The Lacuna is a 2009 novel by Barbara Kingsolver. It is Kingsolver's sixth novel, and won the 2010 Orange Prize for Fiction and the Library of Virginia Literary Award. It was shortlisted for the 2011 International Dublin Literary Award.
Mixed feelings on this one. Sometimes more a recitation of historical snippets than a story, but she did manage to bring it to life. Bold move to try and write real ppl into existence, especially ones so larger than life. Not sure about all her interpretations of person and place, but I do understand how a person can fall in love with Mexico, as Kingsolver clearly did. She fell into quite a few cliches, but not the worst. The most useful bits of the story are the US ones. And now isn't a bad time to reflect on the era that created the mentality of so many of the olds in power here today.
Somewhere in the middle, I wanted to give up on this book. I've been in a giving up mood lately. But I didn't give up. The reason I didn't is that I went and checked the reviews of others. Many felt as I did (not sure if they actually gave up or not) but one in particular said not to--that the end is worth it.
And so I persisted. And so I say the same to you if you are reading this review wondering whether to continue.
I'd read something by her once before but I remember neither the title nor the plot. I do remember it was somewhat political and that I was bothered by that--not by the political views themselves, because I'm sure we are on the same side, but by what I felt was a setup to support them. I felt similarly during this book. Perhaps I …
Somewhere in the middle, I wanted to give up on this book. I've been in a giving up mood lately. But I didn't give up. The reason I didn't is that I went and checked the reviews of others. Many felt as I did (not sure if they actually gave up or not) but one in particular said not to--that the end is worth it.
And so I persisted. And so I say the same to you if you are reading this review wondering whether to continue.
I'd read something by her once before but I remember neither the title nor the plot. I do remember it was somewhat political and that I was bothered by that--not by the political views themselves, because I'm sure we are on the same side, but by what I felt was a setup to support them. I felt similarly during this book. Perhaps I should not object to what Ms. Kingsolver calls the "literature of social change." I don't do so as a political position and I'm glad our common point of view is being promoted in this way. My objection is more visceral. Like Harrison Shepherd, the main character in this book, I am not a joiner (which is not to say that I haven't in fact attended protest rallies.) I am psychologically suspicious of being swept up in an emotional appeal, yet, at the same time, I enjoyed just that while reading this book. I enjoyed the movie Trumbo as well which covers some similar ground.
And let me add that she does it well. The writing is never boring. (I confess I once tried to read a novel by Glenn Beck and never made it past page 2.) Where I got bogged down was in the historical detail of Mexico during the time of Trotsky's exile. Again I can't say quite why this was the case. I was glad to learn about this time period but at the same time, I felt resistant to being taught in this way. I wanted it to be more "novelistic."
I don't know what I'm trying to say here. I liked reading Gore Vidal's Lincoln which treats history similarly. Maybe you can figure it out.
So, yes, go on to the end. I'm sorry I have such a hard time when I feel manipulated. I'll work on it in therapy.
It took me quite a long time to get into it and finish, but I ended up enjoying the structure and story it told. Not the best Kingsolver book I've read (which is only Poisonwood and the nonfictional Animal Vegetable Miracle), but she does know how to craft an interesting, well-researched story. I wish Frida wasn't necessarily such a background character, but that's how it was set up.
Full of surprises. The changes of scene and narrator are really interesting. And the ending is like a detective novel. Set in 1930's Mexico and 1940's America.
