Questions About The Lacuna

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about The Lacuna, please sign up.

Answered Questions (8)

I abandoned this book. As writers, we are counseled to "Show" not "Tell." This is a tell-not-show book. Also, I did not care about a single character. did anyone else feel like that?

Gisele Theriault I almost gave up too, but the last half made it so worth it!

flag

Who thinks that this is Kingsolver's "most accomplished novel?" Why or why not?

Erica Miles I loved The Poisonwood Bible! It was my first Barbara Kingsolver novel. But I loved The Lacuna even more! It's an odd thing, but what I think I secret…moreI loved The Poisonwood Bible! It was my first Barbara Kingsolver novel. But I loved The Lacuna even more! It's an odd thing, but what I think I secretly loved most about The Lacuna, aside from the color, flamboyance, and excitement of the Mexican landscape and of Frida Kahlo's personality, was the understatement of never expressed love throughout the novel an in Harrison's final declaration of his love for Mrs. Brown, though she was not his "type," as he stated many times to Mr. Gold and his other male companions. This was proof to me that true love does not have to be romantic or erotic. It can be a question of deep devotion and dedication. I found it consoling to escape from the usual romantic stuff and discover a tale of deep true love in an entirely different fashion, fit for a loner like me, who could identify with Harrison's shy and reclusive personality and with Mrs. Brown's matter of fact way of showing her love in knitting warm gloves and organizing papers for her dear employer and in Trotsky's love for his chickens. I found these trivial details of daily living extremely exciting!(less)

flag

Did anyone else like the other Kingsolver books better?