Pigs in Heaven

I read Kingsolver's Poisonwood Bible many years ago, before it became an Oprah book and I loved it. I loved her use of varying points of view and the voice of the children of the family and her description of life in the Congo. So, I purchased Pigs in Heaven and let it languish on my shelves for so many years that the pages turned yellow and it acquired that musty book smell that I adore. I am sure I would have let it languish there a few more years if I were not challenged to read it.

Pigs in Heaven is the sequel to Kingsolver's The Bean Trees and as I have read that book and can vouch for Pigs in Heaven ability to stand on its own. In this book we find a young Cherokee girl, Turtle who is being raised by a white woman, Taylor Greer. When Turtle and her mother are seen on Oprah by hot shot Cherokee lawyer, Annawake. and thus begins the modern King Solomon tale of a struggle for a child, one for herself and one for her tribe.

Like Poisonwood Bible, Kingsolver is adept at telling a tale from multiple points of view. She can be quite lyrical in her writing and there were many sections which I loved:

"The air isn't any cooler outside the house, but being outdoors in her sheer nightgown arouses Alice with the possibility of freedom. She could walk away from this house carrying nothing. How those glass eyeballs in the china cabinet would blink, to see her go. She leans back in the proch swing, missing the squeak of its chains that once sang her baby to sleep, but which have been oppressed into silence now by Harland's WD-40. Putting her nose deep into the mug of bourbon, she draws in sweet, caustic fumes, just as she used to inhale tobacco smoke until Taylor made her quit."

My one criticism of the book is that everything is a little too neatly tied up with a bow. I don't see this occuring all that often in life and I'm not sure that these days I altogether appreciate it in a book.

The title is based on a charming Cherokee myth of the formation of the Pleiades, I'm not going to disclose it here to encourage you to read the book.

This is a fun novel, with crackling good dialogue that can make you smile, and characters that do too. There are pop culture references blended in (Oprah, Elizabeth Taylor, Barbie,etc.), which make it feel more like a movie script than a novel, but this does not detract from the reader's ability to get lost in the characters. A young mother on the road, broke, trying to make it all work for her daughter, frustrated; an older mother fleeing a failed marriage, protective, old school southern, but open to new possibilities; a witty and intelligent boyfriend; a Cherokee auntie who serves as the tribal matchmaker, gossip, town crier, and oral historian: all of these people and many more really bring the story to life. My favorite part of the novel happens in eastern Oklahoma on tribal land -- in a downtrodden economic existence, this is a Cherokee landscape that is more richly alive than all the other setting in this book. It is a 'road novel' in many ways, but it feels like home at the end.

This is the sequel to the wonderful novel, The Bean Trees. For some strange reason, the books do not label each other as sequels, but the so very much are.

Basic Summary: This picks up 3 years after the conclusion of The Bean Trees, when Turtle (who was thrust upon Taylor at a bar on the side of the road in Oklahoma) has fully settled into life with her Non-Indian mother in Arizona. Everything changes for them after Turtle is the only witness to a man falling down a spillway at Hoover Dam; an event that makes her a primetime hero. She's featured on Oprah, with other children who have saved lives, and is spotted by Annawake Fourkiller - a lawyer for the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma. Annawake instantly knows that Turtle is Cherokee and begins finding a way to have her returned to the tribe where, Annawake feels, she best belongs. Shenanigans and hijinx ensue in this moving tale of family, Cherokee culture and the gentle way of the South.

This book was delicately written, soft-spoken with such unexpected power. I had tears in my eyes by the end of the book, eagerly devouring each page -- anxious to find out what would happen to Turtle. Barbara Kingsolver does an unmatched job of creating depth in her surroundings. It is evident that she cares very much about the seemingly innocuous details of the Cherokee tribe culture, the southern dialects, the NW weather.. everything she put to words, she put with her heart.

I loved this book.

This was kind of an odd book. I actually started out not really liking it at all, but at the last quarter of the book I found myself enjoying it more. I've read better by Kingsolver, but it wasn't terrible.

Alice is fed up with her marriage. The only light in her life is her daughter Taylor, and granddaughter Turtle. Turtle is actually adopted, her mother found her left in her car when she was about three, but they are a tight knit family. So when Turtle sees a man fall into a hole while on vacation, Taylor has no idea that her world is about to be turned upside down. After being on numerous tv shows, someone sees Turtle, and realizes that she is a part of the Cherokee nation and as such probably hasn't had a legal adoption. Taylor, scared she'll lose her little girl, flees to the wind and runs into several strange people, while her mother Alice tries to find some way to hold the family together.

There were a lot of characters in this book, and most of them were great. There were a few that were kind of out there and I don't see what they added to the story, but I guess thats just my opinion. The character Barbie especially, sure she was unique but she kind of just detracted from the story. Taylor's boyfriend Jax also didn't do anything for me. There were some side cuts to his point of view during the book and they just didn't help the plot along at all. I did like Turtle, I thought she was an interesting little girl with a sad story. Taylor too was inspiring in her devotion to the little girl. But I think my favorite character was Alice. There was just something about her that was comforting.

The plot tends to meander here and there throughout the book. In fact I had a hard time keeping with it in the beginning because it just didn't grab my interest. In fact, it finally grabbed my interest once they got to Heaven. And by Heaven I mean a small town going by the name that has a large population of Native Americans. The book goes into more culture and stories and just general warm people when it gets there and the book undergoes an amazing transformation into something interesting. But still, that slow start is a killer for me. Kingsolver does have a nice writing style though and her characters express themselves well. There isn't too much offensive in the book although it is a little sad.

Not my favorite by her but it won't keep me from reading the other ones. If you can get through the beginning of this book the end makes it all worthwhile.

Pigs in Heaven
Copyright 1993
343 pages

Review by M. Reynard 2011

THREE YEARS AGO AS TAYLOR GREER SAT IN HER CAR IN A PARKING LOT SHE WAS APPROACHED BY A WOMAN WHO THRUST A YOUNG CHILD AT HER AND TOLD HER THAT THE CHILD'S MOTHER WAS DEAD AND TOLD TAYLOR TO TAKE HER AND THEN THE STRANGER SIMPLY WALKED AWAY. THE CHILD WAS COVERED WITH BRUISES AND WOULDN'T SPEAK.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT YEARS TAYLOR ADOPTS THE CHILD AND SETS ABOUT HEALING HER PHYSICAL AND MENTAL SCARS AS BEST SHE CAN. NOW A FREAK OCCURRENCE HAS PUT THE TWO OF THEM AND THEIR STORY IN THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT. ONE OF THOSE WHO SEES THEM ON TELEVISION IS A YOUNG ATTORNEY WHO HAPPENS TO BE A MEMBER OF THE CHEROKEE TRIBE. SHE RECOGNIZES THAT THE YOUNG CHILD IS ALSO A CHEROKEE. AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBES HAVE VERY SPECIFIC LAWS IN PLACE TO KEEP THEIR CHILDREN FROM BEING TAKEN AND RAISED BY WHITES WHERE THEY LOSE THEIR EXTENDED FAMILIES AND THE TRADITIONS AND THE HERITAGE THEY WERE BORN TO.
WHAT FOLLOWS IS THE GRIPPING QUESTION OF WHETHER IT IS RIGHT TO TAKE THIS CHILD WHO DOESN'T KNOW ANY MOTHER BUT THE ONE WHO HAS LOVED HER AND RAISED HER FOR MOST OF HER LIFE AND RETURN HER TO HER OWN PEOPLE. THE MOTHER IS DETERMINED TO DO WHATEVER SHE HAS TO DO TO KEEP HER DAUGHTER AND PROTECT HER FROM ANYTHING THAT MIGHT UPSET THE FRAGILE MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL STABILITY SHE HAS GIVEN HER.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL BOOK THAT PROVES THAT SOMETIMES THE QUESTIONS OF RIGHT/WRONG AND FAIR/UNFAIR ARE NOT EASY ONES TO ANSWER. INCLUDES FASCINATING DESCRIPTIONS OF TRIBAL RITUALS AND FAMILY CONNECTIONS.

This is the sequel of the author's first novel, The Bean Trees. It is a technically more ambitious book - a bit too ambitious, in my opinion, and in places a bit too contrived. It is more intricate in structure than its predecessor; Kingsolver is slow to let us know who is who, and to reveal how different parts of the story fit together, and so it is harder work for the reader. The rich descriptions of plants and birds are still more heavily laden with symbolic meaning than in the earlier novel, and her similes, so rich and rewarding in the first novel, are almost over-rich and some even over the top in the sequel. (Two examples: her eyes felt `like worried wet marbles under the lids.' - `She feels the door of her back teeth closing'.) It is half as long again as its predecessor, and I thought it dragged quite a bit, with extended sub-plots and other matter that, though in themselves well-described, slow the main story up too much. So I did not find it quite as satisfying as I did The Bean Trees; but Kingsolver tells a great story, and there are again some lovely pieces of folksy dialogue: in particular, the sayings of Taylor's wonderful mother Alice and of her laid-back lover Jax are a real treat.

It is three years after the previous novel ended, when Taylor Greer had, under false pretences, secured adoption papers for Turtle, the little Cherokee girl who had been dumped on her by an unknown Indian woman and with whom she had bonded. This novel more or less opens with Turtle, now aged six, being instrumental in saving a life. The story is picked up by the Oprah Winfrey television show, and this is seen by Annawake Fourkiller, a young Cherokee lawyer in Oklahoma.

Annawake has been haunted since her childhood by the history of what had been done to the Cherokee Nation (deported to Oklahoma from their original homelands in the Southern Appalachians in 1838), and is still traumatized by the loss of a twin brother who as a child had been removed from his family and the Nation. She suspects that there was something wrong about the adoption, is angry that Turtle will in due course have problems with her identity, and is determined to have her returned to the warm embrace of her tribe (about whose history and customs we learn a lot in this novel.)

Geographically this novel covers much more than the last book did of the United States, each area's features vividly described: Kentucky, where Taylor had grown up; Oklahoma where she had picked up Turtle; and Arizona where she had settled. Now that she fears that Turtle may be taken from her, she flees Arizona, driving northwards with her without aiming at a clear destination. It's like a road-movie, as they move from state to state and having all sorts of encounters on the way until they end up, penniless, almost as far north in the US as possible, in Seattle.

Taylor's mother Alice is the white grand-daughter of a full-blooded Cherokee (and in The Bean Trees she had mentioned that if you are one-eighth or more Cherokee, the Nation accepts you as one of theirs.) She has a second cousin, Sugar Hornbuckle, in Oklahoma, who is married to a Cherokee. Alice seeks her out: perhaps Sugar can mediate between Taylor and the Cherokee Nation. Perhaps she even knows Annawake - and in this very close community she actually does.

A long way back in the novel there was a chapter, set in Jackson, Wyoming, in which we met Cash Stillwater, a sad Cherokee widower who had left Oklahoma after tragic events in his family. He was lonely there, and decided to return home. We then lose sight of him for many chapters; but we can guess that the tragic events involved Turtle.

I must not say more - except to say that Barbara Kingsolver knew what she was doing when, having given real names to all the other places in the book, she invented the name of the small Oklahoma town which is central to the story: Heaven, where, in the end, and against all the odds, the angels rejoice and perhaps, like this reader, may shed a tear or two of joy.

this continues the Bean Trees story, with more focus on the fascinating character of Turtle, and is quite as beautifully written, energetic & funny. the only thing is..... one needs the most enormous death-defying leap in logic in order to believe that the fiercely protective mother at the center of the story would blab her most closely guarded secret to millions of people on national TV. it would take the kind of sheer stupidity the character does not have. clearly a plot device was needed to expose the secret & propel this narrative forward, but BK was lazy. she could have come up with something way better than this wholly unbelievable ploy. don't even try to swallow it. just pretend it never happened and enjoy the rest of a good read.

My SIL got this book in a bargain book sale. I borrowed it not knowing anything about it. I have loved the other Barbara Kingsolver books I've read before so I was interested to read a new one.

This book is the sequel to Kingsolvers, The Bean Trees. If you haven't read the Bean Trees, like me, it didn't seem to matter at all. I didn't even realize that this was a sequel until I was finished.

I love the way Barbara Kingsolver writes. Her narrative is so clear and almost musical to me - not in a sing-song-y way. But she knows how to write. It's just beautiful language. Her characters are so rich and her plots are very detailed. I loved how no matter who was narrating the chapter I totally got how they were feeling and why they were feeling the way they were. I may not have agreed with some of their choices (hanging out with Barbie?? Ugh.) but I got the characters.

Like some other reviewers it took me about two chapters to get totally hooked into reading it 24/7 and then I couldn't put it down. Usually I'm too busy to wait two chapters to get hooked. But I was on vacation and time was on my side. And I am really glad that I didn't drop it and quit. I really enjoyed it. I also loved that it taught me more about the Cherokee Nation. I know Kingsolver has studied about the Cherokees extensively so it was great to see her research come to life in one of her books.

"All families are weird." So one of Barbara Kingsolver's characters declares, and he is (of course) absolutely correct. But what is a family, anyway? Why is this concept such an important one, and how does it change from one culture to another?
When Taylor Greer reluctantly fell in love - not with a man, but with an abused and terrified little girl abandoned in her car - she found out, day by day and challenge by challenge, what motherhood meant. "Pigs in Heaven" opens three years after the conclusion of "The Bean Trees," in which Taylor adopted Turtle (so named because of the way the child hung onto her) by typically unconventional means. Turtle is a happy and healthy six-year-old now, and Taylor has settled into an uncommitted but loving domestic partnership with a man who adores them both. Mother and daughter are visitng the Hoover Dam, on a vacation that professional musician Jax can't share, when Turtle is the only witness to a retarded man's accident. The resulting rescue puts mother and daughter on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Where idealistic Cherokee attorney Annawake Fourkiller sees them, hears Taylor tell Oprah how she came to adopt her daughter, and realizes that Turtle - a child of color "found" by a white woman during a trip across Oklahoma - must surely be a fellow Cherokee.
Annawake Fourkiller visits Taylor Greer to let her know that under the Indian Child Welfare Act, Turtle still belongs to her tribe no matter what legal proceeding may have given her to anyone else. The young lawyer doesn't anticipate what Taylor promptly does - which, of course, is run. Leaving Jax behind in a heartbeat, along with every other part of her support system, she takes to the road because it seems like the only sure way to keep her daughter.
What follows is an odyssey of discovery not just for Taylor and Turtle, but (although she doesn't travel as far as they do physically) for Annawake Fourkiller as well. Not to mention for Taylor's mother, Alice, who comes west from Kentucky after her recent second marriage expires from boredom; for Jax, who stays behind in Tucson; and for Cash Stillwater, an aging Cherokee who returns to the tribe after leaving it several years earlier when he lost his mother, wife, and adult daughter, all within a few months of each other.
"Pigs in Heaven" is another of Kingsolver's marvelous depictions of human nature as it really is. Always honest - sometimes brutally so - its humorous and occasionally lyrical prose brings the characters' interwoven stories together at last, in a way that may not surprise most readers but is nevertheless profoundly satisfying.
A keeper. I can always count on this writer to make me think as well as feel!
--Reviewed by Nina M. Osier, author of "Love, Jimmy: A Maine Veteran's Longest Battle"

4.5 stars. PIGS IN HEAVEN is the sequel to THE BEAN TREES. Can you read them separately? You can, but you would miss a huge part of the story. This book is far better written than THE BEAN TREES and is a real joy. There is a quote I particularly loved, made by Alice, Turtle's grandmother. It can be found on page 214. For me it's a personal revelation: "When I was in my thirties I had these little square hips left over from being pregnant and I just hated it. I kept thinking 'All those years before, I had a perfect glamour-girl body, and I didn't spend one minute appreciating it because I thought my nose had a bump in it.' And now that I'm old (she's 63), my shoulder hurts and I don't sleep good and my knuckles swell up, and I think,'All those years in my thirties and forties I had a body where everything worked perfect and I didn't spend one minute appreciating it because I thought I had square hips.'" I hunch some other gals can appreciate that too.

