Barbara Kingsolver

Barbara Kingsolver was born April 8th, 1955 in Anapolis, MD. She then grew up in rural Kentucky, in the middle of the woods and pastures. Her parents liked basically any type or form of reading for education. Around the age of eight she started to keep a journal after she was given a tiny read diary with a lock as a gift. Barbara's first published work was called"Why We Need a New Elementary School". Her writing was noticed by teacher's because she would always over write. Her teachers would assign a two page essay and she would turn it into ten pages. Even at a young age she started to experience the diffenent places throughout the world becuse her father would take her and her siblings to different countries where he would "donate his services as a physician to people in extreme need".  Later on in her life she furthered her education more by enrolling in  and attended the De Pauw University in 1973. Four years later she earned her Bachelors degree and moved to France for a few years, then moved to Tuscon Arizona where she attended the University of Arizona and since 1985 she has worked as a freelance writer and author and had also married a man named Joseph Hoffmann. Three years after she was married she wrote her first book The Bean Trees. After college she had traveled and lived in various different places around the world such as England, France, The Canary Islands, Europe, Africa, Asia, Mexico, and South America. After her traveling and moving around to different places Barbara lived in Tuscon, Arizona for about 20 years, before she moved to Virgina where she is currently living. She has written about 13 books of her own throughout her life thus far. All of her books have been translated "into more than two dozen languages". Her books have also been adopted into educational programs from all grades through out the United States. She was named by Readers Digests as "one of the most important writers of the 20th century". Barbara's books have gotten many awards such as the Pulitzer Prize, the Orange Prize, National Book Award of South Africa, James Beard Award, and many more. Barbara Kingsolver her self got the National Humanities Metal in 2000. The National Humanities Metal is the highest honor to have in the United States for "service through the arts". She had also established "the Bellwether prize for fiction" in 1998.
In 1987, Barbara had a daughter named Camille, and nine years later her second daughter Lily was born. She has a husband, his name is Steven Hopp and he teached environment studies to students. Her and her family now live on a farm in Southern Appalachia. Barbara Kingsolver claims that "her best work is accomplished through writing, raising her children" and also "being an active citizen" within her community. She is also very grateful and happy for everything she has and the support of her readers and fans.


http://www.kingsolver.com/biography/#

Final Response

The Bean Tree's is an execellent book about friendship, change and coming over the hardships that life throws at you. There is a lot of symbolism and reasoning behind a lot of things actions by characters in the story. Taylor starts off as a woman just trying to make her own way in life, in a new setting and surrounding. Which is the reasoning for her moving to Arizona. There was a reason that she met Lou Ann. Lou Ann being one of the best friends that Taylor had ever had. Lou Ann and Taylor kind of complement each other by their differences but they also have so much in common. The two are constantly learning from each other. Turtle became part of Taylor's life for a reason also. Taylor had struggled with the adoption but eventually got it with out being truthful. Taylor didn't think she could love anything or anyone as much as she loves Turtle.
In the beginning Taylor started out as the most confident person ever but her struggles getting the adoption had brought her confidence down. Down to the point where Lou Ann was trying to tell her to keep her head up and not give up. In the end Taylor realizes how much she had been through and through the low points that she had over come, her confidence is back and she is happy and strong at her point in her life.
Therefore there is a lot of change in Taylor from the beginning, middle and end of the story. There is a lot she overcame and she made many friendships a long the way. Making this novel to be quite inspirational.

Happy Ending

August 12th, 2010 - Page 246

Taylor finally becomes Turtle's adoptive mother. After all the paper work was through Turtle burried a baby doll into the ground as maybe the reenactment of Turtle's real mother's burial. Esperanza finds so relief and comfort in saying goodbye to Turtle as if she is saying good by from her daughter Iseme. She thinks about the way Turtle is going to be safe with Taylor is the way Iseme is now. In the end it seems like everyone is comfortable in their lives. Taylor always referred to the 1-800-THE-LORD, she had gone through rough times and made it out a stronger happier woman. So for Taylor 1-800-THE-LORD is a symbol for "fountain of fate".

Replacement

August 12th, 2010 - Page 223

Estevan, Esperanza, Turtle and Taylor head over towards the cherokee nation in Mattie's car. As Taylor is driving Turtle is in the back seat with Esperanza. Taylor seems to get a little upset when Esperanza is holding Turtle and singing to her in her language. Taylor even becomes a little upset when Estevan says that Turtle is his when they get to the immigration official, because Turtle looks the same race as Estevan and Esperanza. But for them Turtle could be filling the emptiness in their lives since their Iseme had gone missing.

