Poisonwood+Bible


 * DIRECTIONS: Each student in the group is responsible for inventing one discussion question. This discussion question must be posted on the Monday of each week, ensuring time for discussion of each question. Each member of the group, including the person who invented the question, MUST respond to the discussion AT LEAST twice EACH week. Your participation in these online discussions, along with the amount of effort and reflection put into your responses, will account for a portion of your Literature Circle final grade. Each time you post a discussion question or a response,you MUST skip a space from what was written above, and you MUST begin your writing with your last name and first initial so I can mark your participation. It would also be helpful if you choose a specific colour and stick to that colour each week to identify yourself with also.

Week 4 Discussion Question: Myatt S, ** Now that we have come to the end of the book what did you think of it? Did you enjoy reading it? Or was it a chore to read? Would you recommend this book to anyone? If so who and why? Would you change anything in this book if you could? ** Gere B, Wow! I really enjoyed this book. It kept my attention mostly all of the time throughout the novel. The way Kingsolver divide up her book amid the five girls made the novel a captivating one to read. Each daughter has their own and distinct qualities. At first, when the reader begins to read, s/he may find it difficult to follow the plot like me. But once the reader has read through the first few “chapters”, s/he will understand the concept of how the novel is written. I would defiantly recommend this book to someone. This book is just so different from any other one that is one the market that I have read. The novel is told in five distinct opinions that help the reader to form opinions over a situation. The reader is forced to understand both sides of a story. Mrs. Prescott if you are reading this, you should most certainly read this tale. <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: red; line-height: 115%; font-family: Wingdings; msoansilanguage: EN-CA; msofareastfontfamily: Calibri; msofareastlanguage: EN-US; msobidilanguage: AR-SA; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; msoasciifontfamily: Calibri; msohansifontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msochartype: symbol; msosymbolfontfamily: Wingdings; msobidifontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastthemefont: minor-latin;">J **

Benny, I really don’t feel the same way, I personally found the book to have a really slow start and by slow I mean like ¾ of the book. When I first read the summary of the book I thought it sounded like the types of books I normal enjoy but it was really nothing like it. I do agree the book is very well written in the sense of point of views and how 5 different characters told the story, but I just didn’t really enjoy the plot of it and how it unfolded. Like when Kingsolver just randomly jumped like 40 years, I really didn’t like that at all and it was just kind of was to out there for me when Ruth May comes back from the dead. One point about her writing though she is very deep and everything has another meaning sometimes not always a good thing because sometimes I’d her just to say what she means every once and awhile. But again like I said she is a very good author just not my style. **
 * Myatt S,

**Bishop A, Personally I didn’t hate the book but I defiantly wouldn’t read it again. Just because I’m much more into mystery and horror novels compared to this novel. But I would defiantly recommend it to Mrs. Prescott too. Just because she has been to places like this and she’d understand it more. Like you mentioned Benny you’ve also been to places similar to this so that is probably why you enjoyed the novel more then Sarah and I, who can’t necessary relate to what is being described. **

**Myatt S,**  **I feel the same way Adam, Benny you defiantly understood the situation much better then both Adam and I because you have seen first hand what the novel is about and where Kingsolver is coming from. The thing I would change which you both probably already know by now because I’ve complained about it so much, is the fact that she just randomly jumps like 30 years with no real reason like out of the blue. I personally was just starting to enjoy it as they were teenagers like I thought Rachel was becoming pretty funny then she was 50 and had like 2 ex husbands and the current husband had died? Strange book .** Yeah i guess you could say that. But i also found it dificult to understand the situation when the auther decided to skips many years ahead. She may of done this because so that the plot would flow faster. Could you imagine what the book would be like if she had not done this. It would be ten times the size. It you think back to the beggining of the novel, it takes place in someplace in the jungle. The story is a flash back. towards the end of the novel, we are brought back to the presnet time. That may be the explanation you are looking for. Hope it helps. :) Week 3 Discussion Question:**
 * GereB,
 * Gere B, **
 * Why did Kingsolver make Ruth-May be the one that passed away and not anyone else? What are your predictions of what will happen to Nathan now that he is unaccompanied by his family? **

**Myatt S, ** **I believe Ruth May was the daughter to pass away because she symbolized Orleanna side of when she did not stand up for herself and just sat around and pitied herself. Now that’s Orleanna has step up and is making plans to leave she is leaving the side of her that is weak and just does what she is told, and Ruth May represented that in Orleanna. So now that Orleanna is passed that stage in her life and that part of her is dead and staying in the Congo, just like Ruth May**.

