Reviews

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver

kittic's review against another edition

I really really enjoyed Kingsolver's writing style. Loved the book. Can't believe I had it on my shelf for so long.

This quote sums up how I feel about books:
"I should like to write books only for the dear person who lies awake reading in bed until page last then lets the open book fall gently on her face to touch her smile or drink her tears."

thereadingparamedic's review against another edition

adventurous emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

link0505's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

rebeccatc's review against another edition

4.0

This novel is presented as a series of journal entries by the fictional character Harrison William Shepherd. It begins during his childhood in Mexico in the 1930's and continues through his brief time in an American military academy through his adventures as a cook/secretary for the artist Diego Rivera, his wife Frida Kahlo, and their houseguest, Leon Trotsky. The second half of the book finds Shepherd living as a reclusive author in postwar Asheville, North Carolina. It took awhile for me to get used to the style, but once it took off I thought the story was engaging and the protagonist's struggles were very moving. While the settings, real life historical figures and political turmoil he encounters are epic, Shepherd's story is actually a very personal one in which he battles loneliness, anxiety, and fear while recounting the experience with wit and humor.

win's review against another edition

4.75

Slow going at first, but it picks up later. A unique central character and lots of historical figures.

trudy4088d's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

jessicaboi's review against another edition

Setting aside for other books, but 100% plan to finish later.

deservingporcupine's review against another edition

4.0

Once I was able to give this book my full attention, I really loved it. I enjoy a circular story, and the writing was beautiful. It also made me curious about the evolution of McCarthy-ism, which I now intend to read more about.

sophieflora's review against another edition

adventurous emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

kduhy's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Kingsolver has managed to mix fictional characters with real people and events to produce a rich, cautionary tale about the past. 
Told through journal entries, newspaper cuttings, letters, reviews and transcripts we follow the life of Shepherd a Mexican/American gay man as he travels to Mexico City in the 30's, Frida Kahlo and Trotsky in refuge from Stalin's Russia to America in the 40's and 50's of J. Edgar Hoover and McCarthyism. Wonderful characters especially Mrs Brown Shepherds assistant.

Themes; art, politics, truths and misinformation, history of Mexico, social history, being gay, The Lacuna what is known and unknown, hope and hopelessness.