Bewildered parent

August 10th, 2010- Page 199

After the incident in the park with Turtle and Edna Poppy, Turtle and Taylor had been seeing the social worker, Cynthia on a regular bases. Cynthia tells Taylor that Turtle has no legal claim over Turtle. Since Turtle has no legal guardian that makes her a ward of the state. Taylor tells Lou Ann the information, easily making Lou Ann outraged and encouraging Taylor to find some way around the law so she can keep Turtle. Taylor becomes depressed and hopeless and Lou Ann and Mattie can see right through her lack of confidence.
I believe that Taylor was meant to have and take care of Turtle. It seems like there is so much that is going on and Taylor might not know how to deal with it. She never thought that she would end up with a child at any point in her like. Mattie calls Taylor a "bewildered parent". Therefore Taylor was meant to be her mother she just needs to get back on track and set things straight.

Motherly instincts?

August 10th, 2010 - Page 180

After Mattie takes Taylor, Ezperanza, and Estevan to see the first rain in the desert, Taylor comes home to see Lou Ann looking petrified. Lou Ann explains to Taylor that Edna Poppy was watching Turtle and took her to the park, and says how Turtle was attacked by a man. Edna is blind so she couldnt tell what was going on but she hear struggling noised so she swung her cane in the direction of the noise. Turtle at this point in time looked lost. Soon after a policeman and a social worker come to Lou Ann and Taylor's house. A bird had flown into Ms. Parson's house so she left to help her get rid of the bird. Luckly there are no signs of molestation on Turtle, just some bruising on her shoulders. Lou Ann doesn't understand and is furious with the fact that Taylor excused her self to help with a bird when Turtle was in need of her help and attention.
I think Taylor might have just left because maybe she knew that Turtle was going to be ok, like a motherly type instinct. But if Turtle were mine I would have been going crazy.

Selfish suicide

August 10th, 2010 - Page 157


Ezperanza attempts to commit suicide by swallowing a bottle of asprin. Mattie takes Ezperanza to the hospital while Estevan makes himself at home at Taylor and Lou Ann's house. Estevan insists that Taylor do some talking to distract his mind a little. She tells him about a kid that she went to high school with named Scotty Richie, who electrocuted himself on his sixteenth birthday. Scotty didn't really fit in with the cliques at her high school so he didnt really have anybody. Taylor then gets frustrated with Ezperanza and her attempt at suicide, because she has someone. Attempting suicide in my opinion is a selfish thing, especially in Esperanza's case. For people who commit suicide, I don't think they realize all the other people they are hurting. I've delt with this personally and I believe it is completly unfair to the ones who love and care for you. I agree with what Taylor says, it wasn't a fair thing to do but I also don't think Scotty didn't have anyone, so in Scotty's case it was probably selfish too.

pursuing happiness

August 4th, 2010 - Page 136

In this part of the book it seems that Taylor is amazed by the ways that Turtle over comes such an abusive childhood and can see the brighter side of things. It maybe indicates how Turtle is very content with what she has, and Taylor should be the same way. Taylor and Lou Ann are also introduced to Mattie's old friends, Esperanza and Estevan. Lou Ann seems to draw some attention to Estevan in the way that he isn't cruel or mean, sort of the opposite of the way Angel is. Lou Ann and Taylor see the difference of Estevan apart from other men. Estevan is so knowlegdeable and caring.
I feel that it's obviously hard for Taylor adjusting and making a new life, not only for her but for her and Turtle. It could be a good thing that she see's Turtle's happiness with what she has, making Taylor to be maybe be eventually as happy. Taylor and Lou Ann could both learn a lot from Estevan. For Taylor it could be his caring sides and for Lou Ann maybe the fact that she could have done better than to end up with Angel.

Finding home

August 4th, 2010 - Page 93

After Taylor gets fired from her job at the Burger Derby she starts frantically looking for new jobs and a place to live in the newspaper. She first comes across an ad for a new roommate. The people who put the advertisement in the paper were weird hippie looking and acting people. There names were  Fei, La-Isha, and Timothy. She looked into more places and came across Lou Ann. The first time they met the two could tell the similarities and contrasts between them that could better both of them.  Taylor and Turtle moved in, and then shortly after Taylor got a job working with Mattie at her Jesus is Lord Used Tires. Mattie becomes a big positive influence in Mattie just as much as Lou Ann.
Its good that Taylor is starting to find some comfort and home in Arizona and becoming very surrounded by people that could majorly impact her life positively.

"Even a spotted pig looks black at night. This is another thing Mama used to tell me quite often. It means that things always look different, and usually better, in the morning."

"Even a spotted pig looks black at night. This is another thing Mama used to tell me quite often. It means that things always look different, and usually better, in the morning." - page 148

Now that Taylor isn't around her mother to much, and doesnt talk to her to often anymore she still thinks about her most of the time. Her mother made her who she is, with her independence and everything. It shows how she still thinks of her mother by the simplest things she would tell Taylor. Taylor probably wishes her mother could see what she has and how she has made her life for herself and Turtle. So she could show her mother how independant she has become thanks to her.

