Unsheltered
By Barbara Kingsolver
Harper, 9780062684561, October 2018, 480pp.
The Short of It:
Kingsolver is known for taking on the big issues and she does the same here.
The Rest of It:
Unsheltered tells the story of two families, from two different centuries, who live in the same house. The present day family struggles financially. The house is in disrepair, they are caring for an elderly parent, insurance isn’t covering it and although they did everything right, this couple is on the brink of ruin. It’s a situation that many find themselves in and it’s definitely a story readers can relate to.
But the other story, the one from the past, is not as compelling. That story involves science, truth and how the people of that time would rather turn a blind eye to Darwin’s research than investigate it.
Two very different families but what they have in common is the home they live in. Interesting concept, but overall, it didn’t work for me. I loved the present day story, but really did not enjoy the story from the past and found myself skimming through it.
I think there are a lot of things to ponder in Unsheltered such as our failing healthcare system, but the alternating timelines caused me to ultimately lose interest in the story as a whole.
Source: Review copy provided by the publisher.
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Book Chatter 
I had high hopes for this so I’m sorry to see it’s not well done. I’m kind of over the alternating timeline thing.
Oh, no… my expectations are pretty high, but the story from the past doesn’t sound interesting to me at all. Like Kathy, I’m tired of alternating timelines.
I probably wouldn’t have chosen this one anyway.
I haven’t read this one. I’m sorry it didn’t work for you. I hate when one story line is better than the other…especially alternating time periods.
It’s a shame the alternating time periods weren’t equally good.
The last few books of hers have been just okay. I was so looking forward to it too.
I’m passing on this one, I agree with the others, I’m not interested in alternating timelines
I passed on this one, and you make me thankful I did. Kingsolver is one of those authors who has continued to disappoint me with pretty much everything after The Poisonwood Bible.
I really liked Animal, Vegetable, Miracle but of course, that wasn’t fiction. I feel as if she writes in order to push an agenda… maybe lots of authors do but I don’t like for it to be cushioned between what could potentially be a good story.
I loved Kingsolver’s books up until Prodigal Summer. I couldn’t get into Poisonwood Bible (I’m probably the only person) and I haven’t read much of hers since.
I had started this one in audio but Kingsolver narrates it and I’m not fond of her as a narrator at all. I think this is one I’ll skip.