Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver

I am a huge BK fan. I have read every one of her books, and was looking forward to this one. But reading the blurbs (not the reviews, but the descriptions) was not compelling to me. Yet, going into the quarantine, wanting to support my local independent book store, I thought I would buy it. It is not my favorite, I had a hard time connecting to the characters although the main character is of my generation. The second plot line, set in the time of Darwin, was also not compelling to me. I couldn't identify with this main character at all. At first. It took a while, but I finally was drawn into the web of both stories, but more than halfway through. The conflict in the 19th century story was one that is still played out in today's time, science vs. religion, never the twain shall meet, as well as materialism vs. authenticity. In the modern story, the adult children of the main character Willa play out potential futures for where this generation will take us - will it be a rejection of capitalism and materialism (daughter), will it be continuing exploitation and chasing wealth (son). A touchy mother-daughter conflict is also part of the story. Perhaps the intent is to seek to understand our offspring. I did come to really love the daughter, Tig, who proved herself to me the most admirable of all the characters (oh and her boyfriend was pretty cool too).  An argumentative, opinionated rebel who went to Occupy Wall Street and spent time in Cuba, she wasn't a sympathetic character in the beginning.