A review by stan2long
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver

adventurous challenging emotional funny informative mysterious medium-paced

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

5.0

Barbara Kingsolver’s got a talent for pure artistry of words. At times it seems she’s hidden a gem in every other sentence. The story line in this book is a complex mix of personal relationships over a lifetime, plus a factual and fictional blend of history. It’s a story about the evolution of a young writer Harrison Shepherd whose name is actually hard to find early in the narrative so without this information it’s a bit hard to know who is the main character. Timeline covers the 1920s through 1950s and moves between Mexico and eastern USA. I especially enjoyed the portrayals and character development of the 3 main women in his life: His mother. The feisty Ms. Freeda. The mysterious V. B. This book was read by the author and she was very good at multiple accents. Freeda gives him the Spanish nickname Insólito (sometimes shortened to “soli”) which might mean extraordinary or unexpected. The book is long so some patience is required, but extraordinary and unexpected describe it as well. Many timeless insights on life and society, often with humor.