trying to connect. 


I l enjoyed the metaphors, similarities, comparisons, and symbols. Now, that I am out of school, I noticed the literary tools we used to have to find in our English classes. Isn't funny, that I notice it now, rather than years ago in English class some eons ago.


The part of the story that sticks out is the description of the Bean tree, and how it thrives.


The Title, of The Bean Tree, came from the description of the similarities of the Bean. The Bean  needs to thrive from bacteria to make it grow. This is the same for friends and family allowing you to mature, physically and psychologically with emotional support. I loved this explanation.   This is the author's science knowledge comes shining through.

My next post will be the book club reaction to the Bean Tree in a few days.  Thanks for taking the time to stop by. If anyone has read The Bean Tree I would love to hear what your thoughts were.

Where Are You Reading 2012 Challenge

This year, 2012 I am entering a challenging"Challenge". You ask, what do you mean? Because I am computer challenged, I entered a challenge that I could not last year. Because of the poor computer skills.  It was Where Are You Reading 2011.

But this year, 2012 I decided I am going to challenge myself. It is not so much the books. But, to set up google maps. It is such a neat idea, I just had to do it this year. No matter how challenging it is. I forced myself to figure it out. I am 3/4 there already. It took me a entire day to figure it out.

The only thing, I have not yet figured out, is how to link up the blog post to the pix on the map. I did a google search, but nothing popped out.  It is not terribly important, because I could leave with that until the end. Then figure it out. If any one can help me, I would appreciate it.

I am excited to start. It is your own literary journey for the year. I have wanted to read books that center not so much on the east coast, because it seems that is mostly where I read. I would like to read books that are on the west coast, and the middle states. I find most of my reading is where I am from the East coast. I don't know, if it is where most of the authors are from, or it's the publishing houses.

My first post, is going to be from Ky, I just finished reading Barbara Kingslover's novel, The Bean Tree. My post will come up today. If you would like to participate in the challenge, Where are you Reading 2012, just go over and pop in, and visit Sheila, at Book Journey.

                                 Happy New Year 2012 to all my readers, and fellow bloggers.
                                                To good health, peace, and happiness to all.
                                                   Hope we all have a great year in books.

End of Year Book Survey

This Year I am doing something different, for the fist time on my blog I am evaluating my reading habits, and books I have read for the year, on Seaside Book Corner. I would like to thank Perpetual Page Turner for hosting, 2011 End of Year Book Survey.
1. Best Book You Read In 2011?

Unfortunately, there are too many books that I have read this year, too really pick one. So, I am going to give you a few reads, that I think meant something, or inspired me, and was a book to shout about.

This is not in any order:
Saving Cee Cee Honeycut by Beth Hoffman
Butterfly's Daughter by Alice Monroe
The Kitchen's Daughter by Jael McHenry

The Ballad of Tom Dooley by Sharyn McCrumb was not totally out of my comfort zone. Because I love history, and new cultures. But, because of the setting, I never cared about the culture there. Most likely, because of the stereotyping from this area. It totally surprised me. It is rich in history, and culture. I am spreading my wings in new tastes of books. I will most likely read more of this author.

HOW do you pick a favorite!? 
I picked these top one's because they either inspired me, and did something to open my spirit. These books,  helped me explore my inner soul.

Also, these books were out of my comfort zone, and made me think another way of picking my books.

2. Most Disappointing Book/Book You Wish You Loved More Than You Did?

Has to be Lipstick in Afghanistan. It was about a nurse that decides she wants to work as a nurse in the military. It was more of a romance novel, than anything else. Very dissappointed. I thought because the author was a nurse in Afghanistan that it would be more realistic.  Very dissappointing.
3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2011?
Kitchen Daughter by Jael McHenry, I did not expect it be so well written. I just loved it.
4. Book you recommended to people most in 2011?

Butterfly's Daughter again.  I recommended it on Facebook,  and passed it on by word of mouth,and wanted to read it for our book club discussion, which we did.

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2011?

Jael McHenry, Kitchen Daughter, I loved her writing style, and the story with truism mixed with mysticm. I only recently started reading books like this. I actually enjoy reading them.

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

 Too my exicitement, lightbulbs, and fireworks ending for 2011,with the book by Sharyn McCrumb, The Ballad of Tom Dooley. I don't usually go out of my comfort zone. For some reason, I felt like I needed too. I am glad I did. I have never read her novels, and did not expect the book I did . I was expecting a mystery. 

Also, Kitchens Daughter by Jael McHenry was out of my comfort zone.
9. Book you most anticipated in 2011?

