Book One: Genesis
The book begins by intriguing the audience through "Imagine..."
Following a detailed imagery of a forest in the Congo Valley, Orleanna Price, a mother of four (possibly now three), expresses her guilt, "... in my old age it weighs down on me." "I want you to find me innocent."
Innuendos are given about one of her daughter's death, "your bright eyes bear down on me," in which she feels guilty for.
Repeatedly uses "you" often followed by "my favorite child."
- This introduction is meant to address Price's dead daughter.
Shifts to Leah Price's point of view
Mr. Price's zeal for religion is shown through his comparison of his wife's "concern" over Betty Crocker cake mixes to the sinners of Christ who don't pay tithing.
Like the sub-title The Things We Carried, Leah begins to list the things they would take on their missionary trip, and the actual "things they had to carry" due to the over weight luggage.
The Price family's southern accent accentuates their different background from the culture Mrs. Underdown is accommodated to from missionary work.
Shifts to Ruth May Price's point if view
Through the eyes of an innocent young child, the reader receives insight of the cultural shift for the family. Back in the South, the misconception of black people was common (during the time of slavery) as Ruth views them as evil from the descendent of Ham, "a bad son."
Shifts to Rachel Price's view
Immediate change in diction and tone, "Man oh man," "Lordy!" Also reveals she is unreligious by using the Lord's name in vain.
Rachel reveals the absolute negative sides of their journey as they are greeted with an unpleasant odor, an ill-built shelter and distasteful food.
Shifts to Adah Price's view
She describes the setting of the Kwilu with nothing but a long stream heading one path conjoining with the Congo River.
Leah's twin, born with hemiplegia where half of her body is motionless.
Mama Tataba lives with and helps the Price family. She warns Reverend Price about the "poisonwood" plant and suggests that the seeds covered with dirt should make a hill. He does not listen but the next morning he wakes up with a swollen shut eye.
Leah and her dad's insistence is shown when they re-flatten the mounds that Mama Tataba had made.
The Congolese are in absolute shock of Mrs. Price's attire of stretch pants (cultural difference).
Hardly anyone came to baptize on Easter Sunday which led to the reverend's decision to have a picnic. Almost everyone comes at the news of food (insight to the poor African country)
Reverend upset over not following the traditional, religious practice of baptizing (once again reveals his religious passion)
Comparison: There are many disabled Congolese who continue their life as if being disabled is a normal cycle of life. Ruth compares this life style to American ways as they rather found Rachel's blond hair more shocking.
Rain soon falls down on Kilanga, from this, Adah takes time to describe the inside of their house: bigger than most other houses in Kilanga with mosquito nets, a separate kitchen, glass windows, and a cement ground.
The Price take note of the plants which which looked like huge pumpkin vines. This comes to represent the Price's American ways of not adapting to the Congolese and not listening to Mama Tataba.
The four Price daughters protect their mother when their father punishes them for the parrot's usage of the word 'damn' when they knew it was the works if their mother.
Mama Tataba leaves the Price family after the reverend insists the Congolese to baptize. Little did he know that a young girl had been killed by a crocodile in the river. This again reveals the little knowledge that the Price have of the Kilanga community.
Writing strategy: Genesis is the first book of the Bible where God's creation of the world is explained. Similarly, the first book describes the beginning of the Price's mission for God.
Book Two: The Revelation
Orleanna Price personifies Africa as a living thing, "... the scent of Africa," " Africa rose up to seize me..."
Mrs. Price expresses her frustration as "his instrument and his animal," referring to her husband.
Once again hints of one of her daughter's death and her guilt for it, "Oh, little beast, little favorite. Can't you see I died as well?
Reverend Nathan's action of releasing Mama Tataba and the parrot symbolizes his refusal to adapt to the African culture and also to listen to others. He is adamant on standing by his western and religious ways.
Weeks pass. While the reverend tries to engage with locals the girls stay in their village and study with the books left by Brother Fowles.
Leah gives insight about the African culture when she states that girls her age, fifteen, are already married with babies.
It is mid September when Ruth May engages with the other kids with the game Mother May I? This comes to show her personality and her young spirit of wanting to have friends.
Leah's companionship with Pascal, a younger boy, represents of her breaking away from religious confinements by chewing sugarcane and inviting him to their kitchen when her parents were gone. This is the first sign if her rebellion.
