“People wonder why the novel is the most popular form of literature; people wonder why it is read more than books of science or books of metaphysics. The reason is very simple; it is merely that the novel is more true than they are.”- G.K. Chesteron
In general, it is a strong belief among students that novels are more popular than reading books of science or history. In my own opinion, I agree with G.K. Chesteron's quote in regard's to Barbara Kingsolver's novel The Poisonwood Bible. Novels such as The Poisonwood Bible tend to tell stories that the reader can often relate to or find truth in the words of such fictional characters. In essence, readers often see a part of themselves in the characters, whether it is there way of speaking, movements, voice, reactions, etc.
The Poisonwood Bible captures this sense of truth for me as a teenage girl in a unique way. I grew very fond of the character Rachel because I found that some of her mannerisms and reactions would have been similar to mine. For instance, the way that she spoke of the missionary trip seemed as though she did not want to go to the Congo for a year. In my own personal opinion, I would have reacted in a similar fashion, as leaving a country so bountiful in resources would have been an extremely difficult transition. As soon as I initially "bonded" with Rachel's character, I was intrigued to find that her longing for home seemed more truthful than any other character. For instance, Rachel tells the reader that she "was of a mind to slip them [Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus] a note, like a captivated spy girl in the movies: 'Help! Get me out of here!'" Her desperation highlights her everlasting desire to return to a place where the floors are made of anything but dirt, and where malaria ceases to exit. For this reason, I felt compelled to Rachel's story, as if it had more truth than a book of science because I seemed connected to Rachel as if she were myself, observing an outlandish lifestyle that she is forced to accept as reality.
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