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The Bean Trees

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The Bean Trees

Written by: Barbara Kingsolver
Narrated by: C. J. Critt
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About this listen

Clear-eyed and spirited, Taylor Greer grew up poor in rural Kentucky with the goals of avoiding pregnancy and getting away.

But when she heads west with high hopes and a barely functional car, she meets the human condition head-on. By the time Taylor arrives in Tucson, Arizona, she has acquired a completely unexpected child, a three-year-old American Indian girl named Turtle, and must somehow come to terms with both motherhood and the necessity of putting down roots.

Hers is a story about love and friendship, abandonment and belonging, and the discovery of surprising resources in apparently empty places.

©1988 Barbara Kingsolver (P)2004 Recorded Books, LLC
Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Women's Fiction
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What listeners say about The Bean Trees

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Couldn’t turn it off!

Beautifully written and narrated. I cried, laughed and finished the story in record time. Can’t recommend enough!

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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A Nice Clean Feel Good Book

This was such a nice story! The narrators did a great job, unravelling a nice story about good friends, helping each other out with different situations. Enjoyed listening to it, and often had a huge smile on my face while listening.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

It was a school project so not my type of genre

Too strong on the drama, more of a book on feminine life, enjoyed by females more I'm guessing... Still ok, I recommend if this type of genre is for you.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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A wonderful story

This is a beautiful, well written and read story that still resonates with America today.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

oh, Turtle

I am so happy Turtle got a happy ending. it comes to enforce the idea that all kids deserve a parent, but not all parents deserve a kid.

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4 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars

Debut novel, you can see flashes of her genius

It look a while to get into this novel. The prose was good, but I felt a a lack of depth in character development. Taylor is likable stereotypical plucky protagonist. The supporting characters, are quirky and memorable, but often verging on caricature.

This novel also touches on the themes of poverty, sexism and migration - but again, Taylor's thoughts were a bit too intrusive and, well, bland - and it detracted from the tale.

Having said that I have been gifted the sequel and will definitely be reading it, if only to see if Turtle develops beyond being a shadowy, literary McGuffin.

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loved the book!

I dont have much to say, but I would reccomend listening at x1.25 speed because it's a little slow. Really good book however!

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3 people found this helpful

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Pleasant to listen to…and beautifully poetic ending.

A pleasant listen whilst doing the days’ tasks. Thought provoking too. It was a good read

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Meh

I bought this audio book after listening to the amazing Poisonwood Bible, and reading reviews. This story was a disappointment and didn’t capture my attention, and the narrator was meh.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

very disappointed

struggled to finish this book. narrator was very boring. large caps between chapters. do not recommend this audio book

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