Amaryllis in Blueberry by Christina Meldrum
Published by Gallery, an imprint of Simon & Schuster
The first thing everyone seems to ask about Amaryllis in Blueberry is if it is like The Poisonwood Bible. The comparison seems obvious: an American family from the not-so-distant past, consisting of a mother, father, and four girls, move to Africa for a missionary endeavor. I will admit that, for the first portion of the book, I was unsure whether or not Amaryllis in Blueberry would end up being derivative of Kingsolver’s work, especially as the novel is narrated through multiple voices, as is The Poisonwood Bible. In the end, though, I truly do not think it was. The differences were not merely surface level either, the entire plot and feel of the book was different, all that was really shared was the plot point of a missionary voyage to Africa and the family size and structure, along with a couple of other shallow similarities (youngest daughter beloved of the mother, eldest daughter seemingly obsessed with her looks).
In Amaryllis in Blueberry, we begin with the family at home in the Midwest – although we see forward into their time in Africa immediately – and see them develop as people before they leave for Africa. Instead of coming directly from a strongly held religious belief, Dick Slepy’s decision to move his family to Africa so he can be a medical missionary arises from outside stimulus and he feelings and concerns about his family. The time in Africa is actually a surprisingly small portion of the novel, and even then Africa primarily presents a new setting that challenges the family to face their individual and group problems.
Each of the characters is severely flawed, but not so flawed that they seem absurd and unrealistic as a group, simply flawed enough to be recognizable as messily human. Their flaws as individuals and as a family forms the basis of Amaryllis in Blueberry and makes for a fascinating, realistic novel. Meldrum’s absolutely lovely writing serves to draw the reader immediately into the Slepy’s lives.
A well-written and well-plotted novel about a family’s darkest secrets. Recommended.
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Ah, I just read another review of this and it looks really good. I love the cover, of course, but I’m really digging family dramas and social studies, right now.
I should be starting this one tonight or tomorrow and I can’t wait!
I just read another review, too, and both of you give it a thumbs up.
I love the cover. It sounds fantastic. Thanks for the lovely review.
Alright, that is two positive reviews! I loved Poisonwood Bible, but I’m glad that despite the initial similarities, it sets itself apart.
Sounds delightful. I, too, love the cover. And yet another reminder that I need to read The Poisonwood Bible. It’s shameful that I haven’t read it yet. Can wait to dig into both of them.
I’m all over this one..great review!
Well done. You lked the story more than me, I really wanted to like it more than I did. I had hope throughout and while it is well written it just did not grab me.
I know what you mean. That is more or less how I feel about what I’m reading now
Looks like a fantastic read. I still haven’t picked up The Poisonwood Bible. More to be read, I guess.
I’ve had this on my radar since I first saw the cover. Thanks for the review, now I know I want to read it.
I had no idea it was that close to the Poisonwood Bible. Still need to read that.
I’m one who enjoyed The Poisonwood Bible. I know many did not. So, I love the premise of this one and would like to read and see how it compares.