I truly loved this book! It will make you laugh, wonder and weep a bit. With each book of Kingsolver's that I read, I love her writing more and more. So far my absolute favorite is PRODIGAL SUMMER but that could change with the next one!

Enjoy this one--but read THE BEAN TREES first!

When I first received the assignment in my English class to read Pigs in Heaven, by Barbara Kingsolver, I didn't have great expectations. Judging from the cover and the name of the novel, it did not seem like my type of literature. I usually enjoy reading action novels, and I can't stand reading romance novels. So, I even disliked the novel even worse when it started out with an old woman complaining about her marriage. I thought I was in for a long boring book. But, I continued reading the book, mostly because I had to, and soon found myself enjoying it. Pigs in Heaven is an exciting novel that makes you really feel for the main characters, and gives you a good sense for the Cherokee Indians. Unlike my original fears that Pigs in Heaven was a romance novel, it actually turned out more comparable to an action than a romance. Even though the novel did focus in on a few relationships, they weren't the main focus. Contrarily the main focus of the novel was on a little Cherokee girl Turtle, who was trying to get taken away from her adoptive mother by the Cherokee Nation. Turtle and her mother desperately didn't want to get separated, and were prepared to do anything to remain together. Their love for each other, along with their hardships really make you sympathize for them. At times you feel frustrated about how things unfold for the two. You feel like you want to help these two people out, and let them go back to their normal life. This keeps you very interested and makes you want to read more, to find out if their problems are resolved. But there are also very strong points given by their enemy, The Cherokee Nation, of why the two should not remain together. What I personally enjoyed most was the history and culture of the Cherokee Indians included in their argument. It was definitely fascinating. It was great to learn how Indians today actually live, and how their family life works. It was also neat to read about aspects of their culture, like stomp dances. The way the author described some of these events were extremely vivid, and sent shivers down your spine. It was also very educational to read of some Cherokee history. It really gave you a sense of understanding of the Cherokee peoples view point. Pigs in Heaven definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat with your feelings toward the main characters, and is also a good educational experience. I am glad I stuck with the book after my early opinions of it. I really enjoyed it , even though it isn't the type of book I usually read. I think that says a lot about the quality of Pigs in Heaven.

Barbara Kingsolver's book, Pigs in Heaven, is a view of life and the curve balls that life throws at us. Her storytelling reveals that a simple act of good will and good-nature can lead to devastation. It is the story of a custody battle between a single woman and the Cherokee nation. The story is well written, and adds a good amount of humor into an otherwise touchy and serious issue. Kingsolver's writing style gives the reader a great deal of information about the characters, unearthing personal conflicts, desires, stresses and more. However, some of the decisions and actions of the characters made them seem unreal at times. Many times Taylor's decisions seemed illogical and quite frankly, dumb, and take away from the interest of the story. These dumb decisions occasionally remind the reader that it is a story, and therefore prevent the reader from truly getting buried in the story. Turtle's character really made the reader feel like they were living her dilemma. At many times I felt as if I was experiencing Turtle's fears, her thoughts, and her words. Jax was a unique character. For a person to be truly at such peace with life that he can look upon any situation, grave or not, and make a joke or humorous anecdote from that situation, is quite a talent. His witty nature and his ability to calm any situation paid off several times throughout the story. But his incident with his landlord only emphasized the point that Jax is human, and he does make mistakes. Annawake is the most annoying character. She is irritating and I have developed true anger towards her. The fact that she is using Turtle's case to soothe her personal vendettas outrages me, and quite frankly, I feel that, if for no other reason than that, Taylor should have won the battle for Turtle. Annawake was after Turtle solely to avenge the adoption of her brother, and not because she wanted to help the Nation. However, the mention of unbelievable and truly fictional characters brings one specific character to mind. Enter Barbie. There are many eccentric people in the world, and even a few who seem too strange to believe, but this character, who molds and shapes her every action to conform those of the doll of the same name, are just too hard to believe. Her character seemed just as fake as the doll, making the reader wonder why and how Kingsolver concocted such a character. But, despite these few imperfections, Pigs in Heaven is fantastic reading. Its revelations about the Cherokee Nation and the true problem of invalid adoptions are fascinating. At the same time, the excitement and liveliness of the characters and their individual stories make the book almost come alive, keeping the reader both engrossed and entertained. I would definitely recommend this book to most readers who like a good story to curl up with when there is nothing else to do.

I agree with all the other reviewers! However, let me make one observation. All the other reviewers that rated the book highly appear to be women. This book is an "adventure"/journey/sojourn
of a woman and I found it very, ahhh, "Oprahesque".......people who like Oprah's picks will like this book. I read the predecessor to this book, know the characters from that book, and enjoyed this story less. Don't give up here on my review because Kingsolver had some choice nuggets in this book that I will discuss farther down. I found the book very slow going, not a page turner at all. The characters are quirky if not downright eccentric. The plot is really really out there. Mom and daughter watch man fall into Hoover Dam??? Then go on Oprah?? Whoda thunk? Then an Indian lawyer spots them on TV and decides to go after Mom? Sheeesh!
What I do like is the author's insights into human nature and keen observations on the human condition. She puts these into tiny "nuggets" of expression and sprinkles them lightly throughout. I just wish they were sprinkled a little more generously I guess.
Here's an example: I thought the Author's description of Jax, Taylor's boyfriend, and their relationship was great. Jax really is crazy about Taylor but Taylor is lukewarm at best about her feelings for Jax. Unfortunately, this is a minor thread in the story. Jax says: " Sex will get you through times with no money better than money will get you through times with no sex".
Also, Taylor's mom, after joining the Cherokee Nation and attending her first Indian Stomp Dance reflects on feeling completely included in something for the first time in a long time in her life. Those insights into the human condition are what I love in Kingsolver's writing. I guess I want more of those nuggets of her observation. The nuggets were few and far between.

When I found a hardcover edition of this novel on sale I thought, "What a Deal!" After reading "The Poisonwood Bible" and "The Bean Trees", I was sure Pigs would be a real treat. After finishing "The Bean Trees", I remember wanting the characters to stick around a little longer, move next door even. "Pigs In Heaven" is Kingslovers attempt to continue to breathe new life into her former characters.
In this account, Turtle witnesses a man "disappear" into the spillway of Hoover Dam. She tells Taylor what she's seen, and Taylor is left with the challenge of convincing adults that there is truth in what the child is saying. They finally meet a groundskeeper who is familiar with the man, based on the description provided by Turtle. Upon the groundskeeper investigation of the story, he learns that it's true. The man (Lucky) is rescued and Turtle and Taylor become heroes with celebrity status.
They are invited to be on the Oprah Show where the talk show host is featuring children who have performed heroic acts. While on the show, Taylor reveals the story of how she came to be Turtle's (a Native American child) mother. A Native American attorney, Annawake, whose twin brother was taken from their tribe as a child, is watching the show and becomes concerned that Taylor has violated a tribal law by adopting Turtle without the permission of the tribe. Motivated by the loss of her twin brother, Annawake sets out to locate Taylor to find out if she received tribal permission before adopting Turtle. Threatened by the possibility of loosing Turtle, Taylor flees their home with Turtle in tow.
The makings of a good story, were it not for the languid pace and flat language. The novel, up to the point that I stopped reading it, is absent of any conflict that captivates. If the second half of the book is any better than the first, I commend you for sticking it out. If you haven't started the book yet, be warned, it's no "Poisonwood" or "Bean Trees".

Pigs in Heaven is the type of book that you must own just so you can touch it every now and then, just so you can let the pages fall open where they will so you can sample even a paragraph of Kingsolver's brilliant lyrical style.

A sequel to The Bean Trees but a full novel unto itself, this is the continuation of the story of Taylor Greer and her adopted Cherokee daughter Turtle, the abused child given to Taylor in a parking lot some 3 years earlier. Now fully bonded as mother and child, Taylor and Turtle are living a happy iconoclastic life as only Kingsolver can describe. Turtle has come far from her earlier trauma, although not completely healed. And Taylor's fierce adoration of her child cannot be disputed.

Through a series of unbelievable events, Taylor and Turtle appear on the Oprah show, and catch the eye of Cherokee lawyer-activist Anawake Fourkiller, who immediately determines that she must wrest the child from her non-Indian mother and return her to the fold of the Tribe. On the face of it, Anawake seems the enemy and Taylor and Turtle her victims. But nothing is as it seems. With the addition of such unforgettable characters as Taylor's irrascible mother Alice, plus a real-life Barbie doll cum waitress who latches on to the family and won't let go, and the various tribal members, this is a book rich in meaning, deep in thought, and brimming with human truth that transcends all barriers, racial or otherwise.

And that, of course, is the point.

If you have not read Kingsolver before, start with this brilliant offering. You won't be sorry. She is a voice not to be missed.

Although Kingsolver's Pigs in Heaven is a brilliant combination of humorous dialogue and actions, the characters are unrealistic. During the short time the characters are introduced to the reader, not one has to face the consequences of spontaneous actions. For instance, as the book opens, Alice decides to walk out on her husband Harland who is briefly introduced, then never heard from or about again. If life could only be so simple. In addition to being unrealistic about consequences, some characters were also underdeveloped. As soon as the reader becomes interested in the character and individual conflict, the plot shifts to a different focus or problem. For example, Kingsolver wonderfully grasps the reader's attention with the unusual, yet interesting character of Barbie, then abruptly moves on to another scene after she mysteriously disappears and is never heard from again. While switching from conflict to conflict, and character to character it's easy for the reader to loose interest in the various sub-plots. However, Kingsolver kept the reader's interest with the unusual qualities and natures of her characters. A prime example of an unusual character is Barbie, a young woman who dresses like, acts like, and even legally changed her name to resemble the children's toy Barbie. Though strongly resembeling a soap opera, this novel undoubtedly tugs at the reader's heart with the undying love exemplified between friends and family. In particular, Taylor, a young mother, found and kept a Cherokee baby who she proceed to build a family and life around. After finding the baby, Taylor is forced to learn love on two seperate levels. The first level of love is motherly, where she learns to care for and nourish Turtle. On a second level, Taylor and Turtle together have to learn about tribal devotion to the Cherokee Nation. Through this love Kingsolver perfectly captures the underlying theme and moral lesson of the novel, "Do right by your people or you'll be a pig in heaven."

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. (I know it's the wrong book, but the same idea applies. Okay, let's try this one.) In the beginning, Turtle Greer saves the life of a man. Not just any man but a crusader, fighting a war against litter. However, when Turtle receives the attention she so rightly deserves, she is discovered by the evil Cherokee lawyer, Annawake. (Not evil because she's Cherokee, but because she's a lawyer.) The rest of the novel follows the escapades of Taylor Greer, Turtle's adoptive mother, running from Annawake's wrath. Early in the novel, it becomes apparent that Pigs in Heaven is not a mere story but, in fact, a tale of the ways of the Cherokee Nation in modern times. Although the plot takes some time before it gets interesting, the details, that bring on this sluggishness, are essential for the plot to fall together later in the novel. Definitely not intended for the casual reader, this yarn requires much concentration. Take the life and times of Cash Stillwater. An entire chapter was devoted to his life with no apparent reason until the final pages. Far from being a draw-back, the whole idea of complex connections (an example of art imitating life) is actually the theme and selling-point for the book. One major fall-back, however, is the point-of-view (POV). Most modern literature uses a third-person POV in either the limited usage or the low omniscience. Pigs in Heaven, though, uses a high omniscience POV. While the luxury of being able to delve into the thoughts at will would seem like a blessing, it is, in fact, a curse. When this POV is used, many an author falls into the trap of reading the inconsequential thoughts of the characters. Alas, Ms. Kingsolver fell, too, into this trap. Through the good and the bad, Pigs in Heaven seems to be mostly good. But don't count on it for some leisurely reading.

Barbara Kingsolver's Pigs in Heaven seemed to start out slow in the beginning chapters of the book. However, the plot expanded and I became absorbed once the plot opened up. The choice of the characters' names were at first questioned. I had difficulty keeping track of the characters because the names seemed too similar. However, once I became familiar with the characters and learned of their personalities, I quickly overcame that problem. Kingsolver's choice of characters made me feel as if I knew them persoanlly. I became very fond of Jax in the book. I felt that Kingsolver did a great job explaining him... there wasn't much detail on him, but rather Jax showed emotion, and from this, I established an opinion of him. Kingsolver used much symbolism in the story that could be taken many different ways. Take, for example, the title of the book. There are many ways in which the title could be interpreted, but it is up to the reader to decide that reason. Many troublesome situations occur in the book, and much of the problems deal with symbolism. Take, for example, the photo cube. I do not want to give away any events that occured, but I will say that the photo cube is an important example of this symbolism. I very much enjoyed the book and was especially fond of the end of the book. Without giving the conclusion away, I would have to say that I was pleased with how it ended and what was to become of all the characters. The end of the book can be easily determined in the early chapters, so you think, but then the author has a way of adding different problems so as to throw the reader off. The book could be said that it was predictable, yet there were times when I questioned my predictions. This was one of the first books that I have read all the way through, without stopping in the middle because of boredom.

Book Review
Pigs in Heaven, by Barbara Kingsolver is a book that will keep its readers attention throughout the story. Each character in the book possesses very unique and unusual characteristics. This allows for an interesting story that keeps you reading. Kingsolver used her writing talents to create characters that have a great influence over its readers. When reading this book I felt that I could relate with the thoughts and actions of certain characters. Thus, this book improves the way its readers think of themselves and of the people around them. I also enjoyed reading Pigs in Heaven because it allows the reader to gain an understanding and appreciation of the Cherokee Nation in Heaven, Oklahoma. Kingsolver explicitly describes the history and culture of the Cherokee tribe in great detail. The reader is introduced to certain members of the tribe and traditional events such as hog fries and stomp dances. Thus, he/she has a sense of feeling "included' within the Cherokee tribe and their customs. Pigs in Heaven deals with the theme of interconnectedness and how one event can create a chain of different events. Each one of these events can significantly effect the lives of many individuals. However I feel that this theme is over exaggerated to the point where the story line actually seems unrealistic. Aside from this, the book is very interesting and I would strongly recommend that it be read. For as you read further into the book you'll notice that Kingsolver attempts to convey important messages while resolving the books conflicts. An example of this is that in order to live a life of happiness you must put the negative aspects of your past behind you. Overall, Pigs in Heaven consists of important lessons to be learned, and it contains valuable components that are forever placed in the minds of its readers.

