“Always we walk each other home.
And always we walk some of it alone.” 

Barbara Kingsolver

It was there on a crowded library rack. My new friend and I were browsing through it together. I was skimming through the children’s book section. She was surfing through the books for big people.

Picture books actually hold more of my interest these days. Colorful, vibrant, fun, easy to read – I think I actually love them more now than I did when I was a kid. Similar in ways to short YouTube videos. Though YouTube not as educational.

“Here’s a really great book, Joan,” Barb said as she handed me a massive, heavy, dictionary- laden looking novel.

Since we’re new friends, I didn’t want to hurt our budding friendship by saying, “Are you kidding me? I really have no desire to read 500 plus pages of incredibly small type.”

So instead I said, “Cool.”

And then held Barbara Kingsolver’s,“The Poisonwood Bible,” thinking, “No bloody way.”

Yet since I’ve been trying to get into better shape by weight-lifting, I didn’t put it down immediately. I instead carried it along with me as I continued to peruse Dr Seuss’s life lessons.

When it came to check out, I was still holding The Poisonwood Bible (appropriately named) along with two of my favorite picture books, “I Am Sam I Am (Seuss)” and “The Remarkable Farkle McBride (Lithgow).” I checked out all 3 books and continued on my weight-lifting excursion home.

Later that nite curled up in my comfy couch by the fireplace, I creaked the poison book open just to be honest and tell my friend I did. As the warmth of the fireplace crackled nearby, the sentences rolled out like rich velvet across my mind. How could anyone write so exquisitely? To say I was immediately engaged would be an understatement.

Who in the world could ever find a 500+ page novel difficult to put down? Me!

It takes place in the Congo. I honestly don’t know much about the Congo other than my far-away dreams of going on a safari there someday. Lately though African adventures haven’t been in my active wheelhouse of things to do or read about. But, oh my, has that changed now.

Each chapter is written through the eyes of a different family member. There are 6. They travel together to Africa as misguided missionaries under their dominating father’s leadership. It’s truly fascinating to read how each person views their shared experiences differently. Each gradually and profoundly changing through their many Congo challenges and moving forward into the world in ways unique to each distinctive personality.

For example, when was the last time giant ants woke you up at 2 am attacking you from head to toe and everyone in your family and in your entire neighborhood at the same time? I hope never.

But that happened to them. Scary.

Tragic, hopeful, awe-inspiring – all wrapped up in stunning literary eloquence.

So now my goal for 2023 is to read every single Barbara Kingsolver book there is. I’m finding out there are many too.

WOW! Thanks, Barb! Move over Dr. Seuss. There’s just not enough room near the fireplace tonight for all of us.