Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 25, 1994 TAG: 9411050011
SECTION: BOOK PAGE: E4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: REVIEWED BY MARY ANN JOHNSON
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
An old Cherokee myth has it that you must respect your people or you will turn into a pig and rise into the heavens. The moral of this myth serves as the basis for Barbara Kingsolver's magical new novel, "Pigs in Heaven."
In Kingsolver's previous novel, "The Bean Trees," her main character, Tayor Greer, found an abused and abandoned Cherokee girl in the front seat of her car. She adopted the child, and because of the girl's quiet manner and unshakeable grasp, named her Turtle.
"Pigs in Heaven" picks up their story several years later. Turtle is now 6 years old. She and Taylor live with that wonderful character, Jax. Taylor's mother Alice is on hand to add dimension to the story as well as to provide resolution to the conflict that arises.
On a visit to the Hoover Dam, Turtle sees a man fall into a large drain pipe. It takes perserverance on Taylor's part to convince security and emergency personnel to believe the child's story and to undertake a rescue attempt. The retarded Lucky Buster consequently is saved, and Turtle becomes a national hero.
When Turtle appears on the Oprah Winfree show, Annawake Fourkiller sees her and correctly guesses her heritage. A sharp, fledgling lawyer who is determined to keep her Cherokee tribe together, Annawake raises questions about the legality and propriety of Turtle's adoption.
Artful narrative, strong character development and humor enable Kingsolver to achieve remarkable balance about a complicated and frequently emotional issue. With sensitivity to everyday realities and with vision that encompasses the needs and beliefs of varied cultures and lifestyles, Kingsolver offers an imaginative story that livs both in the mind and in the heart.
Mary Ann Johnson teaches at Roanoke College.
by CNB