Helpful Score: 6
Very very disappointed in reading this book. I have absolutely loved Barbara Kingsolver, especially her earlier books. Found this very boring to read. Persevered through half the book and then just gave up. Does not hold your interest at all and the way it is written as a diary does not do it for me.
Would give this one a pass
Would give this one a pass
Helpful Score: 5
Sometimes I think Kingsolver is too political, or at least strongly socially opinionated, and doesn't give the opposite point of view enough respect. I happen to agree with her, more or less, politically, but I have felt that some of her characters were straw men. This book seems to address all my feelings head-on.
The red scare of 1950 and thereabouts is real. Except for her protagonist, the characters are real. Some of the included newspaper articles, which sound like they were written to illustrate how bad and mustache-twirly the reactionaries were, are real. I looked them up.
And the way the media engaged in character assassination against her protagonist - there are also real examples of that. For instance, Stalin's people attempted to assassinate Leon Trotsky in May of 1940, and the world newspapers decided Trostky had plotted the attack on himself, only because of the newspapers' sloppy reporting jobs contradicting each other. I've also known of similar lazy reporting that reinforced lies - my wife was part of a teachers' strike at Chicago City Colleges in 2004, when the newspapers dutifully reported the administration's party line that 80% of classes were still going on - as fact. I walked through Harold Washington's building mid-day and saw for myself that no classes whatsoever were going on - but that was too much for a reporter to do.
So yes, I know that can happen too. And it happens in the book. Twisting of facts, both innocently and not innocently, become incontrovertible and undeniable. So, Ms. Kingsolver, you win this round. As paper-thin as the villains seem to be, they are based on real life examples.
It's also a good study of the point in American history when we turned from a nation of questioners to a nation where questioning made people suspect you were "un-American."
Also, I love the title - a Lacuna, apparently, refers to a missing piece that is - what? - almost drawn or seen by the negative space around it. It's not seen at all itself. That was neat - there's a missing piece of the protagonist's life for us, and a different missing piece of the protagonist's life for the next main character, and I got to the end of the book and realized our hero's very face was a lacuna - we never get a physical description of it, and throughout the book he eschews photographs. Lots of patterns in the book, is what I'm saying. I'm sure there are plenty I missed.
Very good book.
The red scare of 1950 and thereabouts is real. Except for her protagonist, the characters are real. Some of the included newspaper articles, which sound like they were written to illustrate how bad and mustache-twirly the reactionaries were, are real. I looked them up.
And the way the media engaged in character assassination against her protagonist - there are also real examples of that. For instance, Stalin's people attempted to assassinate Leon Trotsky in May of 1940, and the world newspapers decided Trostky had plotted the attack on himself, only because of the newspapers' sloppy reporting jobs contradicting each other. I've also known of similar lazy reporting that reinforced lies - my wife was part of a teachers' strike at Chicago City Colleges in 2004, when the newspapers dutifully reported the administration's party line that 80% of classes were still going on - as fact. I walked through Harold Washington's building mid-day and saw for myself that no classes whatsoever were going on - but that was too much for a reporter to do.
So yes, I know that can happen too. And it happens in the book. Twisting of facts, both innocently and not innocently, become incontrovertible and undeniable. So, Ms. Kingsolver, you win this round. As paper-thin as the villains seem to be, they are based on real life examples.
It's also a good study of the point in American history when we turned from a nation of questioners to a nation where questioning made people suspect you were "un-American."
Also, I love the title - a Lacuna, apparently, refers to a missing piece that is - what? - almost drawn or seen by the negative space around it. It's not seen at all itself. That was neat - there's a missing piece of the protagonist's life for us, and a different missing piece of the protagonist's life for the next main character, and I got to the end of the book and realized our hero's very face was a lacuna - we never get a physical description of it, and throughout the book he eschews photographs. Lots of patterns in the book, is what I'm saying. I'm sure there are plenty I missed.
Very good book.
Helpful Score: 4
This was my first foray into Kingsolver's writing. Friends raved about the Poisonwood Bible, so we selected this for our fairly new book club. Only 3 of 7 members persevered through it. The leading chapters, in which Harrison Shephard is a young boy, seem endless. His youth in the household of Kahlo and Rivera, and later Trotsky, was interesting, but one starts to grasp that his role is that of (dull) observer to troubled times. Conversations in cars, by streams, on trips, contain lovely insights into the nature of art, but they just go on and on and on. She writes good dialogue and provides fascinating historical glimpses into the mindset of the McCarthy era, but a novel should be more than a walk down the lanes of yesteryear. Yawn. If this was edited down by 1/3, maybe I would recommend it.
Helpful Score: 4
Barbara Kingsolver has written possibly the most thought provoking novels I have read. I purchased this book when it first came out and to this day I find myself contemplating the meaning of The Lacuna, "the void between the truth and public perception." A wonderful read that I highly recommend.