While spying on the African Communist Boy Scouts, Ruth May breaks her arm. This brings in the historical time period when the Congolese prepare for war.
While conversing with the doctor about the troops, Reverend Nathan ends up arguing with him about Western influence. The doctor mentions the rumor of white men going to be killed. Reverend believes in God.
Anatole, the schoolteacher, has dinner with the Price family and once again, Reverend Nathan is enraged by his warnings of bringing in Christianity to the Congolese. This leads to his outrage on Orleanna who was holding a plate.
Leah and Adah are sent to get water. Adah gives vivid imagery on her trek their encountering streams, waterfalls, another village, cemeteries and so on.
Although Methuselah is set free, it still hangs around the Price house and eventually leads Adah to the Belgium Army.
After Leah had first returned home with the water, Tata Ndu gives news that his eldest son had found the marks of a girl with fresh signs of blood. He assumes that it is Adah as Leah had not been with her but is immediately proved wrong. His gods were not on his side after all.
Anatole sends the Price family a smart, cheerful orphan named Nelson to work for them in exchange for shelter in the chicken house and eggs to sell weekly.
Kakakaka spreads across the village and mother fears it's touch on the girls.
When it is Ruth May's point of view, she is always observant of the people around her and their differences especially those her age.
There's more people at church after the lion incident and Adah's safe arrival.
Leah has a pet owl in which Anatole explains the Congolese believe eats dead souls. Her father dismisses this idea stating that it is a superstition which leads to Leah's proud entrance with the owl in the house. Her dad aggressively punishes her for being "proud." This is ironic in that the reverend himself is a prideful man who believes his religion and American background and does not take the words of others.
In January, the Underdowns unexpectedly arrive to warn them about the Congo election for their freedom and to leave before it. Reverend Price refuses to leave before his contracted date for the next missionaries.
The book takes a turn into political issues when once focused on the Price's mission on Christianity itself.
Nathan and Leah alone ride the plan sent by the Underdowns.
- Why doesn't the book explain the reason for the remaining Price's to stay while they leave? Nathan had refused to let Rachel go also, but why?
Leah is aware of the different dynamics in Leopoldville with the huge gap between the poor blacks and the rich whites.
Methuselah's death symbolizes a future event of chaos. He dies on the day of Congo independence and it symbolizes that their fight is still not over.
Book Three: The Judges
Orleanna Prices gives insight to the background of Nathan before he became the soulless person. She explains that it started when three months after his draft in the military, he was hit by artillery and suffered a concussion which left him behind to take shelter in a bamboo pig shed. He was miraculously saved by a PT boat and recovered in a hospital. This is where he heard news of his regiments death on the Death March from Bataan. From then he felt he owed his life to God.
Leah and her father return home and with no money from the Mission League, they are extremely poor. Ruth May and Orleanna lay in bed and refuse to eat.
Adah explains the attendance of church. Those who seemed to have "bad luck" with their gods would switch to Christianity then vice versa.
In Ruth May's narration, she states, "Sometimes when you wake up you can't tell if it was dreaming or real." This foreshadows her death possibly while she is sleeping.
The Reverend continues daily life solely for the works if God, even with his wife and youngest daughter are ill in bed.
Anatole visit the Price's with a pig in a sack. He talks to Leah for a long time about the Congo's future and it's politics. This visits and conversations foreshadows their growing relationship of affections towards one another.
Ruth May remains in bed and heard the negative stories happening by her mother.
Nelson gives her a gift, an amulet in which she can blow when she's about to die. This once again foreshadows her soon coming death.
Orleanna rises from bed but her attitude has completely changed. She stands up against Nathan and truly wishes to leave Congo and tries to find ways.
This sudden change in her mother's behavior shocks Leah and questions her trust in her father. "I wanted to believe in him."
Brother Fowles visit Kilanga with his wife and children along with an abundance of gifts: books, sugar, canned goods, etc. Nathan arrives and he argues about the meaning to certain bible verses.
Like his appearance of a white beard, Brother Fowles was like Santa to the Kilanga village as he brought everyone gifts.
Spring passes and it is late August when the village in in a drought season.