Rave Reviews go to Barbara Kingsolver's Pigs in Heaven. This book is truly one of the best books, that I have read in all of high school. Although the book has a slow start, after a few chapters, you want to know more. Taylor's relationships with her daughter, mother, and boyfriend are all interesting and unique in their own ways. They aren't the most typical relationships, but that is what makes Pigs in Heaven such a great book. It brings to mind a lot of questions about right and wrong. Should a child be raised by someone of their own culture and background or is it acceptable to be brought up with the love and care of a parent, who may not be of the same ethnicity? No one person can answer this. It is not spelled out in black and white. Reading this book made me think and I couldn't wait until I got to the end so I could find out what was going to happen to Turtle. In the end the answer is not completely defined, but gives you something to ponder. The way the characters are portrayed also impressed me. For example, the loneliness and inability to have successful relationships were traits clearly shown by Alice. Her marriage to Harland gives insight into her lifetime of love troubles. By the time I was finished reading, I had a feel for each of the character's personalities. Reading this book may take awhile so it would be in your best interest to pace yourself and take your time. Although the book is long, it is definitely worthwhile to read. I enjoyed reading it for its uniqueness and because it made me think. It is definitely more fun to read something that's challenging like this book, as opposed to something that's read just to get through it. Hope you enjoy the book.

Rick Hankins Mrs. Porter 2/22/99
Pigs in Heaven was a novel about how far a mother will go to protect her relationship with her daughter. It was an extremely descriptive novel and only would appeal to a certain kind of reader. I believe this novel can be enjoyed, but you have to pay attention to detail and be the type of reader who enjoys becoming emotionally attached to the characters. Turtle, one of the main characters, is a young Native American girl who is caught in the middle of a custody battle between her loving adopted mother, and a Native American lawyer fighting to instill turtle's Native American roots in her. You can't help but fall in love with Turtle who symbolizes innocence in this novel, and who is the "perfect" little girl. Her mother Taylor will do anything to protect the relationship she has with her daughter and who is the epitome of a loving mother. As you get farther into this novel the characters, initially questionable, motives become evidently clear and you feel as though you are in the middle of the entire situation and you can't help but become emotionally attached to the character's. The conclusion of this novel will not disappoint you as all of the conflicts are resolved and you will be sure to close this book with a smile. I recommend Pigs in Heaven to a reader who enjoys a good story with a happy ending. Happy reading!

I read _The Bean Trees_ prior to this novel and enjoyed it very much. I looked forward to the follow up and basically I must admit I was entertained well enough to suggest this novel as a good read. However, I did feel the same as many of the other reviewers when they expressed that the ending was abrupt and the story contrived.
It was not difficult to relate to the mother and her frantic attempt to hide the child from authorities in fear that the girl would be taken from her. However, I could not get beyond the fact that the adoption was basically illegal, and surely ramifications would have developed through the federal government. Going from there, the other complex issues involving the Cherokee Nation and child abuse were never explored. I find it highly unlikely that the (sexual/physical/neglect) abuse of the baby would not have been followed up with a formal investigation. This omission disturbs me the most.
I felt that there was a great story developing in the first half of the book, and I really wish the author could have continued with that momentum. The ending felt so rushed and I feel the author missed a unique opportunity to expand on child abuse in a more profound and educational way. Still, I did enjoy the read, and I hope it does spark the reader's awareness of how serious the Cherokee Nation, and child abuse concerns are.

Barbara Kingsolver's Pigs In Heaven is a work of art which weighs individual concerns against community concerns. Should a Native American child be returned to her tribe at the age of six after having been adopted by a white woman three years ago? What about the child? What about the tribe? How could we tear a child from the arms of a loving mother? How could we tear a child from a tribe whose rich way of life is slowly dying? These questions and more are provoked and analyzed in this novel. All of us go in with pre-judgements, all of us will come out knowing that life is not that simple; we all need to have a sense of community, a group that understands us, pulls for us, is there for us to fall back on without making us feel ashamed of needing help. After reading Pigs In Heaven you may come out with the same opinion as you went in with, you may come out with a different opinion, but your opinion will be based on a thorough "thinking through" of the matter. This book, like all of Barbara Kingsolver's novels is incredibly well written in breathtaking detail. The characters are remarkably well-developed. The richness of Native American culture shines through as does the richness of the American Southwest and Midwest. Pigs In Heaven is a novel that deserves to be read and re-read, it justifies its own existence.

On a scale of one to five, five being the best I would have to rate Pigs in Heaven as a three. It was one of those books that you wished you could read straight through and never put it down. Many times the suspenseful plot made me think twice about getting my much-needed sleep and keep reading. Many things contributed to my decision including: content, characters, and plot. The content of the book was excellent, for me anyway, easy to read and very smooth. I don't know about you, but I can't stand when I have to read a paragraph over and over just to understand its meaning. The characters were all right; I especially enjoyed Jax and Turtle who made the book worth while. The one thing I didn't like, I know it's small, was that Taylor was so foolish in her thinking throughout the book. Her thinking may have held the plot together but made the book a little fake. The plot was excellent in that a reader might be able to see him or herself in any of the characters' shoes. The plot made you see many different lives of all kinds of people and was as entangled as a "Seinfeld" episode. I would have to say that if anyone who is interested in a great book with excellent characters and a suspenseful plot (everyone) should read Pigs in Heaven.

Pigs In Heaven is a plain book that contains a few themes rooted throughout the book. I found this book to be dull at times, however informative at other times. Sometimes, this book is dull and boring. However, it is interesting in how it incorporates some human emotion into the book that also explains the reasoning behind the actions that characters take. I did not appreciate the method that this book introduces various characters as the mood from chapter to chapter would shift. After reading some of the book, the mood from chapter to chapter became somewhat ignored as I tried to find something interesting between those dull chapters. Although I found this book to be quite interesting at times, I was amazed at how beautifully written the book was to incorporate all the characters at the end. The ending to the book is very fairy-tale like as everyone was content with how everything was resolved. Overall this book was interesting to read, but dull at times. 3 star ending or 4 star ending? I would give it a 3. Is it worth reading? I would say yes, as this book is very well written although it lacks action at certain points. Concluding, this book has it's good points and bad points, and they even out.

I have come to be a big fan of Barbara Kingsolver, and Pigs in Heaven is one of her most moving and endearing books. This book is actually a sequel to The Bean Tree, and the story centers on Taylor Greer and her adopted Cherokee daughter, Turtle.

The Greer's have a life-changing experience while visiting Hoover Dam. Turtle sees a man fall off the dam, but nobody but Taylor believes her. When a man is finally rescued, Taylor and Turtle end up on the Oprah Winfrey Show. The legality of Turtle's adoption becomes an issue when a Cherokee lawyer happens to see the program and starts asking questions. Pigs in Heaven debates many difficult issues involved in any adoption including what is best for the adoptive mother, the birth family and most of all, the child. But there are also other delicate problems such as what is best for the tribe, and what obligation does a white mother owe an adopted Native American child. There are no easy answers.

My one complaint about Pigs in Heaven is that there is a major coincidence that seems a bit unbelievable (I won't tell for fear of spoiling the story). But I forgive Kingsolver this indiscretion for the beautiful prose to be found here, as well as the heart-warming ending. Most of Kingsolver's characters are short on book learning, but are keen observers of the world around them. Some of my favorites include:

On parenting, "it's the one job where, the better you are, the more surely you won't be needed in the long run."

About women's friendships, "Sympathizing over the behavior of men is the baking soda of women's friendships, it seems, the thing that makes them bubble and rise."

Or while complaining about men who refuse to talk, "I think Roscoe used up his whole vocabulary when he asked me to marry him. All that's left now is `Where's it at?' and `When's dinner?'"

Even Kingsolver's chapter titles are priceless. The two about Las Vegas are called "The Twilight Zone of Humanity" and "The Church of Risk and Hope."

I haven't read a Kingsolver yet that I didn't like, and have Prodigal Summer waiting in the wings.

Taylor Greer adopts an abandoned Cherokee girl, aged 3, and names her Turtle. A strange incident at the Hoover Dam thrusts Taylor and Turtle temporarily into the limelight and they appear on the Oprah Show, where they are noticed by Annawake Fourkiller, a lawyer and member of the Cherokee Nation. Annawake decides that Turtle belongs among the Cherokee people rather than being raised by a white woman, and thus begins Taylor's panicked flight to escape the prospect of losing Turtle.
Some very interesting characters inhabit the book, but none of them are particularly realistic. Taylor is relatively normal, but the others are somewhat off-center. Taylor's boyfriend Jax, is a rather unsuccessful musician, her mother Alice just left her second husband because he watches too much TV, and the Cherokee clan that is trying to reclaim Turtle is something else!
In spite of the fact that the characters are bizarre, the plot was interesting if somewhat contrived; and any mother could relate with Taylor's fear of losing custody of her daughter.
I read this book after reading Barbara Kingsolver's most recent novel, Poisonwood Bible, and was somewhat disappointed at the character development in Pigs in Heaven. Of course, they are completely different novels, but I felt she did a much better job of creating believable characters in Poisonwood.

My friend’s grandmother chose this one for book club, and I was keen to read it because I’ve seen the author’s name around a lot. First jarring observation: this book is written in third person present tense, which I really dislike and found awkward at time. The story was okay, and I actually did learn a few interesting things about Cherokee history. I found a lot of the plot to be predictable (not all of it, though), and some of the characters were quite frustrating. It’s one of those stories where I understand that without the stupid decisions the MC makes there would be no story, but that’s kind of what bothers me. Overall: interesting, but I didn’t like it enough to keep my copy (I gave it away).

Pigs in Heaven, is a unique and intriguing novel that brings hope and warmth to the readers. I like the way Kingsolver finds a way to reel the reader in by starting with such a tragic beginning with Lucky Buster. It almost leaves you off the edge of your seats. It is like Kingsolver is writing the book backwards, starting on one broad topic, than getting more general; while on the other hand, most authors do it the other way around, like a funnel. I like the way she does that, however, throughout the novel she puts a bumpy road in Taylor's path that keeps the reader going. It's always going, there is never anything that just calms down in this novel. This novel also brings out hope and encouragement. Taylor never gave up for Turtle and when it was time to face reality, she did. There was a lesson in this novel, never to give up your goals because someone else is intimidating you. You need to strive for something to succeed, which is what Taylor has done and portrayed it well. I recommend this book to anyone who feels that giving up is the only way to go, because it isn't, and Kingsolver has proven that.

I enjoyed Barbara Kingsolver's Pigs in Heaven. My favorite part about it is how each character plays a crucial role in the central plot and how each character is, or becomes, connected to another in a unique, surprising way. Kingsolver made it easy to relate to her characters through their actions and thoughts. This is true even though you may not get to know a character really well at first introduction. I also liked her solution to the situation because it took pieces from all of the turns the story line made and produced an answer to the problem that the reader is happy with but is not predictable. Unfortunately, I disliked a small group of characters, but realized that they had to hang around for an existence of a plot which made me want to read more. After finishing the novel, I occasionally find myself discussing it with friends and family without even realizing it because it connects so easily with everyday life. Even though Pigs in Heaven didn't become one of my favorite books, I am glad I read it, enjoyed Kingsolver's humor, and learned a lot about life.

Like most of the people that have reviewed this book, I have read both 'The Bean Trees' and 'Pigs in Heaven.' I will most definitly recommend both of these books to anyone looking to read an attention-keeping book. Barbara Kingslover has a fantastic talent of getting the reader into the characters lives. And the unusual qualities that the characters have just make the book more interesting. For example, while Taylor and Turtle were running from Annawake, the met a strange young lady. Her name was Barbie, and she collected everything that Barbie (the doll) had ever produced. She even dressed like Barbie. As you can see many of the characters were unusual. The plot that these characters create over the span of the two books is an emotional adventure. So many families are broken apart, then to be mended, ironically, in the end. 'Pigs in Heaven' is a just another one of Barbara Kingslover's masterpiece's, she should team up with a producer and combine 'The Bean Trees' and 'Pigs in Heaven' into an elaborate portral of Turtle and "all" of her family in a movie. Amanda M.

I just finished this book last nite. The fourth of hers I've read now.

Barbara takes her time and enjoys each scene with delicacy and sensibility. She's more than just paying attention, she's right careful with the moment, allowing all the love in it to get on the page at its own pace. There's no reason to move on until ALL of the story that's right here, right now has its chance to speak. Here's a line from the book: Cash is sitting in the the boss's office: But Cash had been thinking how sad it was there was not even a plant on the windowsill in here. Not one green thing that can sit in the sun and be quiet.

Here we have another love story. This time a little girl, Turtle Stillwater, is loved by her adopted white mom and the entire Cherokee Nation. There's a lot of love to go around for this little darling. It takes them all a while to figure out they surely want the same thing, but they did and they do.

A delightfully thoughtful look into Cherokee culture. Makes me wish I had a tribe to go home to sometimes. Family is messy alright, but damn, so are ribs and corn on the cob and a hog fry!

Barbara Kingsolver, my goodness girl. Don't stop!

Taylor Greer never thought she'd be a mother. But, thanks to a bizarre chain of events in "The Bean Trees," she found herself raising a Cherokee child named Turtle. Now six years old, the little girl who was initially so traumatized by previous abuse that she didn't speak has made herself at home with Taylor and her boyfriend Jackson. To Turtle, they are the only parents she has ever known.

But an unexpected moment of recognition attracts the attention of an Oklahoma lawyer, Annawake Fourkiller, to Turtle. Knowing it's illegal for a Cherokee child to be adopted outside her tribe, Annawake sets out to find Taylor and Turtle, and begin the process of returning her to what she feels is her rightful place in the world. But both mother and daughter have other ideas, and with Taylor's mother Alice, they embark on a road trip intending to begin a life elsewhere.

Annawake, however, is young and determined to do what she believes is right...especially after what happened to her twin brother when they were children. In Gabe's name, Annawake swears she will "fix" another child's life.

Although starting over is a struggle -- living on Taylor's minimum wage earnings and struggling to find adequate childcare -- the two have the potential to be successful. Yet Taylor quickly realizes there's a lot more to a good life than getting by materially; without Jackson, her home and friends, Turtle is quickly reverting to her old emotional state.

Taylor finally concedes that she and Turtle can't run away from their problems forever. She only prays that Annawake and the others who have become involved in the case will see that skin color and genetics aren't the only important factors in creating a loving mother and daughter.

