The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
The Poisonwood Bible is a novel that follows the experiences of a missionary family in the Belgian Congo during the 1960s. The story is told from the perspective of the wife and four daughters of the Baptist minister who drags his family into the politically volatile Congo on a mission to save souls. The novel explores themes of cultural arrogance, religious zeal, and the clash of Western and African values, as well as the personal growth and self-discovery of the women in the family as they grapple with the harsh realities of their new life and the fallout from their father's single-minded vision.
The 878th greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 452
This book was first published in 1998
25 Lists
- score: 63 -- Top 100 World Literature Titles - 2017 (Weight: 120)
- score: 62 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 180)
- score: 59 -- 200 Books That Shaped 200 Years of Literature - 2021 (Weight: 105)
- score: 52 -- 30 Books Every Adult Should Read Before They Die - 2006 (Weight: 160)
- score: 43 -- America’s 100 Favorite Books - 2024 (Weight: 70)
- score: 41 -- The 100 Best Novels Of All Time (Runners-Up) - 2026 (Weight: 60)
- score: 19 -- The Big Read - 2003 (Weight: 70)
- score: 18 -- My Favourite Book - Australian Big Read - 2004 (Weight: 60)
- score: 15 -- 50 Memorable Books from 50 Years of Books to Remember - 2005 (Weight: 46)
- score: 13 -- Cart's Top 200 Adult Books for Young Adults - 2013 (Weight: 30)
- score: 13 -- NY Times Editors Choice 1990-1999 - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 65)
- score: 12 -- Top 100 Books, As Chosen By Canadians - 2005 (Weight: 40)
- score: 9 -- 50 Essential Reads by Contemporary Authors - 2004 (Weight: 30)
- score: 7 -- Readers’ Top 100 Novels Of All Time - 2026 (Weight: 10)
- score: 6 -- 30 top books about Africa (MalWarwickOnBooks) - 2022 (Weight: 10)
- score: 2 -- How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Reading List - 2003 (Weight: 10)
- score: 1 -- 500 Must Read Books - 2013 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Complete 500: OCLC - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List - 2018 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The New Classics - 100 Best Reads from 1983 to 2008 - 2008 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime - 2014 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Entertainment Weekly's Top 100 Novels - 2013 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime - 2014 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 50 Best-Loved Novels Written by a Woman (United Kingdom) - 2003 (Weight: 1)