| Name | Barbara Cherem |
| 1. Favorite book and why? |
Poisonwood Bible has the creative voices of many aged women in a time and place I learned lots about. This book evoked so many themes and issues to explore, and touched the heart
as well as the literal learning about the Congo and our historical involvements there.
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| 2. Least favorite book and why? |
The Secret Book of Grazia dei Rossi by Jacqueline Park
was about Renaissance Italy and some interesting Catholic,
Jewish and political events of that time period, but overall it was hard-going for a small return on my investment of time. Simply didn't enjoy the struggling through untangling characters etc.
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| 3. Favorite scene in favorite book and why? |
I think I liked to imagine the mother and her daughters returning after so many years to AFrica and looking for where they'd lived so many years earlier. I liked this because it left a sense of resolve and peacefulness after so much turmoil and struggle.
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| 4. Favorite character and why? |
I loved the outspoken daughter who was a tom boy, and the intellectual "handicapped" daughter who ended up taking such a position in her mother's life afer feeling neglected, and sometimes "second fiddle".
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| 5. Which character do you identify most with and why? |
I think I identified with the handicapped daughter as she was such an observer of events and held to some pretty sceptical views but also was soft-hearted at root.Her forward and backward name was a metaphor for her seeming backwardness, buther real giftedness. In some ways her stuntedness led to become her great gift.
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| 6. If you could see a sequel to one of the author's books, which would it
be and what would it be about? |
It would be a follow-up of the daughter who stayed in Africa and was the most self-indulgent of the crew. I would also like to know more about the father. There was no sympathetic portaryal of men in the book. The tom boy's spouse was a decent sort, but little else.
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| 7. What do you like about author's writing style? |
Kingsolver's style is so lovely; she uses words in a manner that could make one weep. Her book of non-fiction Tides of Tuscon or some such thing was fun but nothing like this novel.
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| 8. What are your favorite themes of this author? |
Redemption and reflection/perspective.
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| 9. What could be most improved about this authors books? |
More sympathetic or more fully developed male characters.
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| Something about yourself |
Background in English, psychology and adult development and learning. Been a teacher, college prof. and public education administrator in research. Love good books and travel.
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