I didn't think that I would like this book very much. I thought it would be another journal of thoughts that one has while they live in nature; just like Thoreau. But I was wrong. I actually really enjoyed reading the essays from this book. They were so well written and had such great imagery. The way Kingsolver described and used metaphors was so interesting. I honestly really loved her writing.
Out of all the essays we read from this book I would have to say "Creation Stories" was my favorite. Not only was her writing absolutley wonderful but I found the story of this essay really interesting. What I found very informative and fun to read about was the little things that the Native Americans called things in nature. For example: "Femaile Rain, it's called in Navajo: the gentle, furtive rains that fall from overcast skies between November and March. That was weather to drink and to grow on. [...] What we're waiting for now is male rain. Big, booming wait-till-your-father-gets-home cloudbursts that bully up from Mexico and threaten to rip the sky." I found these "nicknames" for the rain to be cute and smart.
Not only did this book have interesting "Creation Stories" but Kingsolver also put in her own way of thinking. As she talks about the scoarching heat and how every one waited to be rescued from it she says, "We revel in our misery only because we know the end, when it comes, is so good. One day there will be a crackling, clean, creosote smell in the air and the ground will be charged and the hair on your arms will stand on end and then BOOM, you are thrillingly drenched." I loved this quote so much and I loved the way she used this metaphor to describe life as well. It's true, most of the time when we wait, the outcome is so much better than it is when get what we want right away. If they hadn't waited for the "male rain" they would of just kept receiving the "female rain" which, yes was still good but the "female rain" brought what she says is, "weather to drink and grow on. But not to remember, anymore than a child remembers last birthday's ice cream, once the months have passed without another drop." The "male rain" was something to remember. If we wait for our "male rain," we will have something to remember too.
Out of all the essays we read from this book I would have to say "Creation Stories" was my favorite. Not only was her writing absolutley wonderful but I found the story of this essay really interesting. What I found very informative and fun to read about was the little things that the Native Americans called things in nature. For example: "Femaile Rain, it's called in Navajo: the gentle, furtive rains that fall from overcast skies between November and March. That was weather to drink and to grow on. [...] What we're waiting for now is male rain. Big, booming wait-till-your-father-gets-home cloudbursts that bully up from Mexico and threaten to rip the sky." I found these "nicknames" for the rain to be cute and smart.
Not only did this book have interesting "Creation Stories" but Kingsolver also put in her own way of thinking. As she talks about the scoarching heat and how every one waited to be rescued from it she says, "We revel in our misery only because we know the end, when it comes, is so good. One day there will be a crackling, clean, creosote smell in the air and the ground will be charged and the hair on your arms will stand on end and then BOOM, you are thrillingly drenched." I loved this quote so much and I loved the way she used this metaphor to describe life as well. It's true, most of the time when we wait, the outcome is so much better than it is when get what we want right away. If they hadn't waited for the "male rain" they would of just kept receiving the "female rain" which, yes was still good but the "female rain" brought what she says is, "weather to drink and grow on. But not to remember, anymore than a child remembers last birthday's ice cream, once the months have passed without another drop." The "male rain" was something to remember. If we wait for our "male rain," we will have something to remember too.