**Bishop, A** ** That’s an interesting point Sarah; I never really thought of it like that I thought possibly Ruth May was the one to pass away because she was the weakest in the family and the youngest and as Rachel, Leah and Adah’s story was growing throughout then novel hers was slowly down so to me it was pretty clear something was going to happened with her and it never did look good. So when everyone was growing as person and showing character development Ruth May was a stand still. so I think that’s why she was the one to pass away. **

**Myatt S,** **True Adam that’s another good reason why they probably killed off Ruth May then the other sisters. Now when it comes to the predictions about what will happen to Nathan, I would like to think he comes to his senses and realizes that when it comes down to it his family is what really matters and will try to find them and they become a family again. But come on we all know Nathan is so far gone and so overwhelmed with guilt and is convinced that he must fallow God’s plan I don’t think anything will stop him from whatever he thinks is the “best way” even if that means him sitting in a corner preaching to chickens because they are the only thing that will tolerate him in the Congo.**


 * Gere B, **
 * You both have really good points. Now that "Adam" has mentioned that Ruth-May as a character did not develop as like the other sisters, her death makes more since. Her part in the story was over. She was only becoming a burden to the family. I don’t mean that in a bad way. I just mean that the growth of the rest of the sisters would not flow evenly if Ruth-May would be there. She was too small to marry anyone in the Congo or outside of it. As far as Nathan goes, it’s really unpredictable what is going to happen to him. None of the girls are still living in the Congo where Nathan is located. The girls are the narrators of the story. They have all displaced themselves from the Congo. But I could defiantly see Nathan try to teach the word to some chickens. ****J **** Good one Sarah. **

Yes now that all the sister grew older and all went their diffrent ways I think Ruth May's only hope for her story to carry on was if she married Nelson and that would have been creepy because at the time she died she only met him at the age of four. Now Nathan without his family to me doesn't make much of a diffrence? I mean other then he just has 4 less people to control over, and that he already told them they could leave if they wanted to. I honestly don't think he in anyway will change nor will his ways if anything changes it just be the Congo kicking him out because he think he is better then them or something along those lines. **
 * <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bishop A,


 * Gere B, **
 * It is true that Nathan has less people to control over, but he still has the people of the village. He still tries to control them with his way of teaching the word. His controlling attitude may come to conquer him some day. (I’m not giving away the ending) ****<span style="color: red; font-family: Wingdings; msoansilanguage: EN-US; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings; msoasciifontfamily: Calibri; msohansifontfamily: Calibri; msoasciithemefont: minor-latin; msohansithemefont: minor-latin; msochartype: symbol; msosymbolfontfamily: Wingdings;">J **** . When Ruth-May passed away, His first words were that she had not yet been baptized. Gosh, what a guy. When it began to rain, he tried to baptize some of the village children. I think that now that the family that he had has left the Congo, Nathan will do things that he will regret. Something unexpected will occur. **


 * Week 2 Discussion Question:**

<span style="color: #0adcfa; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**Myatt S, <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #0adcfa; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why do you think Kingsolver wrote this novel without a son and only four daughters? If the family had a son who do you think he’d follow an influence to Nathan or Orleanna? Why? Do you think this son would change his influence when he arrived in Africa or do you think he’d stay more neutral between the two of them throughout? Explain. **

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bishop A, <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #ff00ff; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; msoansilanguage: EN-US; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'; msofareastlanguage: EN-US; msobidilanguage: AR-SA;"><span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well I think the novel might be more interesting if it had a son, because even though all the girls are very different and complex in there own way it doesn’t have that male opinion on the events. Even with Nathan doesn’t narrate at all so its hard to see things from his side and exactly where he is coming from. If they were to have a son in the family I think he’d fallow his father role as being a dictator and having to have control until they arrived in Africa because he’d see Nathan through different eyes and realize how horrible he is treating people not to mention there own mother. Kind of like Leah and how she just recently noticed how her father isn’t the same man he used to be back home. **

