Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver

OK, so not many of us read the book. We're blaming the Berkeley Public Library for that. A few did manage to get a copy.

Animal Dreams is the story of Codi Noline, a failed medical student, who returns home to care for her ailing father and ends up coming to terms with a seemingly unhappy childhood. Mix in a little bit of environmental catastophe and a civil war just for flavour. Did we like it? I suppose consensus was that the book was a pleasant story, nicely written. The plot was in many ways predictable and the "tall, dark, handsome hero" was just a little bit "too perfect". Really now, what man gives up the his favourite pastime when his girlfriend says "eeewww, icky"? And what woman spends that much time obsessing about the ugly shoes she wore as a child? Does this really qualify as introspection? self-examination? personal growth? It must, if only to qualify for such a happily-ever-after ending.

So, Animal Dreams is a pleasant summer read. Those who have read other Barbara Kingsolver novels suggested we might appreciate her other books more, Poisonwood Bible and Prodigal Summer in particular.