I just finished "Pigs in Heaven" on audio tape. It was a pretty good followup to "The Bean Trees." The same woman read both books, which was nice. Though not told completely from Taylor's point of view, as was "The Bean Trees," it's nice to hear her familiar voice thoughout the tapes.
My only complaint was the relationship between Taylor and Jax. She was never home long enough for us to get an understanding of the relationship. So much of what we saw was conducted long distance, that I didn't really accept how their relationship ended up.
Otherwise, it was a nice insight into Cherokee culture. The story is a continuation of the lives of Taylor and Turtle. Because of a highly publicized incident at Hoover Dam, the two end up on the run from authorities who are trying to return Turtle to her native Cherokee people.
Fate has a hand in their lives as they both grow to learn of their heritage.

Common throughtout many fictional novels, the issues of family, love, and truth are all dealt with in Barbara Kingsolver's, "Pigs in Heaven". Unlike many other novels that either deal with one of these themes, or all of them sporadically, the events and themes throughout "Pigs in Heaven" are interconnected. This type of plot webbing makes the book much more intresting, allowing the reader to become involved with many different characters, instead of just one or two. When I began this required reading assignment, I was not instantly intrigued by the beginning. Actually, I wanted to throw the book away after the first chapter, because it did not grab my attention. I knew I had to read the book, so evry night I made myself read a chapter. By the third night I noticed that I could not put this book down. What I loved most about "Pigs in Heaven", where the characters. Barbara Kingsolver has a gift for making her characters painstakingly realistic. At times I felt like I was Taylor, trying to keep Turtle, or I was Jax, trying to keep a hold on my love. Sometimes, I was Annawake who was trying to preserve the culture of the Cherokee Nation. In "Pigs in Heaven", readers will have something in common with all of these characters, just as I did when I read this novel. The book provides a setting that is not mentioned enough in American Literature, the Cherokee Nation. It allowed me to look beyond the Indian identity that I was use to, where Indians wore feather and shot arrows, to the real life situations that happens on Cherokee reservations. "Pigs in Heaven" is a great book for when you just want to relax, and let the book become a part of you.

Although I enjoyed " The Bean Tree" very much, I did not have the same love for it's sequel, " Pigs in Heaven ". The beginning was semi intriguing, but as the story went on it kept dragging along and left me bored. There was not the same intensity and immediacy as the first one. The character's didn't show very much development and didn't show the same growth as they did previously. The ending of the first novel left me wanting to know more about what happens, however in this story it felt as if it started over and did not continue on. It did not meet my satisfaction or expectation as I had hoped. My standards were set high because of " The Bean Tree " but were left astray in it's sequel.

_Pigs In Heaven_ by Barbara Kingsolver is a wonderful book, excellent for relaxation and quick reading. Having read several other Kingsolver novels, I would have to say that this would not be listed as my favorite one. While I loved the plot line, as well as the mystery of Turtle's birth, I felt that the reader could figure out the ending early on in the course of the story. Possibly the reason for this predictability lies in the fact that I know how Kingsolver weaves her story lines together (as she does so well in _Prodigal Summer_.) Some of the characters are less developed than others, but the reader can't help but become enraptured with Jax, the musician, Turtle, the Cherokee child found in a car, and her adoptive mother, Taylor Greer. This is a good beach novel, filled with tidbits of Native American facts and myths. I love the title (related to Native American mythology), and I continue to ponder its relationship to the novel as a whole. Enjoy!!!!

Turtle was the smartest of the bunch. Taylor, the mother, griped me. Risking so much, with her daughter's well being, by not facing her dragons, was not motherly in any way. Leaving the girl with strangers, alone in the car, wandering a store for hours while she held a minimum wage job. Give me a break. That is neglect and you can't stretch to mean otherwise. Alice was a dingbat. She was more worried about the Taylor's power bill than her grandaughter being subject to the neglect. She was such an airhead that I had a real hard time with her romance. Cash, letting his weird daughter take his grandbaby and not intervening - especially when he knew the daughter was with an abusive guy was really stretching things and I won't even go into Jax, a head case. The fact that even Taylor's mom didn't find the infidelity a problem. What? Just a little casual sex, no biggy. Finally, Annawake was borderline militant with a one track mind. Not a winning personality. I didn't like Turtle's choices. Either a poor, struggling mom, with nothing to offer but ignorant love or living on a reservation - poor - with no big future. (but by gosh, you got yer roots, don't ya?) The compromise leaves her with the rights of a child of a divorced family. Seems she should have more.

This book is simply a well-intentioned fantasy of good times and easy solutions. No one who has ever had to deal with the Cherokee nation authorities in Oklahoma, or the racial and political realities across the area she writes about would see things like this. Everything here just ends too nicely with the kind of surprise solutions--unknown ancestries etc--more worthy of a Soap opera, although even soap operas try to be more realistic and more dramatic.

She should know better. I lived with a woman who was part Cherokee and who had to struggle with the Cherokee authorities about some little things that she wanted to do to help her nieces and nephews in the Cherokee nation and ultimately other children. This was a difficult, mean, uncaring bureaucracy, in hard place, though the people were hardy.

This is not the world Barbara writes about. There is too much sugar candy to the world Barbara writes about here. I started to write that would the real world be like Barbara's novels, but as a fiction writer and someone who enjoys life, that would be awful. The sharp, bitter life of struggle that folks having to deal with Tallaquah have in their blood, kind of like the bite you feel going into a coal mine or a diesel shop from the particles in the air bring about the real fight, fuss, and struggle that makes us all need adrenlin, orgasm, and struggle.
Unfortunately, Barbara generally leaves us with wimpy fantasies more appropriate for middle class school girls who have never really known the wide and wicked world.

One, it's beautiful. This woman can write. From elegant descriptions to well-formed characters, nothing disappoints the mature reader. Two, it deserves a willing suspension of disbelief. So the plot is a bit unlikely; it doesn't matter. And I've lived long enough to know that it's only slightly unlikely that some of the strangers in this novel would prove to have connections. If a lyrical, meaningful, warm-hearted and provocative big story is what you crave, read this. Don't dismiss this as a woman's story, or a story about women who don't understand men. Although the male characters have smaller roles, they are very important, and very likeable. Kingsolver does a virtuoso trick of letting you see them through the eyes of flawed observers and yet rather more clearly. As for the negative reviews: You might also note that nearly all of those who didn't like this book commented on their own political divergence of opinion or were forced to read it for school. Who asked them about their politics? Who cares? As for the mewling high schoolers, too many of whom have a lot of trouble spelling, punctuating or matching cases, please realize that bathroom images are not an impressive metaphor for your opinion. Less emotion and more substance from both sets, please.

"Pigs in Heaven" by Barbara Kingsolver is a truly unique venture into a world many of us have never encountered yet immediately take to our hearts. Her characters live so vividly in the story that by the book's end, one feels one has made new friends. The gentle wisdom interspersed with ironic humour caused me to laugh aloud more than once; just as often, tears filled my eyes. Both sides of this heart-tugging tale are so well presented that the conflict seems impossible to resolve. The destiny of the adopted Indian child and her white mother lie in the hands of the Cherokee Nation, and it seems that justice must truly be blind--until fate intervenes, with a little help from human hands. A heartwarming story about real people, with their faults showing --and their humanity glowing, "Pigs in Heaven" is a treat to read.

Like Kingsolver's previous novel starring Taylor and Turtle, Pigs in Heaven crams a lot of humor, happiness and bizarre plot twists into virtually every page. This makes it an entertaining read, but many times it seems as if Kingsolver is trying too hard. In an attempt to create more of the disordered splendor found in 'Bean Trees' she has gone way overboard. Characters are introduced as though through a revolving door; as soon as you become interested in them they are whisked off the pages. Annawake is boringly typical as the exuberent protector of sacred native life, as is Jaxs in his unreasonable devoted/unfaithful relationship with Taylor. Like many sequels, Pigs in Heaven fails to capture the essential element of its predecessing novel. The charachters from 'Bean Trees' were all there, but the zany, endearing spirit was not.

I read this after loving The Poisonwood Bible and Prodigal Summer. Only after finishing it did I learn it was a sequel to The Bean Trees. I enjoyed it as a stand-alone work, so I'm interested to go and get the backstory. They certainly don't need to be read in sequence to be meaningful, though.

Kingsolver amazes me with her diverse settings and topics. The first two novels I read were set in Africa and Appalachia, respectively. Here is yet another setting--the southwest, and yet another culture--Native American. She doesn't repeat themes or settings as an author, and I admire her for that.

The story is told so well that I mimicked all the emotions of the main character, Taylor. She and I both came to trust one character in the story, and when she betrayed Turtle and Taylor, my heart was ripped right out along with Taylor's.

This book has cemented Kingsolver as one of my favorite authors, and I look forward to exploring more of her works.

After reading the "The Bean Trees", I HAD to know what happened next. I think I might have enjoyed this book a bit more if Barbara Kingsolver had not spoiled me with her previous work. I've become accustomed to her plot twists and turns (and unless I really missed the boat here), this story seemed contrived and obvious. Additionally, the characters didn't seem to behave consistently with how they were portrayed in "The Bean Trees". What happened to all the feisty and resourceful characters from the original? I have a lot of difficulty imagining that the Taylor Greer of "The Bean Trees" wouldn't have fought with her last breath to protect Turtle from the abuse the child suffered at the hands of the Cherokee Nation. No one even seemed all that concerned with identifying the perpetrator(s).
I definitely appreciated all the insight into life as a Cherokee, but as a mother fervently in love with my child, I found the story to be unbelievable. I would recommend the book as a stand-alone novel, but as a sequel to "The Bean Trees" - it was a real let down.

At the beginning of this book, Turtle and her mother Taylor are on vacation at the Hoover Dam. Turtle sees a young man being swept into the water and is instrumental in getting him rescued. The story is on t.v. and catches the eye of Annawake Fourkiller, an idealistic young lawyer. She recognizes Turtle as being Cherokee and determines to return her to her tribe. When Taylor meets Annawake and finds out her goal, she runs away, in order to keep Turtle. When Kingsolver writes a book it always goes much deeper than the actual story. With her haunting and beautiful prose, she creates a world where life is not fair, and family is defined in different ways by different people. This book includes a lot of insight into the priorities
of Native Americans and to the injustices which touch all of us.

This was the second novel that I have read from Ms. Kinsolver. "Animal Dreams" being the first one. I found the novel well written at times and a little boring at others. It's about this 6-year old girl who discoveries that a boy had fallen down a hole near the hoover dam. When people found out that she had told the truth, she became popular and was feautured on the "Oprah Winfrey Show". Doing this, an attorney finds out and realizes that there's a chance that Turtle (the daughter) was never legally adopted. This story goes back to the first book, "The Bean Trees" Taylor (her mother) had adopted her after a lady coaxed her into taking her. It was a cherokee baby girl and now that Taylor realizes this she decides to fled the place that Turtle has known and everyone she knows as well...

I am 15 years old. I read both "The Bean Trees" and it's sequel "Pigs in Heaven" for a book report for my English class. I am currently working on dialectical journals for both. Barbara Kingsolver sprinkles her text with Kentucky dialect and never slowed the story down. I'm having a hard time trying to figure out the peak of action. Her books aren't exactly action packed, but they do make the reader think about themselves and the world around them. I noticed that her books are very autobiographical. She has interwoven somesome of her life experiences into the stories. I recommend these books to anyone who is interested inNative American studies, or anyone looking for a good read on a rainy day (or any day for that matter)

I loved this book. The plot was serpentine without being
intricate. I love plot surprises and this book had a few
good ones. The characters were developed perfectly; vivid,
real, and interesting. The story educated me; it showcased
American Indian family values and the hardships of
single parenthood.

But, the thing I like most is the author's
style. Some authors have the gift of turning a phrase
that resonates with the reader on multiple levels.
Ms. Kingsolver has that gift and it increased my enjoyment
tenfold of her already excellent story.

This was the first book by Kingsolver that I have read;
I will definitely seek her out in the future.

Kingsolver creates characters you'll learn to love as they struggle to make sense of and survive in a complex world. When a lovable man of limited intelligence falls into a hole in the Hoover Dam, an adventure begins and doesn't stop until a Television set is blown to bits with a shot gun. You'll notice that as each of characters travels farther away from their "family" (center) they become weaker and more confused. Only by returning home can you find Heaven, pigs and all. It's an adventure with meaning for all of us. Despite, the strength of this book, I do not think it is for everyone as it's style can be slow at times. It is a character-driven rather than plot-oriented novel. Clancy lovers beware

Barbara Kingsolver's novel, Pigs in Heaven, ia great work that gives people a sense of tribal allegiance, and culture. However, it also shows that being true to the law or one's own culture cancan disturb one's conscience in other situations. This book also expresses how comforting and emotionally healing a family can be. It creates a realistic outlook on how one woman's loyalty to her tribe can threaten the family life of another person. The way Kingsolver makes everything come together, finalizing the book, shows how optimistic she is. Clearly, this book contains interesting situations which keep the reader absorbed in the reading. This is definitely a quality of well written work.

First off I have to say that I think Barbara Kingsolver is a great writer. She writes with deep felt emotion and feeling, creating well rounded and fully realized characters that you care about.That being said I felt "Pigs in Heaven" was a bit of a disappointment. Revisiting the characters she introduced in "The Bean Trees",Kingsolver weaves the story around young Turtle's American Indian heritage and her adoptive mother's paternal claims on her.One of the things I didn't enjoy was that she moves the narrative from first person to third which seems to be a device to introduce an entirely new set of sympathetic voices to add to the custody conflict. And although I can understand why the choice was made, it still made me feel somewhat removed from Taylor, the central voice of the previous novel.To me the book felt like three separate stories that were tied together instead of one solid narrative.Ultimately the story raises some interesting points about race and family, managing to be both provoking and moving if not quite as sucessfully as it's predecessor.

If you haven't read any of Barbara Kingsolver's books, then you will be really satisfied with this book. This is the only one I have read so far, and I was greatly impressed, and actually started to read The Bean Trees now. I found the characters really vivid and real, and the story felt very natural to me, like I was actually watching it happen live. And for those you say that its not as good as The Bean Trees, if your any Kingsolver fan, you should know that she didn't want this book to be a sequel. She just used the same characters because she felt she needed to get the Cherokee Nation more involved... wasn't supposed to be a sequel or anything like that.

The title pretty much says it all. I enjoyed "Bean Trees" enough that I was pleased to find a sequel. What a disappointment! I found the plot twists unbelievable and most of the characters trite.

What really bothered me was the book seemed to be a hymn to political correctness. There seemed to be a representative of virtually every possible type of person, whether their characters were believable or not. I grew truly disgusted with Taylor's brief relationship with the man in the wheelchair -- that seemed especially tokenistic. I have no problem with any of these things in a book, but they have to be woven in to the plot properly, not just pulled out of a hat and arranged.

Overall, read "Animal Dreams" if you want Kingsolver, not this.

I really wanted to like this book more than I actually did after reading "The Bean Trees". The book started out good and had a great ending, but got reallllly bogged down and so slow in the middle that I almost gave it up entirely. It's a good book, but too long, in my oh so humble opinion.

