The Bean Trees (Greer Family #1 of 2) [B1610]

1992 PB reprint of the 1988 original, in nice-ish clean condition. Barbara Kingsolver's 1988 debut novel is a classic work of American fiction. Now a standard in college literature classes across the nation, and a book that appears in translation across the globe, The Bean Trees is not only a literary masterpiece but a popular triumph - a narrative that readers worldwide have taken into their hearts. The Los Angeles Times calls The Bean Trees "the work of a visionary. . . . It leaves you open-mouthed and smiling."

This is the charming, engrossing tale of rural Kentucky native Taylor Greer, who only wants to get away from her roots and avoid getting pregnant. She succeeds, but inherits a three-year-old Native American girl named Turtle along the way, and together, from Oklahoma to Arizona, half-Cherokee Taylor and her charge search for a new life in the West. Hers is a story about love and friendship, abandonment and belonging, and the discovery of surprising resources in seemingly empty places. The Greer Family story continues in Pigs in Heaven.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "This is Kingsolver's first novel and I have also read her most recent. The fact that this one was just as strong, also with a heavy character driven narrative, makes this just my cup of tea. I can read her writing all day and I will most definitely read more of her. She's a comfort read for me."; "Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Well written and showed rural America very authentically."; "The Bean Trees was a solid read. I really enjoy Barbara Kingsolver's storytelling style. Her descriptive details are vivid without ever feeling excessive and she has a talent for crafting unique narratives. This book is no exception."; "This was written in 1988 but the immigration theme resonated now. I love Kingsolver's subtle use of connections to nature in her books."; "Heartwarming and thought provoking read that touches on so many important themes."