I'll admit I'm not a huge Kingsolver fan. I found "The Poisonwood Bible" a painful work to trudge through. However I decided to give her another try because I found the topic of this book sounded interesting. I'm glad I did. It beautifully descriptive, the characters were well developed and the plot intriguing. Despite it being a work of fiction, I found out about a period of history that was interesting and heartbreaking in the same breath. I could relate to Harrison's solitary existence and desire to live his life in peace. Kingsolver did a good job of connecting the relationships and how others - despite being only bit players - can greatly influence our lives. I would
Helpful Score: 2
This was quite a book. It was a departure from what I remember of other Kingsolver books, this felt heavier and more challenging. It was incredibly long, but a pretty remarkable story with many twists and turns.The main character becomes a cook and confidant of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, then goes on to type for Leon Trotsky. This story deals with some historical issues that feel pretty real, and a variety of interesting relationships between the main character and others. I recommend this book, but I warn you that it is over 500 pages that I would not classify as light reading.
Helpful Score: 1
Perhaps Kingsolver's most mature writing. Lyrical at times, and I found myself reluctant to finish reading it. I learned a lot about the era in which the story is set, mostly 1930'3-1950's, and she certainly seems to have done exhaustive research. Very enjoyable read, but take time to savor the writing.
Helpful Score: 1
This is truly one of the greatest books I have ever read. I do think it helps that I speak Spanish, as I could enjoy some of the word plays Kingsolver used in the Spanish. She also did the same with English, so I found the word alchemy wonderful.
I have lived in Mexico and was familiar with many of the locations she used for the background. The periods in history she wrote about were intriguing and frightening. In light of what we are going through in this country right now, I found the book sadly on target. It seems we don't learn from our history.
The twists and turns of the book were wonderful, and I would recommend it to anyone who cares about style, content and a great story.
I have lived in Mexico and was familiar with many of the locations she used for the background. The periods in history she wrote about were intriguing and frightening. In light of what we are going through in this country right now, I found the book sadly on target. It seems we don't learn from our history.
The twists and turns of the book were wonderful, and I would recommend it to anyone who cares about style, content and a great story.
Helpful Score: 1
I'm a huge fan of Barbara Kingsolver, though I'm not sure that I've ever loved anything quite as much as her earliest novels (okay--Poisonwood Bible is an exception!!)I didn't love this as much as I wanted to, but it was still well worth reading this ingenious historical novel.
Helpful Score: 1
The Lacuna is set in the cold war era in Mexico and in the US. Kingsolver weaves in history lessons, art lessons, cooking lessons, and writing lessons in crafting a beautiful tale of a Mexican-American writer, Harrison Shepherd. Shepherd spends his early life soaking up art and life lessons from Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, then faces the perils of the Communist blacklists when he returns to the country of his birth. Kingsolver gives voice to the characters of Shepherd's early life, as well as the to Violet Brown, a back country-bred secretary who takes on the responsibility of guarding Shepherd's legacy. Each contributes in their own essential way to Shepherd's ultimate fate, and each becomes an individual through the considerable talents of Ms. Kingsolver. Beautifully written, historically accurate, and a compelling story - what else could one ask for in a contemporary novel?
Helpful Score: 1
Not my favorite Kingsolver book. A bit plodding - it should have been shortened up quite a bit. And it needed more of a plot line - a reason to keep picking it up. It was just the protagonist's life. There were multiple crises, but I just didn't care about any of it.
And the final crisis in front of the HUAC, was almost predictable from the early stages of the book. And again, I was just irritated.
For a character that lived through such interesting times, his life story left me flat.
I'm still a Kingsolver fan, and I have high hopes for her next effort.
And the final crisis in front of the HUAC, was almost predictable from the early stages of the book. And again, I was just irritated.
For a character that lived through such interesting times, his life story left me flat.
I'm still a Kingsolver fan, and I have high hopes for her next effort.
Helpful Score: 1
My favorite of Kingsolver's novels. The novel's main chracter moves through two countries and through some of the 20th century's most unsettling times in the United States and Mexico. He meets many prominent persons of the time.
I liked this book very much. Kingsolver is a terrific writer whose characters always seem very real to me. The xenophobia of the '50's feels all too true with obvious parallels to today's political climate.
It took a hundred pages until I really got into this story. I almost stopped reading, but glad I continued on. The story spans over several decades 1930's till late 1950's. Author weaves his life with controversial topics of the times which to me parallels the turmoil we currently are experiencing. The main character is a gay man who attempts to live a reclusive yet productive life. As a young man he has employers such as Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo and Lev Trotsky, which in the 1950's when he is only 30 labels him as a communist. The newspapers twist facts and make up fiction (very similar to today's media), which ultimately is the demise of Harrison Sheppard.
I am generally a big fan of Barbara Kingsolver's novels, particularly her earlier ones, but this one left me questioning my loyalty to her. Defihitely not a favorite of hers.
Somewhat of a departure from everything else that I've read by this wonderful author, but still with her great wit. She incorporated many of her causes and concerns into the story; politics, humanity, history, nature, art, the news media,privacy,food. Occasionally it felt a little preachy, but I don't mind being preached to by Barbara Kingsolver.
My book club friends could not hang with the pace of this story. Admittedly, it started slow, with the point unclear and I was eager to get beyond Trotsky. Eventually found myself progressing slowly because I was not eager for the story to end. The main character grew to be someone I liked spending time with. This was one deep read. I read chapters in the evening, and listened on CD in my car. Highly recommended.
Another great book by Barbara Kingsolver.
I loved this book. I found the characters fascinating and the relationships between them very real. It also gave me a more appreciative view of Mexico.
not Kingsolver's best, was disappointed
Kingsolver at her best. Loved it!
A wonderful book. I enjoyed it more than anything I have read lately.