"The petals stood out in starry rays, and in the center of each flower there was a complicated construction of silvery threads shaped like a pair of cupped hands catching moonlight. A fairy boat, ready to be launched into the darkness."

"The petals stood out in starry rays, and in the center of each flower there was a complicated construcktion of silvery threads shaped like a pair of cupped hands catching moonlight. A fairy boat, ready to be launched into the darkness." - page 195

A night when Lou Ann, Taylor, and the kids were home Virgie Mae Parsons came knocking on the door. She told them to come over to her front porch for a surprise. The surprise was a beautiful flower called the Night-Blooming Cereus. The flower looks like a bunch of vines usually but only one night does it ever bloom. For Lou Ann, Taylor and Turtle, it had been the most beautiful and unique thing they had ever seen. With all the craziness with child protective services, for Taylor it was a beautiful distraction.

“It didn’t seem to matter to Turtle, she was happy where she was.... She watched the dark highway and entertained me with her vegetable-soup song, except that now there were people mixed in with the beans and potatoes: Dwayne Ray, Mattie, Esperanza, Lou Ann and all the rest. And me. I was the main ingredient.”

"It didn't seem to matter to Turtle, she was happy where she was.... She watched the dark highway and entertained me with her vegetable-soup song, except that now there were people mixed in with the beans and potatoes: Dwayne Ray, Mattie, Esperanza, Lou Ann and all the rest. And me. I was the main ingredient." - page 246

It seems like Taylor is referring to her life as a recipe, without all the people, the up's and down's, it wouldn't be satisfying in the end. Although Taylor's journey wasn't always perfect and happy, she always had Turtle. Turtle always seemed to be happy no matter what was going on, and it kind of seems like that taught Taylor a lot. No matter what stay strong and keep her head up, to keep herself in a happy place.

"Lou Ann shuddered. "That door’s what gets me. The way they made the door handle. Like a woman is something you shove on and walk right through. I try to ignore it, but it still gets me." "Don’t ignore it, then," I said. "Talk back to it. Say, ‘You can’t do that number on me, you shit-for-brains.’ ... What I’m saying is you can’t just sit there, you got to get pissed off.”’

"Lou Ann shuddered. "That door's what gets me. The way they made the door handle. Like a woman is something you shove on and walk right through. I try to ignore it, but it still gets me." "Don't ignore it, then." I said. "Talk back to it. Say, 'You can't do that number on me, you shit-for-brains.' ...What I'm saying is you can't just sit there, you got to get pissed off." - page 157

Lou Ann explains how she thinks women are easy taken for granted and easily get walked all over. Some of this anger may come from the fact that her husband left her and their baby to do what he wants to do. Taylor is the type of friend who always brings Lou Ann to her senses. In this case she is letting Lou Ann know that she can't keep ignoring the pain, she should get anger and let people know how she feels. Lou Ann should let Angel know how she feels, and the way she shouldn't be walked all over.

"Starting right now, you've only got one Ma in the whole world. You know who that is?"

"Starting right now, you've only got one Ma in the whole world. You know who that is?" - 238

Taylor and Turtle were going around Oklahoma City waiting for some of the adoption papers to clear. As they are going around in Mattie's Lincoln they have what Taylor considers their "second real conversation". Since the adoption was about to be official Taylor was making sure that Turtle knew what Taylor was going to be to her. She was to be her legal mother. This is a huge step, she wants Turtle to know that Taylor loves her more than anyone in the world and her love for Turtle will be forever, and everyone else is a friend that also cares and loves Turtle to, just not as much at Taylor does.

"There seemed to be no end to the things that could be hiding, waiting it out, right where you thought you could see it all."

"There seemed to be no end to the things that could be hiding, waiting it out, right where you thought you could see it all." - page 172

Taylor says this because she is amazed by all the life and activity in the desert. Estevan being a former teacher practically knows anything about everything, and explains everything to Taylor. She didn't think that toads were suppose to be in the desert and maybe they were just suppose to be in a rainforest or something. It was just so unepexpected for her just as everything else is in her life and the people and things she comes across.

"There was a cactus with bushy arms and a coat of yellow spines as thick as fur. A bird had built her nest in it. In and out she flew among the horrible spiny branches, never once hesitating. You just couldn't imagine how she'd made a home in there."