Meanwhile, Tata Ndu repeatedly visits the Price family with gifts. Clueless, Nelson told the family what it meant; the chief wanted a Rachel to be his wife.
Orleanna's reaction is quite surprised because he already had six to seven wives. She does not seem to approve as he seemed to just need her as "an accessory he needs to go with his outfit."
Anatole explains the rules of the village as the Congolese need a unanimous vote on a decision because if a little more than a half were to approve then there still would be the remaining half that would be upset which would only lead to more problems.
Ruth May's condition seems to worsen as they had discovered that she did not take her malaria pills.
The italicized words within Rachel's narration puts emphasis on her sarcastic, bitter tone.
Although Rachel hates the idea of being "engaged" to Eeben Axelroot, she takes note in his changes that she suggests such as taking baths more often and cleaning up his look. "He can be halfway decent if he tries."
"If I die I will disappear and I know where I'll come back. I will look down on you." These lines foreshadow her death. When she states that I will look down on you, the you is her mother as Orleanna had previously stated that her ghosts were present.
Rachel shows her over dramatic side again when she is cim in Ed her sisters are stealing the spotlight away from her on her birthday.
Reverend Nathan repeats the phrase, "
Anatole and Leah flirt over the word beene ; he calls her this and it means as true as the truth can be.
Rachel and Alxelroot share a kiss while on a walk. Rachel's reaction is a mix of flattery and disgust. She also learns a big secret that the Congo president, Lumumba will be killed; she doesn't believe him.
While spying on Axelroot, Adah learns of the news of Lumumba's soon to be assassination coordinate with American President Eisenhower. She is clearly shocked and her knees become weak.
It is nighttime when an ant attack surrounded the village. The whole village runs to the river and while Leah runs away she has no idea where her family is.
Rachel also leaves the house but with her precious mirror.
Ruth May as she she runs with her mom thinks of the amulet that Nelson had given her.
Adah has a difficult time keeping up when Anatole arrives to carry her to the river.
Leah feels a hatred towards God for creating chaos at the village. She beings to have an emotional breakdown during the boat ride and questions Anatole of the plan of assassination.
The author takes note of each of the character's reaction to the ant attack.
Book Four: Bell and the Serpent
Orleanna Price gives a historical summary of Lumumba's death.
Tata Ndu declares that the people of Kilanga vote on whether or no they want Christianity in their lives. They vote against it.
Rachel blames Leah's actions for their problems as she began to talk back to her father.
Due to the lack of food, the village calls for a fire hunt. Leah having learned from Nelson how to bow and arrow, demands to participate in the action. The villagers vote yes although some including her dad and the chief strongly disagree.
Anatole comes across a mamba snake and is almost killed.
Leah proves her skill when she hints an antelope but Gbenye insists he did it. Nelson proves it was Leah's arrow.
The village event turned into a war of insults and rage while splitting the hunted animals; this is most likely due to sensitivity from hunger.
Reverend Nathan is now at a point with Leah where he does not even argue or punish her.
Nelson asks for permission to sleep inside as he saw a snake of an evil sign. Nathan refuses as it is giving in to false idols. At night the sisters help Nelson make a trap by dusting the floor in the chicken house and he stays the night at Anatole's.
The next morning, the girls discover footprints with six toes; it is Tata Kuvundu's.
They also find a snake and Nelson returns to take it out. As he whips it out, they hear a gulp, a sob, a scream, and a strange cry. Ruth May had been but by the mamba snake. No one can move while Nelson screams for milk and Mama Nguza.
Ruth May dies.
They pass the sad news to Orleanna and their dad. While Mrs. Price reacted as if she already knew, Reverend remarks that she had not been baptized not even fazed by her death. (What a jerk!)
Villagers heard the news and took part in the mourning ceremony.
While the adults went back to their houses, the children remained. A thunderstorm begins and Nathan takes time to baptize them.
Ruth May's death was in a way a sacrifice for the children's salvation of baptism.
Book Five: Exodus
Exodus: a mass departure of people
Similarly to the book of Exodus where the Israelites left Egypt, Mrs. Price feels the urge to leave with her remaining daughters without Nathan.
Along the way, they catch malaria but Leah has a high fever and eventually loses conscience. She learns that they arrived in Bulungu carried by a pallet with some men.
