Animal Dreams

Animal Dreams by Barbara Kingsolver


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Barbara Kingsolver's writing is so full of life, it pulses. Even places or people that have been dried out by droughts, poisoned by chemicals, or beaten down by life's disappointments end up springing back to life, sometimes despite themselves. That urge is there.

That life force seems to me to be such a distinguishing feature of Kingsolver's writing. There is plenty of suffering, death, and stagnation in this story, but pain is always presented as an obstacle to climb over and leave behind.

I love Codi and her self-doubt and her discovery of her passions. She always seems surprised when she finds something she likes. Then there's the delicious Loyd.

I read this years ago and this time through I think the world looked a bit different. I'm closer to Codi's age now; maybe it's the perspective.

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