1. The Poisonwood Bible Barbara Kingsolver
Missionary family goes to the Congo in the 1960s
Parents and 4 girls
Culture shock for both family and village
Family tragedy, disintegration, transformation
Over 30 years
Some return to U.S., some stay

2. Background: Congo Portugeuse exported 1,000,000 slaves
starting 1500s
Belgian colony 20th century
Mining: diamonds, cobalt, copper, zinc, uranium
Rubber plantations
Forced labor
Life expectancy = 30 yrs in 1950s
Independence 1960
Elected president arrested, killed
CIA involvement
Mobutu government installed by U.S.
Repressive, corrupt
Overthrown in 1997
Civil war killed 4 million people
More than any war since WWII

3. The Kite Runner Khaled Hosseini
Boys grow up in war torn Afghanistan
Gripping story of
Friendship
Genocide
Betrayal
Courage
Personal growth
Ending in immigration to the U.S.

4. A Thousand Splendid Suns Khaled Hosseini
Two girls grow up in different parts of war-torn Afghanistan
Become wives to the same husband
Tragedy and survival in the Taliban regime

5. Afghanistan: Background
Many ethnic groups, militias fighting for years
Soviet takeover in late 70s
1 million people killed
Women encouraged in education, professions
70% of teachers
50% of students at university
40% of doctors
Soviets pull out in late 80s
Taliban takes over
Very conservative Islam
Repression of women
Increased poverty
Taliban driven out by U.S. in 2001