In this collection of essays, novelist Kingsolver (Pigs in Heaven,
1993, etc.) displays considerable nature-writing talent, punctuated
by stretches of smarmy self-reflection and hit-or-miss musings on
issues ranging from biological determinism to the Gulf War.
Kingsolver was educated as a biologist and is an inveterate
traveler (some of these pieces appeared in the New York Times's
"Sophisticated Traveler" section and elsewhere) - her piquant
observations are, therefore, well founded. Her prose is
particularly vivid and enticing in those essays where she describes
the javelinas, coyotes, and roadrunners that share her desert
domain on Tucson's outskirts. A backpacking trip within the crater
walls of a massive, extinct Hawaiian volcano and a sojourn in the
West African country of Benin make for exciting and colorful
travelogues. A nice touch is when she returns with her daughter to
the Kentucky countryside of her childhood and visits the forests
and riverbanks where she first developed her appreciation of
nature. Elsewhere, unfortunately, Kingsolver's writing treks
through less attractive regions. Her visit to an abandoned nuclear
missile silo launches a tired diatribe against war; her opposition
to the US involvement in Iraq is superficially propounded; an essay
that begins with a man watching basketball on television evolves
into a familiar discussion on sex-role stereotyping, criticism of
The Bell Curve, and the male fear of female equality in sports.
Kingsolver seriously begs the questions in a discussion on violence
in the electronic media versus violence in literature when she
avers that researchers "have known for decades" that watching
violence causes violence. Kingsolver aficionados (and they are
praised and petted in this volume) will welcome these writings, but
newcomers might reject her serf-righteous chattiness. Mined
selectively, however, this will reveal some beautiful gems. (Kirkus
Reviews)
With the eyes of a scientist and the vision of a poet, Barbara
Kingsolver explores her trademark themes of family, community and
the natural world. Defiant, funny and courageously honest, High
Tide in Tucson is an engaging and immensely readable collection
from one of the most original voices in contemporary literature.
'Possessed of an extravagantly gifted narrative voice, Kingsolver
blends a fierce and abiding moral vision with benevolent and
concise humour. Her medicine is meant for the head, the heart, and
the soul.' New York Times Book Review
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