<span style="color: #0adcfa; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**Myatt S, <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #0adcfa; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmso-fareast-font-family;">I agree Adam it'd be really interesting to see a male point of view in the novel even Nathan's perspective would be interesting to see, but then maybe the book would lose it's edge if it didn't leave some unknowns, I feel we will soon learn alot about Nathan's past through Orleanna as she talks at the start of every new book. I think Kingslover wrote this novel without sons to show how dominate the father really is, and how determined and guilty he feels. Guilty because of when he went to war and came back early due to injury and then the rest of unit got killed soon after. Because of that I think that’s why he is so determined to fallow the plan he believes God gave him. Since there only females in the family; who are normally more likely to stay back and be pushed around, it’s far more enforced that Nathan is very strict about his ways and that it is his way or no way. **


 * <span style="color: red; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Gere B, **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">In truth I had not really noticed that the Price’s did not have a son. I think the reason why Kingsolver made the family have four daughters with no son is because maybe the son would be similar compared to Nathan. This would not bring forth the domineering mind that Nathan possesses. His overtaking personality would not be as appealing. If there would be just one member in the family that is as abusive like Nathan, it makes his personality appealing. I agree on how the son may distinguish Nathans true identity. And he would possibly convert by becoming his Orleana’s shadow instead of Nathan’s. **
 * <span style="color: red; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">It the son would be a mama’s boy from the beginning, he would be a more protective son by standing up for his mother. He would be more determined to arise against Nathan. He would attempt to discover a way of escape and bring the family to safety. **

Benny has a good point but I think it depends on how old we say the boy is, for example if he is the oldest child I completely agree with you he’d be more protective towards his mother and do whatever he could to get his sisters and mother out of that situation. If the son was younger likes say 10 or 11 I think it might be different because at that point of a boys life does he feel that he as responsible for looking after the family as a boy of 17 or 18? I’m not sure I’d think if the son was younger in this family he’d be hiding and trying to avoid because he’s still in fear of his father and just assumes Nathan is always right, even though we’ve learned in the book that he clearly is not and slowly Leah and Rachel are rebeling because they see now that Nathan is not always right. **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #ff00ff; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; msoansilanguage: EN-USmso-fareast-font-family;">Bishop A,

<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Well Adam that’s an interesting question because even though in our day to day life we don’t see ourselves feeling like we have responsibility of protecting are families at the age of 10 or 11 but we have to keep in mind that were they are isn’t a typical place either. I mean like they say people rise to the occasions and I think in that case even if he was still young and naïve he’d still try to protect the family. I mean look at Adah she’s only 12 or so, mute and can barely walk but she still feels she needs to do everything she can the help like spying on people and figuring out that conspiracy. She used her strength to fullest even when she has the most visible weakness. So if there was a son I think he would just bring his strength to the table like physical strength that maybe the sisters and Orleanna probably don’t have, and just make the side of Orleanna that much stronger. **
 * Myatt S,

<span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri; msoansilanguage: EN-US; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; msospacerun: yes;">
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: red; font-family: Calibri; msoansilanguage: EN-US; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Gere B, **
 * <span style="font-size: 12pt; color: red; font-family: Calibri; msoansilanguage: EN-US; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">You both have brought forth very good points. When a child is young, they mostly are closest to their mother because that is usually the person the child spends most of their time with from birth. The father of the child is the one that most of the time brings in the family income. The child does not form a stable relationship when young. This affects the child by what side s/he would take. ****<span style="font-size: 12pt; color: red; font-family: Calibri; msoansilanguage: EN-US; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Nathan defiantly didn’t form a very secure relationship with the members of his family. He does not accept the concerns brought forth by the family. He believes that he is always correct. He has less of an open mind as of an individual with a sturdy relationship with someone. The child would most likely be a “momma’s boy” regardless of the age. **