My wife finshed this book when we were standed in an airport. We don't often like the same books, but this was one that we both agreed was enjoyable. I agree with the reviewer who called it a fable due to the unbelievable coincidences. But taken as such I found the relationship between grandmother and daughter interesting. Also from a male perspective the willingness to give up all for Turtle that the daughter had was inspiring. Lastly I found the Cherokee culture in Oklahoma depictions fascinating, I don't know enough to know whether they were accurate or not. I think the strongest praise I can give is that I bought the Bean Trees, and I am eagerly looking for a used copy of The Poisonwood Bible.

I love a book that can show me more than one side of an issue and have me come down on both sides at once. The issue is adoption. Is there any reason for an adopted child to be taken away from a loving parent when the child and the parent are clearly bonded to each other and the child has only bad and distand memories of her previous life? On first blush, no. On second blush, maybe. This book is a simple tale with two sides to the same story. Within it is told the Cherokee fable Pigs in Heaven. It too is told two different ways. I liked the fable and I liked this simple story with the easy lesson. I recommend "Pigs in Heaven."

As a high school English student, I have a required summer reading list and lucky for me, this year the list included Pigs in Heaven. It felt like a breath of fresh air between Invisible Man and The Grapes of Wrath! Kingsolver has a style all her own which I found to be difficult at times but overall a wonderful change. I would recommend this book to any student who needs (or wants) a book to read because it is "light" (unlike most school related books), has a sence of humor to it, and has two great underlying themes (which is a definite plus for those English classes!) I wound recommend this book to anyone!

Kingsolver never disappoints! I'm always sad when one of her stories ends, so I was thrilled to find this continuation of one of her other books. Her characters are endearingly off-beat, and her plots take you places you could never imagine.

Many difficult questions lie at the heart of Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver. For instance, what constitutes a family? How important is it for a child to know her roots, her culture, and her history if she has love?

Taylor Greer finds an abandoned Indian baby in her car and upon seeing the "Compassion, International" look in her eyes and evidence of abuse, decides to adopt her. Fast-forward three years: on a vacation with her mother, the young child, Turtle, is the only witness to a man falling into a ditch by the Hoover Dam. Following a dramatic rescue, Turtle is lauded as a hero and finds herself on the Oprah Winfrey show.

A Cherokee lawyer named Annawake Fourkiller sees the show. Annawake stands by the belief that far too many Indian children have been displaced to white families by social workers. These children are forever cut off from their history, culture, and identity and are forced into a world that will never understand or accept them. Annawake believes Turtle should be placed in a home amongst her native people.

Singular, independent women, often a theme in western novels, rears its pretty face here with all of the major characters: Taylor, Taylor's mother Alice, Annawake, and even little Turtle. I liked the tender, maternal language and feel of the book, even in the context of the struggle between white and Native American cultures. Everyone wants the best for the little girl, and no character is villainized.

It deviates from the traditional western novel in many ways: there is no clear "hero," no thrilling action (except for an old man shooting a television set to win the heart of the woman he loves, who incidentally, hates television), and is set in the modern day.

Barbara Kingsolver demonstrates in this book why she is one of today's best-loved authors.

In her modern classic, "Pigs In Heaven," Barbara Kingsolver brilliantly portrays interconnectedness through the combination of various subplots and distinct characters. Kingsolver's efforts to exhibit the unity and interconnectedness of life is evident within her story's plots, its characters, and their binding relationships. A prominent detail of the novel is Sugar Hornbuckle. Sugar is the common tie held by many of the characters throughout the story, and in the end, she plays a major role in Kingsolver's resolution. Essentially, Kingsolver's attempt to examine the unifying forces between human beings is exemplified in the similiarities and shared experiences of the characters, of which Sugar proves to be one. For this reason, it is crucial that the novel is well-developed, even to the point of being methodic. While many of its readers view the beginning as slow and boring, Kingsolver is aware of the need to carefully and thoroughly present her characters in order to accomplish her goals of interconnectedness. Thus, the first several chapters, in particular, seem difficult to enjoy due to extensive description. However, as the story progresses, the plot develops and different circumstances begin to intertwine. It is during this process in which the novel becomes increasingly interesting. Along with that, Kingsolver's ability to incorporate casual events and dialogue into the story creates a more realistic and intriguing book without compromising the outcome. Many scenarios are created, which do not have a long-lasting effect in the novel, but they do present reasonable possibilities that could have occurred. Such additions to the overall plot separates "Pigs In Heaven" from other works. Essentially, the conflicting interests between Taylor and Annawake, which drives the story, are based on the same aspirations; both of them want Turtle to live in a loving environment. The problem is simply their difference in opinions on which environment would be better: Taylor or the Cherokee Nation. In case of Annawake, she allows her background and pride to interfere with her judgment when she seeks the possibility of destroying the relationship between Taylor and Turtle. Meanwhile, Taylor feels that she deserves to have custody of Turtle and rightfully so. Indeed, this is an immense difference in opinion; however, it is a situation which binds them. Despite their battles against one another, Taylor and Annawake possess many of the same qualities, such as their tenacity and stubbornness to get what they want. Again, a certain unity exists between the characters. Through Kingsolver's character development, it is apparent that every character has a distinct personality; however, all of them, even Taylor and Annawake, have similiarities that brings them together in life. Furthermore, there is the universal issues involving love and relationships that all of the characters must face. Consequently, these issues are all resolved in the conclusion of this story, and contribute to the inevitable outcome of the novel. In every character's situation, a common theme connects his/her life to another in the story. As a result, Kingsolver successfully depicts her theme, and the reader has characters and challenges to which he/she can relate. Besides everything else, what distinguishes "Pigs In Heaven" from other literary works is its composition in terms of its narration and the period in which it was written. Kingsolver masterfully implicates her own philosophical commentaries through the plot and dialogue, especially through the use of symbolism. At the end of the chapter entitled "A More Perfect Union," Kingsolver portrays the situation involving Taylor, Turtle, and Annawake as a problem involving a stereo, an apricot tree, and birds. She writes "High overhead in the apricot branches the taped music has reached its end, and gone quiet. One by one the birds emerge from the desert and come back to claim their tree" (78). This foreshadows the events to follow. Also, "Pigs In Heaven" has a setting in recent years, which makes allusions to Oprah Winfrey, They Might Be Giants, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, familiar to everyone. To those who enjoy a good story, written with wit and intelligence, "Pigs In Heaven" should be familiar to them.

My wife finshed this book when we were standed in an airport. We don't often like the same books, but this was one that we both agreed was enjoyable. I agree with the reviewer who called it a fable due to the unbelievable coincidences. But taken as such I found the relationship between grandmother and daughter interesting. Also from a male perspective the willingness to give up all for Turtle that the daughter had was inspiring. Lastly I found the Cherokee culture in Oklahoma depictions fascinating, I don't know enough to know whether they were accurate or not. I think the strongest praise I can give is that I bought the Bean Trees, and I am eagerly looking for a used copy of The Poisonwood Bible.

I love a book that can show me more than one side of an issue and have me come down on both sides at once. The issue is adoption. Is there any reason for an adopted child to be taken away from a loving parent when the child and the parent are clearly bonded to each other and the child has only bad and distand memories of her previous life? On first blush, no. On second blush, maybe. This book is a simple tale with two sides to the same story. Within it is told the Cherokee fable Pigs in Heaven. It too is told two different ways. I liked the fable and I liked this simple story with the easy lesson. I recommend "Pigs in Heaven."

As a high school English student, I have a required summer reading list and lucky for me, this year the list included Pigs in Heaven. It felt like a breath of fresh air between Invisible Man and The Grapes of Wrath! Kingsolver has a style all her own which I found to be difficult at times but overall a wonderful change. I would recommend this book to any student who needs (or wants) a book to read because it is "light" (unlike most school related books), has a sence of humor to it, and has two great underlying themes (which is a definite plus for those English classes!) I wound recommend this book to anyone!

Kingsolver never disappoints! I'm always sad when one of her stories ends, so I was thrilled to find this continuation of one of her other books. Her characters are endearingly off-beat, and her plots take you places you could never imagine.

Many difficult questions lie at the heart of Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver. For instance, what constitutes a family? How important is it for a child to know her roots, her culture, and her history if she has love?

Taylor Greer finds an abandoned Indian baby in her car and upon seeing the "Compassion, International" look in her eyes and evidence of abuse, decides to adopt her. Fast-forward three years: on a vacation with her mother, the young child, Turtle, is the only witness to a man falling into a ditch by the Hoover Dam. Following a dramatic rescue, Turtle is lauded as a hero and finds herself on the Oprah Winfrey show.

A Cherokee lawyer named Annawake Fourkiller sees the show. Annawake stands by the belief that far too many Indian children have been displaced to white families by social workers. These children are forever cut off from their history, culture, and identity and are forced into a world that will never understand or accept them. Annawake believes Turtle should be placed in a home amongst her native people.

Singular, independent women, often a theme in western novels, rears its pretty face here with all of the major characters: Taylor, Taylor's mother Alice, Annawake, and even little Turtle. I liked the tender, maternal language and feel of the book, even in the context of the struggle between white and Native American cultures. Everyone wants the best for the little girl, and no character is villainized.

It deviates from the traditional western novel in many ways: there is no clear "hero," no thrilling action (except for an old man shooting a television set to win the heart of the woman he loves, who incidentally, hates television), and is set in the modern day.

Barbara Kingsolver demonstrates in this book why she is one of today's best-loved authors.

In her modern classic, "Pigs In Heaven," Barbara Kingsolver brilliantly portrays interconnectedness through the combination of various subplots and distinct characters. Kingsolver's efforts to exhibit the unity and interconnectedness of life is evident within her story's plots, its characters, and their binding relationships. A prominent detail of the novel is Sugar Hornbuckle. Sugar is the common tie held by many of the characters throughout the story, and in the end, she plays a major role in Kingsolver's resolution. Essentially, Kingsolver's attempt to examine the unifying forces between human beings is exemplified in the similiarities and shared experiences of the characters, of which Sugar proves to be one. For this reason, it is crucial that the novel is well-developed, even to the point of being methodic. While many of its readers view the beginning as slow and boring, Kingsolver is aware of the need to carefully and thoroughly present her characters in order to accomplish her goals of interconnectedness. Thus, the first several chapters, in particular, seem difficult to enjoy due to extensive description. However, as the story progresses, the plot develops and different circumstances begin to intertwine. It is during this process in which the novel becomes increasingly interesting. Along with that, Kingsolver's ability to incorporate casual events and dialogue into the story creates a more realistic and intriguing book without compromising the outcome. Many scenarios are created, which do not have a long-lasting effect in the novel, but they do present reasonable possibilities that could have occurred. Such additions to the overall plot separates "Pigs In Heaven" from other works. Essentially, the conflicting interests between Taylor and Annawake, which drives the story, are based on the same aspirations; both of them want Turtle to live in a loving environment. The problem is simply their difference in opinions on which environment would be better: Taylor or the Cherokee Nation. In case of Annawake, she allows her background and pride to interfere with her judgment when she seeks the possibility of destroying the relationship between Taylor and Turtle. Meanwhile, Taylor feels that she deserves to have custody of Turtle and rightfully so. Indeed, this is an immense difference in opinion; however, it is a situation which binds them. Despite their battles against one another, Taylor and Annawake possess many of the same qualities, such as their tenacity and stubbornness to get what they want. Again, a certain unity exists between the characters. Through Kingsolver's character development, it is apparent that every character has a distinct personality; however, all of them, even Taylor and Annawake, have similiarities that brings them together in life. Furthermore, there is the universal issues involving love and relationships that all of the characters must face. Consequently, these issues are all resolved in the conclusion of this story, and contribute to the inevitable outcome of the novel. In every character's situation, a common theme connects his/her life to another in the story. As a result, Kingsolver successfully depicts her theme, and the reader has characters and challenges to which he/she can relate. Besides everything else, what distinguishes "Pigs In Heaven" from other literary works is its composition in terms of its narration and the period in which it was written. Kingsolver masterfully implicates her own philosophical commentaries through the plot and dialogue, especially through the use of symbolism. At the end of the chapter entitled "A More Perfect Union," Kingsolver portrays the situation involving Taylor, Turtle, and Annawake as a problem involving a stereo, an apricot tree, and birds. She writes "High overhead in the apricot branches the taped music has reached its end, and gone quiet. One by one the birds emerge from the desert and come back to claim their tree" (78). This foreshadows the events to follow. Also, "Pigs In Heaven" has a setting in recent years, which makes allusions to Oprah Winfrey, They Might Be Giants, and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, familiar to everyone. To those who enjoy a good story, written with wit and intelligence, "Pigs In Heaven" should be familiar to them.

If you are adopted or have an adopted child, this book is the best I have read which shows clearly the two opposing sides in an almost perfectly balance. At the beginning of the book, relatives of Turtle's biological family find out about her and try to take her back, while of course her mother is doing all that she can to keep her child. This is every adopted kid's nightmare and fantasy at the same time--that "the people" will come and take you away. Both sides are painted very fairly but it will be an emotional read for anyone who has lived through it.

I felt this book was decent for the most part. Being a male reader I had a difficult time reading Kingsolver constantly trash men, which is one of her big themes in this book. Unless your a good interpretive reader, I suggest you skip this one. Kingsolver uses alot of metaphors and unless you are able to connect and understand them you won't get the full aspect of the book. I suggest that only women buy this book, since men will be disgusted with Kingsolvers continuous male bashing. Not only that but this has no plot whatsoever, its all relationship and dialogue, Another words, skip this novel and choose something a little more interesting.

Turtle, adopted Cherokee daughter of Taylor Greer, is the metaphorical baby in the King Solomon dilemma, a child wanted by two divisive forces. Kingsolver manages to show compassion and understanding for both sides of the issue: Indian lawyer Annawake Fourkiller, who insists that the child be returned to the Cherokee Nation on one side, pitted against Taylor, who has rescued the child from an abusive situation and wants to integrate her society at large, wrapped securely within her mother-love.
Beautiful prose and superior descriptive abilities heighten one's appreciation of this superbly crafted story.

An easy to read and enjoyable book but nothing to knock your socks off. The book moved along and kept my interest. It must be read with the idea that it is fiction, almost a fable, because there is a lot in this book that is pretty unbelievable. For example, the coincidence of relationships among the characters, the highly romanticized vision of family and life on the reservation, the lack of forethought and wisdom of the main character on the run with her daughter and the everything neatly tied together ending. This book certainly delves into social issues pertinent to our times and does give pause for thought but is disappointing with respect to these issues because of the ending. Read the book for fun.

Throughout her book, Pigs in Heaven, Barbara Kingsolver was successful in amazing me with her ability to teach me while keeping my attention. The book is a historical fiction that focuses on the Cherokee Indians. Kingsolver impressed me with the amount of research that must have been poured into writing Pigs in Heaven. I learned about the culture of the Cherokee Indians through the eyes of tribe members and outsiders to the tribe. As the plot deepened, I learned about Cherokee adoption laws. Once, while I was reading, I felt as though I were a character in the book listening as a Cherokee friend told me stories about the troubles of her people. I learned about The Trail of Tears and The Railroad; horrific numbers of Cherokee Indians died during both. For those of us who do not usually stay awake long enough to study history, Pigs in Heaven gets us involved in the lives of characters that educate us while entertaining us with humor. I recommend this book for anyone over the age of seventeen. Read it and find out the significance of the title "Pigs in Heaven."