I would have to say, Night Strangers by Chris Bohjalian. I have read most of his novels, even before Oprah. I discovered his first book, Midwives while on vacation to Martha's Vineyard in a small book store, called Bunches of Grapes.

The book, was not what I expected. You can go to my blog and read my review. All I will say, it was very different from Chris's other books, it was out of his comfort zone, and I still liked it.

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2011?

11. Most memorable character in 2011? 
Cee Cee Honeycutt has to be my favorite character. A young girl, living with her schizophrenic mother. Has a hard time dealing with her mother's death. Then lives with her aunt in Georgia. She has the courage to move on.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2011?

The most beautifully written has to be Butterfly's Daughter by Mary Alice Monroe. How she described the butterfly's migration from the United States to the mountains in Mexico, was so beautiful, and poetic.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2011? 
I have to say again Butterfly's Daughter really moved me, and loved the spiritualism and mysticm of the story of the migration that paralleled with the story of Abuel's grand daughter from Millaukee to Mexico.

14. Book you can't believe you waited to 2011
That is one, thing I want to do different. I want to start reading books that have been in back of my mind to read. That has been published in the last 10 years.  For example, Jane Smiley, 1000 Acres,  John Irving, Margaret Atwood-, and Bean Tree by Barbara Kingslover I am finally reading, now for my book club.

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody about?
Has to be the Ballad of Tom Dooley, to another person that loves the history and culture of the land of the United States.

5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

My best event that I had participated in, was when I went to see Mary Alice Monroe. She has to be the most generous person. I had sent a email to her asking her if she would like to donate to our temple auction. She sent me a couple books.  That had to be the most memorable thing. The other was, when I went to the Moveable Feast, She actually took the time, to shake everyone's hand and get to know them on a personal level. I have been to book signing, in NJ. I have never seen a author do that. I think that will stick out in my mind forever.

6. Best moment of book blogging in 2011?

 I have always, wanted to go to BEA, but unfortunately, this year and since I have been blogging I most likely won't for quite a while. But, I did enjoy the virtual BEA from Armchair BEA. I enjoyed reading everyone's posts, and what was going on, and the authors, and books, and the publishers that I have met online through my email. Thanks to Armchair, I would not have gotten so close. I love reading and sometimes participating from the sidelines.

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?
I think I was so excited when Beth Hoffman commented on my blog. It was on my review about Saving Cee Cee, and had more reviews than I had in a long time.

9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.

I found several, but a few stick out in my mind, is Bookmovement,  and Edelweiss. Found out what books are coming out soon.

10. Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

I set my goal at 20 books, on Goodreads. I did not want to set my goals too high. I finished the Southern Reading Challenge, and I did not realize I have read alot of southern fiction.  


1. One Book You Didn't Get To In 2011 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2012

                                        I want to read Gone With The Wind, in 2012. There is a readalong as well, in January. I hope I will be able to follow through.

2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2012?

  Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey, it is takes place in Alaska. One place I have not read.  I have been reading novels that have realism mixed with magic. Like Kitchen's Daughter. Which I loved.

 A couple creates a child out of snow. When she appears on their doorstep as a little girl, wild and secretive, their lives are changed forever.
Alaska, 1920: a brutal place to homestead, and especially tough for a couple who have never been able to conceive. Jack and Mabel are drifting apart—he breaking under the weight of the work of the farm; she crumbling from loneliness and despair. In a moment of levity during the season's first snowfall, they build a child out of snow. The next morning the snow child is gone, but they catch sight of an elusive, blonde-haired girl running through the trees.
This little girl, who calls herself Faina, seems to be a child of the woods. She hunts with a red fox at her side, skims lightly across the snow, and leaves blizzards in her wake. As Jack and Mabel struggle to understand this child who seems to have stepped from the pages of a fairy tale, they come to love her as their own daughter. But in the Alaska wilderness, life and death are inextricable, and what they eventually learn about Faina changes their lives forever.


3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2012?
I would like to read novels, that take place all over the country of the United States. I read mainly the east coast, New England, and the South. I would like to read books that take place in different places in the country, such as the middle west, and West coast. More books that are Jewish themed.  I also would like to attempt the Where are you reading challenge hosted by Reading Journey.

The other thing, I want to be more active in the book blogging community, with challenges, and memes. I will have to see.

I still want to thank one of my faithful readers, that always comments on my of my posts. Bermuda Onion. Even though I don't have a large following, I feel alone out there. I have thought about quitting my book blog. Then Bermuda comes along to write a comment.