Possibly weeks have passes, Leah is unsure, before they all go their separate ways: Rachel leaves with Axelroot, and Orleanna and Adah continue by taking a boat.
Anatole and Leah begin to form a bond as he takes care of her while she is ill.
Leah decides to stay with him when she is well.
It's been a year since Rachel has been with Axelroot in Johannesburg and she states that he frequently leaves her and gawks at other women. Gratitude is the only thing that keeps her as he took her out of Congo.
Orleanna and Adah make it to the Belgium Embassy in Leopoldville after encountering soldiers. From there they head back to Georgia where Orleanna enjoys gardening and Adah attends Emory College for science.
Remaining in Bulungu, Anatole and Leah leave from many different villages as Leah's race is considered a threat as they blame Western influence for Lumumbu's death. Leah stays at Mission Notre Dame De Douleur away from African eyes while Anatole reassembles Lumumbists in Stanleyville. He is detained by Mobutu's police and thrown into prison.
"I have a good life, as far as the overall surroundings." Axelroot is still constantly gone while Rachel remains in South Africa but when he is home, he treats her badly basically calling her stupid. Rachel plans to pursue Ambassador Daniel even though he is still married.
Leah realizes the different griefs that she and Anatole hold but it brings them close together. They make way to Bikoki where Anatole knew people and also receive a visit from Brother Fowles. He gives news that Pascal and two other students of Anatole were killed by the army and her dad continued to do his Christian duties.
Three years pass, and Leah is in Atlanta with Anatole and their son Pascal.
Adah continues to have this fear that her mother would choose her other sisters over her. This dates back to the ant attack when Orleanna chose to drag Ruth May rather than helping Adah from the ants.
Six years pass, Anatole and Leah now share three sons and they live in Kinshasa, Zaire.
Often times, Leah mentions "if Father had found me..." She thinks if him when she does something he would most likely disagree with and make her recite The Verses.
Leah knows she has the options of living in Atlanta but she chooses to remain in Africa with Anatole. She has a growing affection towards Africa but detests Mobutu's efforts to westernize Africa.
Four years pass, the French ambassador had left her and she married an older man named Remy who died and left her the Equatorial, a huge mansion.
Three years pass and Anatole is in prison again. Leah and her family had gone to America three times now for schooling, shots, and recovery.
The three sisters reunite three years later. By now, all three have shaped into their individual character. Adah takes a Land Rover from the airport to South Africa for Leah while Leah and Rachel travel together to to meet Adah. On the way, they pick up Anatole from prison where they have a passionate reunion. Rachel is glad to be back at her large mansion as she found Adah and Leah's standards too low.
Rachel is too materialistic and cannot stand being around her sisters as they continually bicker.
While catching up, Leah shares news of their father's death. It is a little hard for her to tell the story but Rachel states that he deserved it.
Adah is recovered from her hemiplegia and visits her mother frequently.
Leah and her family move again to Kimvula District with their four sons but wish to move to the Angola away from the corrupt power of Mobutu.
Book Six: Song of the Three Children
Rachel is now fifty and she reflects on her life. She remains to be a materialistic woman who identities herself as a strong individual. For that reason, she does not return to America even though she repeatedly thinks of it. She lives by, "let the others do the pushing and shoving, and you just ride along," referring to her circumstances in Africa.
Even though she does not grieve for her father's death, she also, like Leah, mentions how her father would react if he saw her doing something he disagreed with.
Taniel's live spirit and insistence reminds Leah of her sister, Ruth May. She observes her growing sons and remains joyous as Anatole's wife.
Ten years have passed since they lived in Angola and Leah taught classes to women on nutrition, sanitation, and soybeans.
Teaching on African soil, she learns that one must live on the land to be able to teach on it. This refers to her father who forced Christianity on Africans rather than meeting on middle ground.
Adah leaves the medical field to study more on animal life. Her background knowledge of African helps her establish this interest.
Orleanna surrounds herself with nature near the beach and constantly looks ahead in that direction.
Book Seven: The Eyes in the Trees
Ruth May ends with the last book picturing two scenarios. The first is similar to Orleanna's introduction at a picnic lunch with the presence of the opakai. Next, the Price women encounter a Bulungu woman who has not hears of Kilanga.
Ruth May ends on the note of forgiveness. She convinces her mother to forgive herself as she forgave her.
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