In Pigs in Heaven, Barbara Kingsolver breaks the norms of classical or even contemporary novels by creating a complex story with no real hero or true villain. The talk can be over main characters but not one single, major persona that is in the very limelight. The extensive use of symbolism in this novel turns human relationships into philosophical issues, issues that convert the physical, tangible into abstraction, issues that awake inquisitiveness and the critical sort of mind out of the active reader, compelling the latter to think of those relationships as culturally pertinent questions that are in urgent need of culturally satisfactory answers. Characters are ridden with symbolism. But these symbolic representations, served in a plate of a relatively tangled plot, aesthetically deprive characters of being classified in a hierarchy of significance. They are almost in the same taxonomic level. For example, Barbie, as a person and a member of a culture, is as significant as Alice Greer; Annawake Fourkiller is as important as Taylor Greer. Actually, what gives this novel a position as a work of art is the fact that each character has its own place, its features, its individuality, and its life, and the writer's capability of providing a character with actual life guarantees the reader's identification with and immersion in the character. It is this deep involvement that transports the reader out of the face-to-face, physical, and tangible, to the abstract and unseen: to the cultural. The cultural in Pigs in Heaven is not the background, yet the foreground; it is the true protagonist and the source of the perceived dichotomy and the serious conflict between individualism and collectivity.
(............)
By the end of the novel, Barbara Kingsolver aims at providing the most appropriate alternative to American, individualistic, mainstream culture. In a witty way, she could literally marry two representatives of two different cultures, and through this she metaphorically marries the cultures in question, tacitly asserting that the actual existence of American culture as a hybrid culture in a low-conflict society where individualism and collectivism are in tune can never be attained through false simulacra and distorted images produced by T.V as passive receivers, such as Harland, falsely believe ; rather, this is attainable if cultural groups have the will to be involved in close intercultural interactions that are grounded in respect and tolerance. Also, via a riveting, culture-based story, Barbara Kingsolver stresses the significance of approaching cultural issues from a dialectical point of view. Quoting J. N. Martin and T. K. Nakayama, "the best solution is not always one or the other but may lie somewhere in between" (408).
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Barbara Kingsolver develops her characters with much thought and consideration, and this comes out when reading Pigs In Heaven. I enjoyed getting to know each character's unique personality, and the way that the relationships were formed. The plot, however, is sooooooo contrived that I am giving it a "just-okay" rating. If you are willing to take a stab at a novel, keeping in mind that it represents the EPITOME of fiction and dream-land, then try this one. It IS entertaining...it's just a little "too much" for me in terms of it's cheesy ending.

This book (along with The Bean Trees) came to me through the mail from a friend in Canada, otherwise I'd probably never have read it. As it happened, I'd recently finished a course in American History so I was ready for a perspective on the Native American situation. I hadn't appreciated its complexity and whilst I'd consider myself a liberal, I'd also come to care deeply for Taylor and Turtle, I'm a mother myself, and I was ready to kill anyone who tried to part them. Gradually this wonderful writer chipped away at my prejudices and got me inside the skin of a completely unfamiliar community.
What do I love about this book? It's unputdownable. It's full of memorable, beautifully realised characters. It doesn't write anybody off as too boring, too old, too screwed-up or too anything to have feelings and be fascinating. I've rarely come across a relationship more beautifully portrayed than the growing and richly deserved love between Cash and Alice. The ending made me want to run around the garden whooping. If it has any faults it's (a) an over-reliance on the long arm of coincidence but heck, Dickens did that as well and nobody blamed him for it and (b) a tendency to make the Indian characters maybe a little too likeable in the interests of political correctness. But both these pale into insignificance beside the beauties of this wonderful book.
I had no problem understanding why Taylor hung on so long before surrendering the child she thought of as hers - she'd become a mother, and she was damn stubborn. I like the way this book contrasted the individualism of the American Dream with the human need for more social connection without falling into trite and oversimplistic solutions. The wonderful chat between Jax and Anawaukee got this across very powerfully. And I understood why it only took a seemingly trivial thing to make Taylor finally give up her fight - but then I have a lactose-intolerant (and completely Anglo-Saxon!) child.
"The Poisonwood Bible" has just appeared over here and I hope we're going to hear a lot more of Kingsolver. We Brits might think the Indian issue isn't our business but we're postcolonials struggling to find our identity too. These themes are universal.

Barbara Kingsolver deals extensively with the importance of togetherness in a family in her book Pigs in Heaven. Through different twists and turns in the intricate plot she manages to have all of her characters end up being related to almost every other character in the book. She compares and contrasts the involvement of family in both the Cherokee nation as well as the white world. She demonstrates how togetherness even in the hardest of times help bring a person through a difficult situation. Kingsolver's using both obvious examples such as Alice's being separated from a number of husbands and Taylor's abandoning her devoted boyfriend to demonstrate how little the white society seems to value family. The first line of her book accurately describes this scenario throughout the whole book: "Women on their own run in Alice's family... Her husband, Harland is sleeping like a brick and snoring. To all appearances they are a home free couple sliding into their golden years, But Alice knows that's not hoe its going to go." (3 Kingsolver) However, when reading further into the book the reader gets a great sense of community when Alice and Taylor visit the Cherokee town Heaven. Everyone knows everyone else's family history, children, and especially gossip. Kingsolver stresses how important being close to family is in her description of the neighborhoods in the small town of Heaven. "It was Roscoe's mama's homestead land, sixty acres. Every one of them got sixty acres, back in the allotments. Most of them sold it or give it away, or got it stole out from them in some way. I don't know why she didn't, probably didn't get no offers. So we ended up here. When the kids each one got big, we told them to find a place to set a trailer house and go ahead." (221 Kingsolver) Family is the important theme that ties all of the characters together in the book. This is evident in the title which is the precedent for the book Pigs in Heaven. We learn of the story of the six pigs in heaven which is a constellation which both white and Indian people know. Constellations are connects to other stars just the way that family connects people. A star can exist alone just as any person can, but it is much more recognizable and beautiful if it is connects to other stars in a constellation formation.

The novel Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver is a book for all ages. Not only does it deal with external conflicts but internal conflicts as well. A brilliant cast of characters include Taylor, who is trying to run from the law; Turtle, a six year old girl of Cherokee background; Alice, Taylor's mother who is trying to solve all troubles for her daughter; Jax, Taylor's insecure boyfriend who tries to relieve his stress by playing in a band; Barbie, a woman who revolves her whole life around that of a Barbie doll and tags along with Taylor to get away from her troubles; and Annawake, a lady who works as an attorney for the Cherokee nation who is persuing Taylor's illegal adoption. Throughout the novel these characters experience heartbreak, emotional breakdowns, betrayl, racial issues, and the test of family ties and the truth. I can compare Pigs in Heaven to a roller coaster. Some chapters keep you interested while others allow you to drift off. For the most part the novel kept you drawn into the ups and downs of the Greer family and those whose lives are connected. Through the book the reader may take two perspectives: understanding the ways of the Cherokees, or accepting the reasons of running behind Taylor and Alice. Throughout your reading you may find yourself taking sides and finding it hard to reason with the opposing side's opinions and values. Either way you become entangled in the crisis of each individual character. As the book comes to an end you watch how each crisis is dealt with and how it slowly becomes resolved, leading to the conclusion. The themes in the book such as tribal values versus family values, the tradition of independence in the Greer family, and cultural awareness develop and become more obvious as the conflicts start to unravel. The novel ends well, but raises many real questions that are not as easily answered. Overall, Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver gets my two thumbs up.

I recently read Pigs in Heaven for a twelfth grade english class and I found it very enjoyable. It was completely heartbreaking when Taylor Greer discovers that she may have to give up her adopted child, Turtle, whom is Native American. Turtle however, was literally given to Taylor after she had be sexually abused and could not walk or speak. I thought it was somewhat ironic that Native American tribes, such as the Cherokee tribe in Pigs in Heaven, can claim a child and take them back into their tribe after the child has been adopted by another family. When a Native American child is taken back, they are taken back by their tribe, not nessecairily their immediate family. Native Americans have many reasons to take a child back into their tribe. In this case, it was Annawake Fourkiller who brought it to Taylor's attention that Turtle's adoption papers may not be valid and that as recent as the 1970's, a third of all Native American children were taken from their families and put into white American homes. Annawake feels that this is one reason why Turtle may need to be with her tribe, the Cherokee Indians. However, Annawake seems to have internal angst against white families adopting Native American children because her twin brother, Gabriel, was taken out of their family when he was very young. These are two examples which I can agree with Annawake for wanting some justice. But I still cannot feel that it would be right if Turtle was to go back to the community which abused her and had given her up to a total stranger, which she has grown to know as her mother. Although it seems as if Taylor's world is ending as she drives across country, Pigs in Heaven has a promising ending. I discovered that this book shows the true importance of relationships and the complications that come along with them.

"Pigs in Heaven"is not only a very well written poetic novel but one that searches deep into it's characters souls. The everpresent question of "how can you be yourself and be responsible for your community", haunts the reader throughtout the entire novel. Kingsolver forces the reader to think about this burning question head on, by displaying both sides of the story of an Indian child being adopted by a white mother. "Pigs in Heaven" makes the reader aware of how one just one person can belong to something larger and be of the utmost importance to his or her community. Kingsolver's characters are three dimensional characters that are so realistic the reader feels they can understand and sympathize with each one. Through these highly indepth characters the author portrays the emotions of anguish, grief, distress and even love to the point that it's hard to distinguish the novel from real life. With charcters that emote such deep feelings not only the question of one person versus hummanity is answered in the novel. This novel also explores the question of "how much can one one person can stand before they reach their breaking point." Taylor the adoptive mother is forced to do the only thing she knows to be true;protecting her child. Then forced to change her entire life, the novel revolves around her changing lifestyle and what she must do to survive. Ultimatly the novel describes each characters breaking point and how much the human soul can take. The novel is beautifuly written, full of poetic symbolisim and indepth characters that search meaning in life's complications.

Someone gave me a Barbara Kingsolver book a few years ago. I just had not ever picked up anything of hers to read before. My friend loves this author, so much that he gave me this book and inscribed it. I seriously thought okay I will just read enough of it I can tell my friend thanks for the book, great book. I changed my mind just a few pages in. Within a few pages I was emotionally invested in finding out more about the characters in her books. She really fleshes out her characters, you can see what they are seeing, feel what they are feeling. Her words are rich and take you on a word journey you just want to keep following.

A Tapestry of Woven Characters and Plots I am very impressed with Barbara Kingsolver's ability to cleverly link most of the characters and plots presented in Pigs in Heaven. Everything is so intricately webbed together that the idea of linkage represents a great deal of symbolism in the novel. Fate rules the outcome of the story at the start of Chapter Two. The plot spills like a domino effect right after Taylor decides to turn the car around and listen to Turtle. Saving Lucky Buster prompted Turtle to be seen on Oprah by Annawake Fourkiller. Annawake then assumes and comes to find out that Turtle's adoption is in fact illegal, and the whole idea of the Nation having jurisdiction over child custody proceedings becomes a huge ordeal in the book. The fact that the Cherokee nation is such a unified tribe comes to our attention very often. Annawake says that family is the heart of the tribe. She states that the Cherokees love their children more than money. We soon come to find out that everyone in the tribe is related in some way or another to everyone else. Alice comes to notice that there is a tight bond between the generations on the reservation when she visits her friend Sugar. Alice feels accepted for the first time while she is in Heaven. She sees children respecting their elders with huge amounts of love and politeness, and children being shared from one mother to the next. As Sugar explains, the families themselves stick together like glue. Very rarely do you not see a plot of land with generations of an Indian family living together, "Well, because they'd just end up coming back anyway, because this is where the family is...listen, in the old days they didn't even go across the yard. They just added onto the house. When you married, the daughter and the husband just built another room onto her folks house"(220). The Cherokee Nation is one huge building block of generations. The existence of such a tight Cherokee family connection is the reason Cash feels totally lost in Jackson Hole. He is studied by fascinated tourists as if he were a freak of nature. Cash starts to regret his leaving the Nation, "It was a purely crazy thing for him to want to move up here two years ago. Oklahoma Cherokees never leave Oklahoma. Most don't even move two hickory trees away from the house where they were born"(114). He feels outcast and shamed and can easily identify with the pigeons who are displaced like he is in Jackson Hole. His heart draws him back to his family where his soul can be found. He is so incredibly linked to the tribe, that it is a security blanket for him: The massed reds flecked with gold are Indian blanket; Cash recalls this name with pleasure, like a precious possession lost and retrieved. He fixes the radio on the sweet, torn voice of George Jones and breathes deeply of the air near home(175.) The funny thing is that all of his immediate family is dead, his wife and his daughters, but he refers to those Cherokees even very distantly related to him as family. The idea that Cash is "found" by the Cherokees seems ironic. An individual is found by a community according to the tribe. One person versus many, the terms seem like opposites to me, but this is what Barbara Kingsolver was most interested in. In a documentary seen in class, Barbara Kingsolver says that one of the most intriguing connections is autonomy versus community in her books. The Cherokees feel that the individual is brought out among the community. A link exists between the self and the Nation. Everything is shared from children and homes to adoption decisions by the tribe. Another example of individual acceptance within the community is Boma Mellowbug. The Cherokees cherish the way she puts empty bottles on trees, in fact, the whole community gets involved and comes together to help create the bottle trees. The myth Annawake constantly tells others about the boys who wouldn1t listen to their mother has a linked meaning. The Indians see the six linked stars and refer to the constellation as the six pigs in heaven. White people see seven stars, the extra star Annawake said may be the mother who refused to let go of her children. Of course the mother portrayed in Pigs in Heaven who would do anything to keep her child was Taylor. Ironically, Taylor is then linked with the Cherokee myth. Whether there are six stars or seven stars the quantity of stars can be connected with the number main characters in the book; Alice, Taylor, Turtle, Annawake, Sugar, and Cash. Then in the end of the novel when Annawake decides joint custody would be the best alternative for Turtle, a sharing is being exchanged. In the end, the start of an acceptance between the Cherokee and the White people is being exerted.

I was immediately captured on the first page. Kingsolver's
ability to draw the reader into the story is a fine gift.
I could readily visualize the people, scenes she describes
as well as empathize with the emotion accompanying the
descriptions. The characters are very real and call forth
memories of similar individuals in my own past--their stories
are not "business as usual" but have some unexpected turns
and twists. Kept me engaged throughout.

