Book Review: Small Wonder

Small Wonder by Barbara Kingsolver

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is actually a re-read for me, and though I liked it a lot then, I appreciate it more now. The first time around, I had difficulty with the first few essays - "Small Wonder," "Saying Grace," were very well written, but didn't speak to me nearly the way the others did. They each have a message, a lesson, an opinion that some have interpreted as preachy, pretentious; to me, they're proof that it's possible to live differently and happily, but that the later is the more important of the two.

The part that surprised me the most about this collection, though, was how moved I was by the essays about people and relationships, not just about nature and environmental policy.

"Lily's Chickens" makes me smile when I think about it, as does "Going to Japan."

"Letter to My Mother" is a powerful selection of mini-essays within the essay; things Kingsolver recalled or felt from her childhood and her relationship with her mother, the beautiful and the complicated.

"And Our Flag Was Still There" captures Kingsolver's thoughts about the post-September 11th world and her reaction to her fellow citizen's reactions. I know some read a lot of negativity in this section, but I heard at least as much hope as disappointment in this passage. One quote in particular sticks with me: "There are as many ways to love America as there are Americans, and our country needs us all."

As the mother of a one-day teenager, "Letter to a Daughter at 13" was one of my favorites. Kingsolver shares stories from both her teenage years as well as experiences with her teenage daughter, particularly where guys are concerned. Her observations are so simple and so true - from liking what your boyfriend likes because of this inexplicable feeling that it's the only way you'll be able to stay together (and what worse fate than to be single!) to recognizing that no matter how much we love our children, eventually we have to accept the fact that with any luck they will become grown ups, on their own.

That essay also contained my favorite quote: "When you, my dear, were about two and a half, I carefully and honestly answered all the questions you'd started asking about reproductive organs. For several months thereafter, every time we met someone new... you'd look up earnestly and ask, 'Do you have a penis or a vagina?' If you are ever tempted to think my presence is an embarrassment to you, please recall that I stood by you during the 'penis or vagina' months, July to September 1989."

Oh, Barbara - you slay and inspire me.





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