'Animal Dreams' by Barbara Kingsolver

Animal Dreams, Barbara Kingsolver (4)

This is the first Barbara Kingsolver book I have read, and I enjoyed it very much.  The story is told mainly from the voice of a daughter, with a few chapters by her father, a single parent raising two young girls. The oldest daughter, Codi, returns to her small hometown in Arizona to take care of her father, a very independent town doctor who has the first signs of dementia.  At the same time, her sister, with whom she is extremely close, has left for Nicaragua to work with the oppressed farmers of the country. What made this story more special than depressing were the interweaving stories of her family’s true background, the town’s Indian history, her sister’s exploits in the dangerous jungles of Nicaragua, and her attempts to find herself in all the puzzles.  Thrown in with all the drama are some beautifully described, pristine outdoor environments.  I found the main character broken, but likable.  I was rooting for her to ‘figure it out’ and be happy.  It was a good journey trying to get there.