Barbara Kingsolver's novel, "Pigs in Heaven",is a decent by not extraordinary novel. On a postive note, Kingsolver does an amazing job of presenting her characters in a realistic light. She accomplishes this by including scenes of casual events and dialouge that although not important to the plot are essential to the character development. Although I felt as if I could not really relate to the characters because I have never experienced the situations they faced, I still felt like I could imagine how they were feeling at particular moments in the novel. Although I found the characters to be very realistic and three dimensional, I thought that the story line was highly unrealistic. This bothered me a little because it made something as important as Native American adoption policies into a fairytale. It was too coincidental that all of the characters were connected in some way or another and even more unlikely that Alice and Cash would fall in love enabling Taylor to keep her preicious, Turtle. Another thing that did not make sense was the fact that Taylor would be foolish enough to take Turtle on public television after performing an illegal adoption. If Kingsolver's aim was to portray Taylor as a strong, intelligent and independent individual, she should not have had Taylor make such a studpid choice as to put herself and illegally adopted daughter right in the public eye. Nonetheless, Kingsolver still gives Taylor much deserved credit throughout the novel. All in all, "Pigs in Heaven",is a good book with an unusual plot twist. I enjoyed the fact that it ended on a happy note, something I am not used to!

I liked this sequel to "The Bean Trees" very much. I thought Taylor's dilemma was heart-wrenching and that the outcome would be devastating. However, a convenient relationship ends up saving the day. This made me feel good for Taylor, but it also made me feel that such an outcome was contrived for the sake of a satisfying ending. I still give this book 4 stars because the writing is powerful and the dilemma gripping.

Pigs in Heaven, by Barbara Kingsolver iz uh book dat will keep its readers attention throughout da story. Each character in da book possesses very unique an' unusual characteristics. dis here allows fo' an interesting story dat keeps ya reading. Kingsolver used her writing talents ta create characters dat gots uh great influence over its readers. When reading dis here book ah felt dat ah could relate wiff da thoughts an' actions o' certain characters. Thus, dis here book improves da way its readers th'o't o' themselves an' o' da peeps around dem. ah also enjoyed reading Pigs in Heaven cuz it allows da reader ta gain an understanding an' appreciation o' da Cherokee Nation in Heaven, Oklahoma. Kingsolver explicitly describes da history an' culture o' da Cherokee tribe in great detail. da reader iz introduced ta certain members o' da tribe an' traditional events such as hog fries an' stomp dances. Thus, he/she has uh sense o' feeling "included' within da Cherokee tribe an' they customs. Pigs in Heaven deals wiff da theme o' interconnectedness an' how one event can create uh chain o' different events. Each one o' deez events can significantly effect da lives o' many individuals. However ah feel dat dis here theme iz over exaggerated ta da point where da story line actually seems unrealistic. Aside from dis here, da book iz very interesting an' ah would strongly recommend dat it be read. fo' as ya read further into da book ya'll notice dat Kingsolver attempts ta convey important messages while resolving da books conflicts. An example o' dis here iz dat in order ta live uh life o' happiness ya mus' put da negative aspects o' yo' past behind ya. Overall, Pigs in Heaven consists o' important lessons ta be learned, an' it contains valuable components dat iz forever placed in da minds o' its readers.

This is a truly beautiful book. The characters of "Pigs In Heaven" leap off the page, so lifelike that it is entirely possible to believe you'll bump into them in the street someday. And the plot is no more and no less strange and wonderful than life itself. Kingsolver is one of those rare writers who know exactly how to convey the human experience, in all its humor and tragedy, without patronising for a minute -- she stares you right in the eye the whole time. Bravo.

In the beginning of Barbara Kingsolver's book Pigs in Heaven, I had a little bit of trouble keeping track of the characters' different names. The fact that the names Turtle and Taylor both started with the letter T constantly made me look back in my notes to differentiate between the two. Nothing too exciting occurred in the first chapter, only the basic setting, which kept changing with the arrrival of new characters. Chapter two started to set the stage when Lucky Buster was introduced, and the story began to develop from there. Whenever I read a book I always put myself in the shoes of the characters and try to see what they're going through, and I decide what I would do. Turtle, one of the main characters in the story, was definitely thought provoking because she wasn't a normal six year old. I have a six year old sister who plays with barbies and many other toys, and is constantly running around and yelling. Turtle, on the other hand, just sits and obeys and always tells the truth. I wonder what a psychiatrist today would say about a child like that. I know that life can toss problems in an instant and one must come up with answers quickly because one wrong move, and a person's life can be ruined forever. I was beginning to worry that Kingsolver lived in this fantastical world where everything was perfect and everyone got what they wanted in the end if they were good and waited. I thought I knew what the ending would be, but was proven wrong when I got there. The end really provided closure for the story, but if a sequel was written I don't know whether or not the decision would prove to be in the best interests of the main character. Overall I was pleased with the book and I couldn't put it down because I was anxious to see what would happen. Kingsolver introduces her characters and skips back and forth between different places so I had to keep reading on if I wanted to know more, which I wanted. I'm definitely happy with the way Kingsolver ended her story but wonder if that would ever happen in real life.

I was amazed by Barbara Kingsolver's brilliant writing. Her figurative language gave new dimensions to the story. The imagery provided vivid pictures that allowed my mind to grasp on to the surroundings and become a part of the story. In "Pigs in Heaven" she brought about the importance of family and the culture clash that threatens to break it apart. Through this book I saw how much appreciation the Cherokee Nation had for their environment and I became disgusted with the capitalistic society that is America today.

"Pigs in Heaven" tells the story of Taylor Greer and her adopted daughter, Turtle, who had been abused and came from the Cherokee Nation. Six-year-old Turtle sees a man fall off of Hoover Dam and though nobody believes her initially, after his rescue fame comes her way. This heroism gets her on "Oprah" where she is recognized as a Cherokee child and her life begins to change drastically.

I highly recommend this book, because I feel there is such a variation of characters that every person can relate to someone in the story. "Pigs in Heaven" is a wonderful novel...definitely give it a try.

One of the key issues brought into light in Barbara Kingsolver's novel Pigs in Heaven, is the seemingly insurmountable problem of to whose care should a formerly abused child be placed under. With this question in consideration, the characters Turtle and Taylor come to mind. Due to Turtle's ethnic orgin, the young ambitious lawyer, played as Annawake Fourkiller, sees Turtle on TV with her adopted mother and has an epiphany. Not only is this her big opportunity as a lawyer to heighten her career and aspirin the pain of the loss of her brother, but she could help bring a sense of strength back to the Cherokee Nation. She plans on doing so by returning the diplaced Turtle back to where she belongs regardless of whether or not it would break Taylor and Turtle's spirits. This reoccuring theme is often brought up in everyday life. Often a child is raised for years by foster parents of different racial background but later taken away to be replaced with his or her biological parents due to fear that the child will lose touch with the richness of its' culture. On many occasions children have been placed back into the homes of abusive and/or irresponsible parents. Even though Pigs in Heaven did not end so tragically and instead has a rather pleasant ending, the issue remains.

I think that Ms. Kingsolver's writing techniques are wonderful. She has the ability to keep your interest no matter what the subject matter. I think she could talk about dust on a counter top and make it interesting. Also the way she can switch back and forth from character to charachter, take you through many different stories and points of veiw, and then wrap it all up very nicley at wonderful conclusion in the end is pure artistic talent. This way of writting Kingsolver has is quite noticable in this sequal to her novel, The Bean Trees, which also shares this style. Though The Bean Trees is probably higher on my list than Pigs in Heaven, They are both beautiful peices that compliment one another. Barbara Kingsolver writes so well in my opinion that you don't necessarily have to read the first book to enjoy the sequal, but it might give you a better apreciation of the main characters. I have to admit just form reading the summarys of these two, I was not interested at all, but once I read them I was happy to say that I had. Kingsolver will make you laugh, cry, experience joy, and even get angry ect... all for the love you will feel for the characters Taylor and her daughter Turtle in Pigs in Heaven.

I love this author's characters. And the absolute poetry and profundity of some of her prose make this - like all
her other novels that I've read so far - a pure joy to read. If you are like me, you will not soon forget any
Kingsolver story...and may even find yourself mulling over a character's viewpoint on something years after reading it. And, really, isn't that what good books are all about?

I did a Major Author project on Barbara Kingsolver, and while I think Kingsolver is a good, sometimes truly great writer, this book feels as if it was thrown together without thought to characterization. Taylor Greer, the practical, funny heroine of The Bean Trees, is now freaked out and flighty, dragging her daughter Turtle from Tuscon to Seattle on the chance that a Cherokee court would find her adoption invalid. The attorney heading the charge against Taylor, Annawake Fourkiller, is attempting to right the wrong done by her twin brother's adoption by a white family by bringing Turtle, who was abandoned by her mother and molested by her father, back to the tribe. I understand the importance of cultural heritage, but here Kingsolver uses heavy-handed symbolism--eg, using a common milk allergy to symbolize Taylor's cluelessness and Turtle's separation from Cherokee culture--in a way that makes you want to gag. There are about a million things that get at me about this novel. Taylor's temporary insanity, Annawake's militarism.... You know, I figured out the solution that Kingsolver came up with around page 150--of course, I'm separated from the situation--but wouldn't Annawake, an attorney, realize these kinds of things? Speaking of attorneys, why didn't Taylor get one? Because Kingsolver was obviously trying to force 350 pages out of something that really deserved only 50.

This is a sequel to The Bean Trees, and I'm so glad I read it. Not that TBT needed a follow up, but this was a delicious ending. I'd've liked to see more of Lou Ann, and less of Barbie. But the language of this book, the way these people speak was perfect, engaging, delightful. The story was good too, of course.

With 250+ millions of human beings in the whole US of A, what a fortuitous coincidence that all these people are connected via cousin Sugar. Unbelievable. And then how convenient that Alice and Cash fall for each other! There are supermarket paperback romances with sturdier storylines! I enjoyed the moral questions that Kingsolver raises, but the vehicle to express these issues is quite poor. I think _Animal Dreams_ is a million times better, and _The Poisonwood Bible_ a trillion times better.

In the novel Pigs in Heaven, Barbara Kingsolver has demonstrated her outstanding ability to captivate the reader. However, this novel produces many controversial issues that are prevalent in the world today. The issue of Turtle, for example, is surfaced when Annawake comes across the young Cherokee, appearing on Oprah. This incident sets off a series of events that constructs the rest of this extraordinary novel. Kinglsolver uses common, everyday language in order to relate this story to her readers. The book's two main characters, Taylor and Turtle Greer, immediately captivate anyone who opens this novel. Even though there is an extreme moral dilemma about whether or not Turtle should stay with Taylor, the reader has the tendency to sympathize more with Taylor as opposed to Annawake. Annawake, a young lawyer, fresh out of law school, is very determined to keep the Cherokee nation intact. This determination partially comes from the loss of her twin brother Gabe, who was taken away by a white family. Unfortunately, these dilemmas went unanswered at the end of the novel. Although uplifting, the ending seems somewhat convenient and unrealistic. Overall this novel was a joy to read and I would be more than willing to recommend it to a friend.

Overall I think that Pigs In Heaven is an interesting novel. It is a story that allows the reader to feel connected with the characters. One of the most important themes in the novel is the relationship between the three females in the Greer family. Taylor, Alice, and Turtle all look out for one another and are very supportive of each other. Taylor does everything possible to protect her adopted daughter Turtle from being taken away by Annawake, a lawyer. The relationship between Taylor and Turtle is interdependent, because they both need each other in their lives. They both desperately do not want to get separated from one another so Taylor and Turtle run away in order to stay away from Annawake. Despite all of the hardships that the two are forced to go through, their love and trust for one another is what gives them the will to carry on.
The relationship between Taylor and her mother Alice is built on a foundation of trust. Alice is always there for Taylor right away when she needs help. Every new day presents another challenge for Taylor and Alice makes each one a little bit easier to go through. Taylor, Turtle, and Alice all bring hope into each other's lives and without each other they would be very lonely and hopeless.

Pigs in Heaven, by Barbara Kingsolver, was a wonderfully written novel filled with excellently portrayed three dimensional characters all linked to create a superb piece of work. Kingsolver did a great job linking the characters in this novel. I especially enjoyed how, at the conclusion of this novel, Cash and Alice came together, allowing for Turtle to stay with Taylor and her discovered grandfather. This was a well thought out novel and I'm glad it had such a positive ending. Since I had already read the Bean Trees, the first novel in this sequel, I had a little bit more information on these characters and I thought it was tremendous how the author continued to carry out each character's personality as she wrote the second part of her sequel. Each character was so well thought out and it was so easy to become familiar with them and their ways. I especially enjoyed reading about Turtle and Barbie. Turtle was such a great character and it was so easy to fall in love with her as soon as you found out her name. Barbie was such a thorough chaaracter who was so well thought out from head to toe. I loved to see how these characters progressed and I can't wait to see if they are further developed in a third part in this excellent sequel.

Pigs in Heaven has little to do with the title itself. It's actually the battles of a silent young Cherokee girl who by mistake ends up with a young woman just getting out into the world by herself. They end up with eachother by pure fate, and head out onto a journey that will bring you closer to the roots of your own freedom and love. Throughout this brightly written novel you will find yourself smiling as the plot takes you away

This may be my favorite book of all time! I've so many pages marked to revisit that I may as well read it again. I want to be friends with Alice! She is my favorite character and I'd love to have a long talk with her. Kingslover is magnificent!

When I began reading the book, I was a feeling a little disappointed that it just couldn't reproduce the perfection of The Bean Trees (admittedly a tough task). But for everyone who fell in love with Taylor and Turtle and wished the Bean Trees would never end, this is a wonderful continuation after all. Kingsolver does introduce a rather mind-boggling number of characters this time around, which slows the novel down in the middle, but I'd advise any reader to stick with it! I've always been interested in Native American families, and the later chapters in particular give a taste of life and people on a reservation that I doubt you could receive anywhere else, short of visiting one--It was magical and satisfying. The development of Alice, Taylor's mother, who was only given brief lines in the last book, was another incredible, enjoyable accomplishment by Kingsolver. If you read The Bean Trees--read Pigs in Heaven.

This is one of my all time favourite novels. Barbara Kingsolver manages to create such deeply convincing characters that as a reader I really do care what happens to them. What I particularly like is that this story gets its tension not from a conflict between a heroine and a villain, but a conflict between two heroines, each with an equally valid claim. Moreover, this set-up, which seems to point towards a tragic ending, is believably resolved in an amicable and satisfaying way. Kingsolver's prose is engaging and memorable as ever, her eye for detail creates the delicious texture of the narrative. And extra Brownie points for including a heart-warming romance between two older people!

See "a reader from Texas" (8/9/99) and ditto the comments. Add that I'm familiar with the Trail of Tears, minored in English, am an avid reader ... and Barbara Kingsolver is a breath of fresh air in modern literature. (Yes, I've read all her other books too.) Read this if for no other reason than the Indian Child Welfare Act and Annawake Fourkiller's interpretation..

I just read Pigs in Heaven by Barbara Kingsolver. This book is a sequel to The Bean Trees. Pigs in Heaven follows up with Taylor and her "adopted" daughter, Turtle. I fell in love with this book because of the author's use of imagery and figurative language. The author's writing style helped me visualize vivid pictures in my head which made me feel like I was in the book. This book shows that family is very important as well as addressing the conflict between the Cherokee Nation and the American culture. I learned while reading this book that family is very important and people would do anything for their family members. As you can see, I not only loved this book but it also taught me that family is important and to never give up on the ones you love. I would recommend this book in a heartbeat to anyone who loves stories about family and trying to stick together. This was a fantastic book and I rate this four stars.

