The Return of Barbara Kingsolver
Beloved Author of Poisonwood Bible and More Returns With The Lacuna
Nov 6, 2009
The title of Babara Kingsolver's newest work of fiction is The Lacuna, a term referring to the space between "truth and public presumption." Kingsolver's adoring readers know her most recent work was Animal, Mineral, Vegetable, her memoir of living close to the land on a Virginia farm. Her daughter, Camille Kingsolver, and husband Steven L. Hopp contributed to the book that received wide acclaim.
But considering Kingsolver's wild success with The Poisonwood Bible, Prodigal Summer, and The Bean Trees fans can wonder why she withheld the great American Novel for so long. And so she presents them with the story of man – born in the U.S. and raised in Mexico – who is experiencing a gap of his own.
The Lacuna introduces readers to Harrison William Shepherd, who sets off on an odyssey to discover his personal identity. His voyage takes him from 1930s Mexico City to the America of Pearl Harbor during World War II. Along the way, he works for muralist Diego Rivera and strikes up a lifelong friendship with artist Frida Kahlo and meets the influential Lev "Leon" Trotsky. It is in the land of his birth where Shepherd attempts to remake himself.
Author as Professional Researcher
Perhaps it's not surprising for this author who shears her own sheep that "getting your hands dirty" is necessary to research. Kingsolver told BookPage that she spent hours on end digging through New York Times and Mexican newspaper archives. But this wasn't enough. According to BookPage, while in Mexico researching, she visited the homes of the book's famous characters, observed Howler monkeys, and visited a medicine man.
“The difference between the amateur and the professional researcher is the willingness to get your hands dirty,” Kingsolver told BookPage. Reading old papers and historical accounts “is only one kind of research. It doesn’t tell you what anything smells like, and it doesn’t tell you what anything tastes like. You cannot write about a place you haven’t been.”
The Lacuna: Mixed Reviews
Kingsolver's hard work might not have paid off for all readers. Reviews of The Lacuna have been largely lukewarm so far, but most recognize Kingsolver's superior talent.
- The U.K.'s The Independent found the plot somewhat slow but still provocative and beautifully told.
- NPR's Maureen Corrigan found the main character to be unengaging.
- Tina Jordan of EW.com graded the book with a B.
- Ron Charles of the Washington Post wrote that this is Kingsolver's most mature and ambitious work to date.
Getting Started
Need more information? Hear Kingsolver read from the The Lacuna on the publishers Web site.
The Lacuna Harper (November 2009), ISBN: 978-0060852573
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