Animal Dreams

Over our weekend trip to San Francisco I was reading Barbara Kingsolver's Animal Dreams. As always, Kingsolver has so many layers that relate the natural world to the emotional, human realm. There are so many different angles to read her books with, it blows my mind how she can be such an integrated writer. I have been dying to discuss with some one all of the different messages within the book. An awesome book for a book club (or environmental science class, sociology class, psychology class, history class- the Nicaraqua aspects are written with a great perspective). Here are a few of my favorite quotes/moments...

"[Hallie] wanted to save the world"
"No, Pop, that's not true. She wanted to save herself just like we all do."
"Save herself from what?"
"From despair. From the feeling of being useless. I've about decided that's the main thing that separates happy people from the other people: the feeling you are a practical item, with a use, like a sweater or a socket wrench."

"You know what Loyd told me one time?"
"No"
"He thinks people's dreams are made out of what they do all day. The same way a dog that runs after rabbits will dream of rabbits. Its what you do that makes your soul- not the other way around."

Such insightful discussions of vocation in this book, just under the surface. Kingsolver seems to be making comments on one's contribution to society and especially one's small community. That you are what you do and what you give of yourself. How you open up to the world's possibilities, and how you find meaning in your pursuits.

"Those first few weeks are an unearthly season. From the outside you remain so ordinary, no one can tell from looking that you have experienced an earthquake of the soul. You've been torn asunder, invested with an ancient, incomprehensible magic. It is the one thing we never quite get over: that we contain our future."

This last piece on being pregnant is a pretty amazing passage. It is the first book to ever depict pregnancy as something that is not so scary and is in so many ways a natural progression and extension of yourself... A neat meeting of the natural and emotional world again.

Anyways, this book is a powerful story of coming of age, making amends with your past to follow your future, and of looking to the natural world for clues. It is also a story of sisters, and of learning to really open yourself to others, regardless of what may come. I loved it. My other long time Kingsolver favorite is Prodigal Summer but this one could be edging into first. It comes highly recommended and a built in discussion buddy!