I have seen many harsh reviews of this book, but as someone who read it in the midst of a comprehensive survey of Native American literature, which lasted for two years, I must speak out in favor of Barbara Kingsolver's bravery in using levity, and at times, almost fantastic twists of fate to represent her Native and Euro-American characters as equally flawed, and equally open to the forces that rule the universe. I enjoy Kingsolver's use of the "small world theory" in bringing Alice and Cash together as much as I enjoy her realism in pitting Annawake and Taylor against one another. I think that her ability to mix serious topics with simple human interest is unique and compelling. This novel, in my opinion, was a worthy follow up to "The Bean Trees," a masterpiece of contemporary American literature.

Even though this is at times improbable, Kingsolver does her usual storytelling with a memorable cast
and wonderful interactions. I felt this book didn't have the depth of her others, but is enjoyable
nonetheless.

After reading this sequel to The Bean Trees, I found it a bit better, but still, it bored me. I just don't think I care for Kingsolver's style of writing.
Taylor's daughter Turtle was adopted illegally and the adversary, a female attorney Annawake, wants to contest the adoption, and put Turtle back with her indian blood kin where she feels she belongs.
The whole story focuses on this issue, and I just found it monotonous to say the least. There are other more worthwhile books to read for sure!!

This book just didn't live up to The Poisonwood Bible in terms of character development and plot line. That said, there is some very interesting background about the Native American struggle to regain their cultural heritage and how that plays out against other challenges their tribes are facing. The storyline didn't seem very realistic to me (altough perhaps it is, given Kingsolver's penchant for detailed research)which was somewhat disappointing. She's an excellent writer but if you're only going to read one of her novels, this isn't it.

It was a nice ending to The Bean Trees. The author continued her story by addressing the modern day plight of the American Indians in our country. I enjoyed revisiting the characters and meeting the new ones that made this book an enjoyable read.

I had really really enjoyed reading _The Bean Trees_.
The characters, the plot, the writing...everything was so mind-capturing. That's why I wanted to read _Pigs in Heaven_ when I heard that it was a sequel to _The Bean Trees_. However, I was very disappointed. Overall, it was an okay book. I had expected the storyline to move through smoothly, but it felt like a roller coaster...lots of bumps and turns. Certain character who seemed to be of importance made their "grand entrance" into the book, such as Lucky, Rose, Franklin, and Barbie, but exited quietly. It would have been so much more interesting if they had "finished up" their roles in the story. Especially Lucky, who was the actual beginning of the story, and Barbie, who seemed to have had a big influence on the characters. I also didn't like how the focus shifted a little from Taylor and Turtle to Cash and Alice. Which, in my opinion, was a totally unnecessary result. The only reason I finished reading the book was because I had started to read it.

Barbara Kingsolver's book is noble in the fact that she tries to shed light on an important social issue, but it was simplistically written. Metaphors and smilies are beautiful when well written, but Mrs. Kingsolver abuses and misuses them. Its unfortunate that the author wrote this book at the expense of an issue like the Indian Child Welfare Act.

I picked up this book while staying at my Aunt's house. I needed a book and found this one in her collection. So I didn't read Bean Tree's first. Maybe I would have liked the book more if I would have read Bean Tree first. The book didn't grab my attention until about the third chapter. I found the book nteresting but somewhat unbelievable. The Native American aspect of the book was intriguing. An alright read, but nothing to rave about

It was a nice ending to The Bean Trees. The author continued her story by addressing the modern day plight of the American Indians in our country. I enjoyed revisiting the characters and meeting the new ones that made this book an enjoyable read.

I had really really enjoyed reading _The Bean Trees_.
The characters, the plot, the writing...everything was so mind-capturing. That's why I wanted to read _Pigs in Heaven_ when I heard that it was a sequel to _The Bean Trees_. However, I was very disappointed. Overall, it was an okay book. I had expected the storyline to move through smoothly, but it felt like a roller coaster...lots of bumps and turns. Certain character who seemed to be of importance made their "grand entrance" into the book, such as Lucky, Rose, Franklin, and Barbie, but exited quietly. It would have been so much more interesting if they had "finished up" their roles in the story. Especially Lucky, who was the actual beginning of the story, and Barbie, who seemed to have had a big influence on the characters. I also didn't like how the focus shifted a little from Taylor and Turtle to Cash and Alice. Which, in my opinion, was a totally unnecessary result. The only reason I finished reading the book was because I had started to read it.

Barbara Kingsolver's book is noble in the fact that she tries to shed light on an important social issue, but it was simplistically written. Metaphors and smilies are beautiful when well written, but Mrs. Kingsolver abuses and misuses them. Its unfortunate that the author wrote this book at the expense of an issue like the Indian Child Welfare Act.

I picked up this book while staying at my Aunt's house. I needed a book and found this one in her collection. So I didn't read Bean Tree's first. Maybe I would have liked the book more if I would have read Bean Tree first. The book didn't grab my attention until about the third chapter. I found the book nteresting but somewhat unbelievable. The Native American aspect of the book was intriguing. An alright read, but nothing to rave about

Barbara Kinsolver is one terrific story-teller. I have read all of her books. But this one is not my favorite. I loved the colorful characters and delicious descriptions of people and places, but I found the plot a bit contrived. Of course, it is fiction, but I thought it was a little too neat the way the characters were finally connected. Too cute. Still, I loved the book! I read THE BEAN TREES first and so I HAD to read this also. Her more recent novels, THE POISONWOOD BIBLE and PRODIGAL SUMMER, I think, are simply sensational.

We read and are reviewing the book "Pigs in Heaven" by Barbara Kingsolver.
This was a beautifuly written novel. Ms. Kingsolver has an amazing way with words. The way she turns a phrase is memorable and endearing. The theme that runs through this story stirs up many deep and far reaching feelings and ideas. This moving piece of literature reminds us all that it is not the outside, but what is on the inside that makes individuals special. This internal personage is also what connects us all to one another in very unique and eternal ways.

The first time I read The Bean Trees I was immediately attached to the young Cherokee, Turtle. I admit that I was hesitant to read Pigs in Heaven. I didn't want to be disappointed. After reading it I was relieved, while it is not as good as The Bean Trees, Pigs in Heaven did not let me down. It kept me attached to Turtle and her interactions and relationships between others. If you have read The Bean Trees and found yourself completely moved by it, I would recommend you to continue your reading through Pigs in Heaven. Nothing is ever as good as the first, but Kingsolver impressed me by writing a sequel that was truly impressive.

I liked the explanation of the political structure of the Cherokee nation and also the family relationships. I could see the little Indian girl in my mind while reading the book. I recommend this book for anyone. DON

One early morning, with my coffee in hand, I picked up this novel and began to read...I could not put it down until late that night when I had finished! This is truly a masterpiece of literature. Barbara Kingsolver has proven yet again the value of her words. It is a great story of Native Americans trying to keep their people together, while a mother struggles to understand their ways, and find the best situation for her daughter Turtle. Beautifully written, with a fabulous ending where everyone wins. I wont give too much else away- just trust me and read this book, you wont regret it!

SPOILERS..............SPOILERS................

I just started this book, after finishing "The Bean Trees," and was aware that there would be a custody dispute in this book. I was not aware that the dispute would be brought by a person of no relation to Turtle, and had no business involving herself in Turtle's life. Annawake thinks that Turtle needs to live among members of her tribe, so that "she will know who she is." If readers of the first book recall, Turtle did live among members of her own tribe for the first three years of her life, and was beaten and raped repeatedly, into muteness and near catatonic state. Taylor is the only mother Turtle has ever known and the only one to love and care for Turtle. None of this matters to Annawake, who is hellbent on restoring Turtle to the Cherokee Nation. I find this mindset offensive. Before Turtle is a Cherokee or anything else, she is a child, a PERSON, and all children need love and security and safety. If they have those needs met, their cultural heritage matters, but if those needs are NOT met, their heritage does not matter. What good will it do Turtle to live on Cherokee land if she is torn from the only mother she has ever known and is again permanently damaged by it, adding to already what was done to her? Add to that the fact that Annawake is not even a blood relative challenging the adoption, which would at least make sense, but just some troublemaking lawyer who doesn't care at all about Turtle the person, and her needs, just a little lump of Indian-ness, and is perfectly willing to destroy both Turtle's and Taylor's lives in order to install the lump of Indian-ness in her proscribed slot on Indian land.

I agree that all Indians need to do what they can to preserve their heritages but not at the price of emotional terrorism, which is what taking children away from the white parents who legally adopted them is.Turtle was not stolen or kidnapped, she was given to Taylor to save her life, and she would have been dead, with her Cherokee kind, had Taylor not taken her. Would Annawake have been happy then? I will not read this book further or any other by Kingsolver.

Not nearly as good as "Bean Trees" but it's not terrible or anything. It's a nice read and pretty enjoyable, although "The Bean Trees" really didn't leave any need to for a sequal in my opinion, but when a book is that successful why not I guess..... So if you loved "The Bean Trees", go for it, just know that it's just a hair less wonderful, but still pretty darn good.

Written so creatively and beautifully. Each character is completely unique and understandable which draws you deeper into the story. Her ability to weave such a beautiful story together with so many different lives is fascinating. These are great books and Kingsolver is an incredible author!

This is the sequel to The Bean Trees. Tragic, heartwarming, and educational. A story for all ages that transcends ethnic boundaries. A split second decision changes lives in unexpected ways. Enjoy!

Not my favorite Kingsolver book, but it's a nice story about a white woman's adoption of an Indian child. The purpose seemed to be to explain the Indian Child Welfare Act, but I found much of it hard to understand.

"Pigs In Heaven" was given to me by a friend of whom I have known for 5 months but yet admire this person dearly. "PIGS IN HEAVEN" was a "GREAT" book and Kingsolver can make one feel apart of the book as you read. I really recommend this book if you are the type of reader who can connect with the characters as you read. So I hope all of you can take the time to read on of Barbara Kinsolvers books and enjoy it as much as I have!

Pigs In Heaven is a great follow-up to Bean Trees. I haven't read The Bean Trees for several years and I still enjoyed the follow up, Pigs In Heaven. Barbara Kingsolver is a master of the English language. She is original, creative, heartfelt but not too simplistic. Her stories are well thought out and organized.

This is the kind of book teachers try to force upon students, making them experience this horror. This is the very worst of anything possible, I would buy all the copies and burn them if I could, but too bad I'm not that ric, so I must plea to you: BURN YOUR COPY BEFORE ITS TOO LATE

Barbara Kingsolver is a great storyteller and a sublime writer. Her skill at evoking emotion with her choice of nuanced wording is the best. Also loved "The Bean Trees" and "Flight Behavior"...and "HIgh Tide in Tucson" is outstanding.

I still have not read its prequel The Bean Trees,but Pigs in Heaven is a good book all alone.It focuses on Taylor Greer engaged in a tug-of-war with the Cherokee nation to keep her illegally adopted Cherokee daughter Turtle.Great imagery and character description,like with Taylor's boyfriend Jax and Cherokee lawyer Annawake Fourkiller.A beautiful story.

I loved this book! The writing was excellent and gives you a look into Indian and tribal life in a way that makes you stop and think. I highly recommend this book and also the first book - The Bean Trees

I was fairly disappointed by "Pigs In Heaven." I was expecting much deeper writing, rather than the simplistic, primative style that Kingsolver adopts for this novel. Furthermore, I found the characters far too ideal; they were very unrealistic. It seemed as though Kingsolver had a very good plot and well drawn characters going for her until she decided to round off the corners and sand everything down. The book also came to a close far too neatly for my taste.

Pigs in Heaven starts out well, but then we get dragged through the emotional mud of 2 women who can't relate to others in a healthy way. As the reader, I couldn't relate to or sympathize with either charachter. Kingsolver deals with Indian American issues as they pertain to adotion and slams everyone from adoptive parents to Mormons in the process! She tries to tie it all together with a happy ending that is far-fetched and just a little too easy. She wants to tackle major social issues and then turn it in to a happily-ever-after and I just didn't buy it. Not one of her better books.

I still have not read its prequel The Bean Trees,but Pigs in Heaven is a good book all alone.It focuses on Taylor Greer engaged in a tug-of-war with the Cherokee nation to keep her illegally adopted Cherokee daughter Turtle.Great imagery and character description,like with Taylor's boyfriend Jax and Cherokee lawyer Annawake Fourkiller.A beautiful story.

I loved this book! The writing was excellent and gives you a look into Indian and tribal life in a way that makes you stop and think. I highly recommend this book and also the first book - The Bean Trees

I was fairly disappointed by "Pigs In Heaven." I was expecting much deeper writing, rather than the simplistic, primative style that Kingsolver adopts for this novel. Furthermore, I found the characters far too ideal; they were very unrealistic. It seemed as though Kingsolver had a very good plot and well drawn characters going for her until she decided to round off the corners and sand everything down. The book also came to a close far too neatly for my taste.

Barbara Kingsolver has a tremendous insight for delivering a story of true meaning. Her ability to write characters so well is amazing. She is the embodiment of what a writer should be doing with their writing. In Pigs in Heaven, she once again delivers her normal brillance with her renown twist of moral. She continues to impress me more and more with her flirtatious means of storytelling. Four stars.

Pigs in Heaven starts out well, but then we get dragged through the emotional mud of 2 women who can't relate to others in a healthy way. As the reader, I couldn't relate to or sympathize with either charachter. Kingsolver deals with Indian American issues as they pertain to adotion and slams everyone from adoptive parents to Mormons in the process! She tries to tie it all together with a happy ending that is far-fetched and just a little too easy. She wants to tackle major social issues and then turn it in to a happily-ever-after and I just didn't buy it. Not one of her better books.

I really enjoyed this book. Barbara Kingsolver is a wonderful author and I can't wait to read more of her books. I was a little disapointed with the ending, but it was an overall success in my mind. I especially recommend this book and "The Bean Trees" (also by the author) to highschoolers who are discovering their identities.

Ho hum. I thought the plot to this novel was interesting, but the writing was boring. I read this before I read "The Poisonwood Bible", and almost didn't read "Bible" because I was so bored by this one. Mediocre at best. "The Poisonwood Bible" puts this book to shame!

Pigs In Heaven is a wonderful book and I enjoyed every page. However, I encountered many typos - especially in the last 50 pages or so. Some were not so easy to decipher even using context clues. The kindle edition needs further editing!

This book was incredible, I love Kingsolver's writing style and I couldn't pull myself away from the story. I highly recommend reading it if you're the kind of reader that values beautiful, lyrical and descriptive writing.

When I srated reading this book, I had hopes of actually enjoying it, but I was so very wrong. After finishing this book (Thank God), I sat back in amazement that someone could write so horribly. Kingsolver should be exposed for the crap, piece of junk, writer that she is. Go to Arizona and let her know yourself, you'll feel better.

Pigs in heaven is a great book. Kingsolver writes with a good style that really allows you to understand the characters' feelings. It shows how far a mother would go to keep her daughter from being taken from her. It was enjoyable to read, and I would definitely recommed reading the book!