skimmed a lot.

I really enjoy Kingsolver's strong female-centered stories. This one did not disappoint. While written about 30 years ago, it has some really current thematic material in the form of a Guatemalan immigration story.

The story reflects in horrific truth what was actually unfolding under the Argentinian dictatorship in the 1970's. How courageous of the author to undertake in a first novel such a situation which also reflects the reality of challenges of our Indigineous Culture in North America.

It took me a bit to get into the "Bean Trees" but by one third the of way through I was hooked. Tyler, Turtle and friends are out of the ordinary people on an journey not planned whom you soon become attached. Kingsolver's writing style grows and is extraordinary by the end. I signed out "Pigs in heaven" the sequel as soon as I finished.

Funny and touching and painful and affirming. Not a word is wasted in the writing in this novel. Kingsolver's use of language in story-telling is masterful. Her characters are real and flawed and lovable.

The protagonist, Marietta Greer, is a tiny-town Kentucky girl raised by a strong single mother who kept body and soul together through housecleaning work.

Wanting something more for her life than she can find in her hometown, Marietta works and saves her money until she has enough to buy a mostly-running car. Then she sets off driving west, ending up in Tucson.

By the time she arrives there, she's changed her name to Taylor and received the surprise gift of a non-verbal toddler, a little girl she calls Turtle. Taylor makes a home with another single mom, while landing a job at Jesus is Lord Used Tires, also a stop on the underground railroad for Guatemalan refugees(It's the 1980s.) She learns that the world can be both a whole lot worse and a whole lot better than she'd ever known.

I read this book as a novel study for one of my students it was better than I anticipated. I enjoyed the characters and story lines. I enjoyed seeing the characters develop from the beginning to end. It was a simple read and enjoyable.

I picked this up a few years ago, needing 'anything' to read and found it to be much better than I had expected. Very funny in places and I'll try another by Kingsolver, maybe Pigs because it sounds like Part II

This was a sweet story, no doubt. But there wasn't as much substance to it as I was hoping there would be after reading The Poisonwood Bible. I know this was her first novel as opposed to when she had developed her craft more in Poisonwood, but I guess I expected more. Also despite it being a short novel, I wasn't able to read it quickly. The story and style of writing in this reminded me of Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe, with the Southern-type charm and slight humor, but I actually like Fried Green Tomatoes more. I know the story continues in another book, but I am completely fine ending it right here.

This wouldn't be a highly recommended novel, but I would recommend it for those who want a light read for the summertime or in the dreary months of winter.

Kinsgslover's first novel is good, but nowhere near her masterpiece, "The Posionwood Bible." Followed by "Pigs in Heaven."

I have yet to be disappointed with a Kingsolver book. Reading BEAN TREES was fun for me because I could relate to so much of Taylor's trip to maturity. Kingsolver seems to have the ability to pull you in and welcomes you to be a character in her story. However, I don't think she can possibly outdo the first two books I read by her: PRODIGAL SUMMER and FLIGHT BEHAVIOR.