Play Book Tag discussion

Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver - 4 stars - My Review

Protagonist Dellarobia Turnbow, an unhappily married mother of two, lives on her in-laws’ property in the Appalachian rural community of Feathertown, Tennessee. A colony of monarch butterflies has migrated to their property, resulting in an online sensation and eco-tourism. A scientist arrives to study the butterflies and enlists Dellarobia’s help. Her father-in-law wants to sell the timber where the butterflies are wintering.

This is an alternative fiction where monarch butterflies have gotten their signals crossed, and instead of wintering in Mexico (as they actually do), they have, instead, migrated to Tennessee. It is climate fiction, where the main conflict is between the patriarch, Bear Turnbow, who wants to sell the woodlands to a logging company and Dellarobia who wants to protect and study the butterflies. Bear’s wife, Hester, wants to protect them for religious reasons. It is also a story of an unhappy marriage. Dellarobia and husband, Cub Turnbow, got married as teens when she became pregnant. She had been hoping to go to college.

I very much enjoyed the science-related content, and there is a sizeable amount related to global warming, environmental impact of clear-cutting, migration, entomology, and species extinction. It contains descriptions of farming, particularly related to raising sheep, and the everyday life of a family. There is also a lot of political conflict in this novel, with characters representing climate change deniers in conflict against environmentalists. Education plays a key role in the plot.

The primary drawback is that the science content is presented in lengthy sections of dialogue between the scientist and the protagonist or the protagonist and her children. If done only once or twice, it would be fine, but these types of teaching moments occur throughout. The characters are well-formed, and Kingsolver has a way with words, particularly her descriptions of the natural world. Personally, I prefer a more subtle approach, but overall, I found it well worth reading.

Excellent review as always. I liked this book a lot too. I read it when it first came out and I might want to read it again - or perhaps one of her books I haven't read.

Her female characters always interest me. Dellarobia is smart and scientific, even without college. I like when a character breaks away from a stereotype.

I think finding "teachable moments" is a very effective way to teach/learn, to take advantage of a spike in interest. But I agree it could disrupt the flow in fiction, and it might explain why some people avoid her books. Personally I find it a very enjoyable way to learn about something new. I haven't read a Kingsolver book in a long time and

(view spoiler)[ I think of this book sometimes when I see bright orange fall leaves in a forest that look like fire when the light hits them right. Was there an actual fire in this book or was it an illusion (or both)? I read it nearly a decade ago, so I might be confusing it with another book. (hide spoiler)]

NancyJ wrote: "This is an excellent review as always. I really enjoyed this book, and your summary brings back memories. I think the teachable moments aspect of the book is an effective way of teaching/learning, ..."
Thanks, Nancy. I agree it is a good way to teach. Unfortunately, I think for most people reading her books she is "preaching to the choir" as the saying goes. I wonder if climate change deniers would even read a book like this.

Joy D wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "This is an excellent review as always. I really enjoyed this book, and your summary brings back memories. I think the teachable moments aspect of the book is an effective way of teac..."

Note - while editing my comment, I was interrupted, and I mistakenly erased part of my original message.

If they didn't know the book was about climate change they might read it (perhaps a woman in Appalachia might read it). My first reaction to your question was - I don't think they are readers, but of course that is mean, and I hope not true. I read the book so long ago, I don't know if I knew much about climate change back then.

One can hope! I sometimes think this stuff is obvious, but I know there are lots of people to reach that may not have an extensive background in science, and any time an author try to help, I think it is a worthy goal.