<span style="color: rgb(255,0,255);">**Bishop A, Which of the girls do you relate to the most ?and why? Do you have any past experiences that you can directly or indirectly relate to what the family is going through?** <span style="color: #74e5f6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> **<span style="color: #0adcfa; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Myatt S, ** <span style="color: #74e5f6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">**<span style="color: #0adcfa; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That’s a tough question, mainly because all the girls are so extremely different. Like Rachel is more of a beauty queen teenager, Leah feels that she must always have her father’s approval; Ruth May is very young so I find her very judgmental and ignorant towards a lot of situations and Adah is very intelligent and deep. I find it hard to relate completely to any of them but I can relate to Leah in the sense that she always wants her father's approval; because in my own life I always myself asking for my parents opinion on situations so I’ll know exactly how they feel when I do certain things. Now I’m not to the extent of Leah where her goal in life basically is to be the favorite child or anything but I do get some idea of what she means when she talks about how important it is to her to have her father’s approval. ** <span style="font-size: 90%; color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-themecolor: text1; msothemecolor: text1;"> Gere B, <span style="font-size: 80%; color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-themecolor: text1; msothemecolor: text1;">
 * Week 1 Discussion ** **Question:**
 * <span style="font-size: 80%; color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-themecolor: text1; msothemecolor: text1;">I would have to agree with you Sarah. All of the girls have their own and distinctive personalities. I could also relate to Leah because of the way she listens and obeys her father. But I could also relate to Adah in a way. Despite her challenge, she is a smart person. She becomes stressed at times when the people around her don’t seem to see things as she sees them. **
 * Last March break; during my trip in Nicaragua, I spent a portion of my time there living with a family in a rural area in the mountains. When I first arrived at the village, I did not know what to expect. The group I traveled with reminded me of the Price family. We were foregone people to their homes. Some of the group members found it difficult to adapt to the manner in which the village was living, especially on the subject of food. I enjoy trying new foods. I found it easy to adapt. The people were living a simple life without the stress of technology. **

<span style="color: #0adcfa; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; color: #74e5f6; font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif; msofareastfontfamily: 'Times New Roman'mso-ansi-language;">**<span style="color: #0adcfa; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Myatt, S Wow that trip must have been really memorable; I think its stuff like that really sticks with you more then a vacation in Mexico on a resort. Was this a family trip or like a church organized thing? What you said about Adah I completely agree with, like we talked about it today how she and Rachel are the only really neutral ones in the family. Ruth May is clearly closer with her mother and Leah is very much a daddy’s girl. When it comes to personally experience to relate to Price’s I really have never been exposed to anything of the sort like Ben, but when I went to a Florida training camp/ tournament for Canada games tryouts there were two boys teams from poor parts of Africa (I can’t remember where) and there coaches told us how they were the professional team there (theses are guys under the age of 18 remember) and they all left the families in hopes of getting scouted in the U.S to support their families back home. To me that just seems so unreal how teams one tournament can have such different lives, kind of like how some of the girls in the novel were in shock by how the lives of everyone when the moved there. But clearly not the same thing, but it was very interesting to talk to a few of them and hear their story, just thinking for us that tournament was no big deal after were done we go home its over, but for them it meant much more ** <span style="color: #0adcfa; font-family: 'Arial Black', Gadget, sans-serif;">

My trip was with my church. We fundraised for about two years for the trip. I was a very eye opening experience. A vacation at a resort does not bring forth things that are as eye opening as of the things of poverty. But to see poverty, we do not have to leave our own town to be a witness. There is poverty all over the world. But in lands that are poorer such as Nicaragua, Haiti, Gambia, etc it is more visual. <span style="color: red; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> <span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Wow that is really extraordinary that those young men were able to have such a commitment so that their families could have a life with clean water, enough food for the whole family and better housing. That is truly remarkable. I would also do the same if I were in that position. Traveling half way around the world and leaving their families, so that they may encounter an improved life is just amazing. ** **Adam since you weren’t at school on Friday, I wanted to let you know that your job is to be the summarizer. Just basically summarize the passage with a few key points. Unless you chose something else, that’s cool to. It will be due on Tuesday, may 19.**
 * <span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Gere B,