"There was a cactus with bushy arms and a coat of yellow spines as thick as fur. A bird had built her nest in it. In and out she flew among the horrible spiny branches, never once hesitating. You just couldn't imagine how she'd made a home in there." - page 129-130

Taylor is thinking this as she is at the doctor with Turtle. Turtle had gotten X-rays to possibly determine and give Taylor some kind of clue as to what might have happened to her before she had ended up with Turtle. The doctor puts the X-rays up in the window and has he explaining the picture to her she looks past it to see the garden on the other side. Maybe Taylor uses the bird with the nest in the cactus as possibly a reflection upon her and Turtle and how they have ended up. Althought Taylor ended up with Turtle very unexpectedly she never once hesitated giving her away or not taking a responsiblity, and how easily Turtle had made a home and comfort and trust in Taylor.

"You can go and visit heaven. What? You see a room just like the first one, the same table, and the same pot of stew, the same spoons as long as a sponge mop. But these people are all happy and fat."

"You can go and visit heaven. What? You see a room just like the first one, the same table, and the same pot of stew, the same spoons as long as a sponge mop. But these people are all happy and fat." - page 113

Estevan is telling a "wild indian story about heaven and hell" to the Parson's, Lou Ann, and Taylor. He explains how in hell there are a hole bunch of people sitting around "jibbering and jabbering" starving to eat a delicious pot of stew that God has made. But these people can't eat the stew because their spoons are as long as a sponge mop. But the people in heaven are in the same room sitting around having a good time with the same stew and the same spoons as long as the sponge mop but they are happy and fat. The people in heaven are satisfied and well fed, and the people in hell are suffering and starving. This story Estevan tells is important because it comes from his and Esperanza's culture and even Turtle's. And maybe he is trying to say that Taylor as a big chance of being a satisfied person in heaven by being the good person she is.

"I feel like the only reason I have any friends at all is because I'm always careful not to say something totally dumb, and if I blow it just one time, then that's it."

"I feel like the only reason I have any friends at all is because I'm always careful not to say something totally dumb, and if i blow it just on time, then that's it." - page 89

Lou Ann is a very cauious worry wart who thinks entirely to much of everything and anything. She constantly doubts herself but not anyone else. Lou Ann always is the one to encourage Taylor to keep her head up, but she never tells herself that. It seems like Lou Ann has a hard time being herself with out caring if someone is judging her or not. Taylor tells Lou Ann how she believes that what she says is a wierd theory a friendship, letting her know that practically no matter what she isn't going to judge her and that Lou Ann should be herself. In a lot of ways Lou Ann and Taylor can really complement each other.

"Turtle's main goal in life, other than hanging on to things, seemed to be to pass unnoticed."

"Turtle's main goal in life, other than hanging on to things, seemed to be to pass unnoticed." - page 81

This quote has so much importance simply because it describes so much about Turtle in such little words. Turtle clinged onto Taylor so tight hinting how she gave Turtle the name (and also because she really didn't know her name and needed something to call her). Turtle also seemed like she really didnt care for people to know she was around. When Taylor was working, Lou Ann would watch after her baby, Dwayne Ray and Turtle. Lou Ann would tell Taylor how she didn't have to pay to much mind to Turtle because she barely ever wet her diaper.

Independence

July 29th, 2010 - page 67

Introduced in chapter 2 is Lou Ann, who is from Kentucky just like Taylor. In Arizona she finds her husband, Angel and also has a newborn with him, Dwayne Ray. Angel has left Lou Ann , living in the house they both had lived in. Chapter 4 somewhat stresses that with him leaving gives Lou Ann a chance to be independent, just as Taylor. Lou Ann also becomes like Taylor because they're both left with a baby. A night when she was driving out of Kentucky she stopped at a bar near the cherokee nation. As Taylor was leaving the baby's aunt gives it to Taylor and says her mother died and she can't take care of it. Taylor then takes the baby to a hotel. She finds out that the baby has bruises all over when giving it a bath, she also finds out that the baby is a girl. Taylor calls her Turtle..
It's a good thing for Lou Ann getting perfect oppurtunity to learn to be independent, she is going to have to learn it at some point in her life and maybe she will get over some of her worries she has about the smallest things.

Parents determining the lives of their children

July 29th, 2010 - page 35

The first chapter introduces Taylor Greer. Growing up in Pittman County, Kentucky, she seems to firmly believe that parents have a major influence of determining the future of their children. Being raised by a single woman, Taylor became independent herself. She attended high school with Newt Hardbine. His father abused him his hole life and eventually Newt killed himself after dropping out of school and impregnating a girl, Jolene. Taylor also went to school with her. Jolene's father called her a "slut" throughout her entire life so Jolene felt it was fitting for her to be pregnant at a young age.
I completely agree with the way taylor thinks. Growing up it seemed I had the perfect family of four. As I grew up and realized the fighting between my parents and the mental illness in my mother, I started to see how not perfect we were. After we lost my mother I started to think what if it was the other way around and I had lost my dad instead. I would probably be raised for the rest of my life by my mother and probably grow up with her same mentality. So now, I realize  that my dad determines they way I am for the rest of my life.