Review of "Unsheltered: A Novel" by Barbara Kingsolver

The town of Vineland, New Jersey - about 35 miles from Philadelphia - was founded by Charles Landis in the 1800s to be an alcohol-free community with pleasant homes, small farms, and enough space for shade trees and flowers.



This dual timeline novel, set in Vineland, revolves around two families who live on the same block 150 years apart.

In the 1870s, Thatcher Greenwood, his wife Rose, his mother-in-law Aurelia, and his preteen sister-in-law Polly move to Vineland to reside in the home where Aurelia grew up.....and which she's now inherited.


Map of Vineland, New Jersey in 1885


Parade in historic Vineland

Aurelia's fortunes dipped since her husband passed, and Rose 'married down' when she wed Thatcher. However the ladies hope to regain their status in society by acquiring the accouterments of success and socializing with Vineland's wealthy families.

Thatcher, who came from humble beginnings, is a scientist who got a job teaching 'elementary school' in Vineland - a job that doesn't pay near enough to support Rose and Aurelia in the style they expect. Moreover, the Vineland house is falling down around their ears, and there's no money for repairs.

In the modern day, Willa and Iano Tavoularis move to Vineland when their fortunes wane. Willa is a journalist whose magazine closed and Iano is a political science professor whose college shut down. Now Willa works freelance and Iano is an adjunct professor in Philadelphia, earning too little to get by and getting very minimal benefits.


Vineland in modern times


Vineland Christmas Parade in modern times

Willa and Iano led a peripatetic life chasing tenure for Iano - to the detriment of the family - and now have nothing to show for their sacrifice. In addition, their Vineland house is also falling apart, and - according to a contractor - almost unfixable. Willa tries to get the house declared a historic landmark, so she can get a grant to repair it, and she haunts the historical society in pursuit of her quest.


Vineland Historical and Antiquarian Society

The Tavoularis household includes the couple's 26-year-old daughter Tig and Iano's father Nick. Nick is a traditional Greek patriarch whose legs are melting away from severe diabetes. Unlike Willa and Iano, Nick is a right wing bigot who loudly disdains minority groups and welfare recipients - and feels free to spout off in private AND public. Because of Iano's almost non-existent healthcare benefits Nick has to be put on Medicare, which the family keeps secret because the old man would blow his stack.



Tig is the polar opposite of Nick. She recently returned from a couple of years in Cuba, whose socialist society she greatly admires. Tig is an anti-capitalist who believes exploitative humans are ruining the planet. She's a proponent of recycling, upcycling, and dumpster diving.....even for food. Though Tig disagrees with her grandfather's politics, she's devoted to the old man and steps up when he needs diapers....or dressings for his constantly bleeding limbs.

The Tavoularis's also have a son Zeke, who aspires to be a business mogul in New York. Zeke is an unpaid intern with massive student loans who just had a baby with his girlfriend Helene. When Helene commits suicide, Zeke and his infant son Aldus (aka Dusty) are forced to move in with the family in Vineland.....but Zeke isn't really dad material.

Barbara Kingsolver's books unabashedly push her liberal views, and she infuses her beliefs into the characters and plot. For the record, I agree with Kingsolver's opinions, but still find her a bit too didactic.

In the 1870s, Thatcher is an open-minded scientist who admires his Vineland neighbor Mary Treat, a talented naturalist who corresponds with Charles Darwin and other great minds of the day. (Mary Treat was a real person.)


Mary Treat

Thatcher would like to teach his pupils about evolution, but Headmaster Cutler finds the idea horrifying and blasphemous. In fact, Cutler constantly preaches creationism, both in school and in public forums. Cutler's obsessive evangelism - purposely designed to shut Thatcher up - becomes almost comical.

Kingsolver also exposes the hypocrisy of Charles Landis, who created a community that profits mostly himself.....where young children are forced to leave school forever to help support their families. (Charles Landis was a real person.)


Charles Landis

Landis avidly endorses the local newspaper that touts his views and is infuriated by a rival publication. ("Fake news" anyone?)



In Thatcher's time, his wife Rose and mother-in-law Aurelia idolize Landis and won't hear a word against him. This view is diametrically opposed to Thatcher's and makes things awkward at home.

In modern times, Willa is horrified by a presidential candidate she calls "The Bullhorn" - the hatemonger who claims he'll make American great again; the loudmouth who denies climate change; the bully who says he can shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and people will still vote for him. Willa can't comprehend The Bullhorn's popularity, and despairs for the country. On the other hand, Nick the racist falls right in with The Bullhorn's views. (The Bullhorn is a real person.)


The Bullhorn

The parallels between Landis and The Bullhorn are obvious and - in a way - encouraging. Vineland survived Landis, and the country may survive The Bullhorn.

When Kingsolver puts aside politics she focuses on families, including the large Hispanic family that befriends the Tavoularis clan. There are all the usual permutations seen among kinfolk: love; loyalty; trust; distrust; sibling rivalry; sibling affection; infidelity; divorce; etc. This adds up to a compelling story, and there are even some amusing parts. For example, young Polly loves her dogs, Scylla and Charybdis, and her mother Aurelia 'can't find' the Bible passage that contains these names. 🙂


Scylla and Charybdis in Greek Mythology

And Iano's student Gwendolyn - who has a crush on the handsome professor - comes to his Vineland home to pursue him.....and Willa answers the door. 😕



Some of the best chapters are about the scientist Mary Treat. Mary studies living spiders she hides in jars with flowers, so they won't frighten her female friends.....and she lets a Venus Fly Trap suck on her finger for research purposes.


Venus Fly Trap

Finally, the trial of a character accused of homicide is riveting, and based on a true story.

All in all, a book worth reading.

Rating: 3.5 stars