Kingsolver is my Queen

I am in the midst of a royal obsession – reading and/or listening to Barbara Kingsolver’s entire catalog of work. Currently, I’m listening to Animal, Vegetable, Miracle, a book I read many years ago with some resentment. I mean, how wonderfully privileged must one be to be able to leave one state and travel to another to reside in a family owned property and make a game effort at living off the land? 

Fifteen years later, and listening to the words actually being spoken by the author, this book is hitting differently. She isn’t elitist at all – instead she and her family were committed to questioning the food supply in this country and devoted to doing better. 

Shouldn’t we all try to be?

Kingsolver’s determination to be a more conscious consumer in the most fundamental way is inspiring me to more diligently select and purchase the food I eat. While I’m unable to limit my diet to only foods grown nearby (I’d miss pineapple and avocados, in particular), I am seriously reconsidering the source of the meat and produce which constitutes my regular diet. This book makes it impossible for me to ignore the conditions under which the meat I eat is raised and the distance fruits and vegetables travel prior to landing on my dining table.

It’s just not right. 

Now that my grocery budget is only supporting myself, instead of a family of 4, it’s time for me to seek out the meat of animals who have been raised respectfully and humanely. The descriptions Kingsolver shares of the conditions endured by animals who populate factory farms are absolutely heartbreaking. I love my dog and cat and do my best to give them their best lives during their brief time on Earth. Shouldn’t I try to ingest animals who have been given the same?

In recent weeks, as you know, I’ve listened to Kingsolver’s Demon Copperhead (2x), The Bean Trees and just began Unsheltered this morning. Demon was performed by a wonderful narrator, Charlie Thurston, who provided a voice that embodied the characters in a way that I found completely authentic and genuine. The other works, however, have been read by the author herself and I’m beginning to think I’d recognize Kingsolver’s voice anywhere. Her almost languid pace, ever so slight drawl and occasional pronunciations which differ from those which are more familiar to me in the Northeast where I have lived my entire existence, hint at her Appalachia roots and convey her words in a way which I find very appealing. It’s like she’s sharing a story with me and I’m loving every minute of it – even when the tale is one of tragic circumstances and never ending challenge.

As the calendar year draws to a close, I’ve read more than 70 books, with Kingsolver’s works topping my list as favorites. 2025 comes with a personal challenge for myself to read everything she’s written. Happily, there are another dozen plus books to keep me busy and get my new year of reading off to a good start.

What was the best thing you read in 2024?

Have you ever committed to reading an author’s complete catalog of work?

What are you reading now?