” "When I construct a novel, I back up from “effect” to “cause.”
I wanted to examine the modern American political psyche, using artists
as a vehicle.”
“This novel is about, among other things, infamy and privacy, the role of
the media in shaping public opinion, and its penchant for passing on gossip as
news.”
“ Informing the reader about facts and events is an important part of what
I do. But ultimately that’s not enough: I also want you to care. A
history book can educate you, but oddly, a novel is much more likely to move
you to tears, because it creates empathy. That’s the amazing power of
fiction.”
“I only set scenes in places where I’ve been myself. When I create
a world for the reader, I want to do it right, using all my senses.”
“Reading history suggested to me that no matter what’s happening, we
have probably been here before at some time, possibly with a better
attitude. Historical fiction carries that kind of useful information, and
can render it emotionally compelling.”
The above statements are quotes from an interview
with Barbara Kingsolver about this novel. I chose to include them as part of my
review as a starting point for my comments about The Lacuna.
I have read several of her novels, and find them
highly engrossing and entertaining. As she puts it, ”emotionally compelling.” This
novel is no exception. Even the title is attention getting, with its many
nuances of “things unknown” throughout the novel. Her attention to historical background and
place are extremely well researched and described in The Lacuna. Juxtaposing
the Russian Revolution and the Red Scare in America was a daunting but
brilliant tactic.
Kingsolver uses her main character, Harrison
Shepherd, to drive the novel, but he is uncharacteristically not in the
driver’s seat. She has drawn his personality in such a manner that his desire
to remain a loner tends to underscore the other main characters, Diego Rivera,
Frida Kahlo, Leon Trotsky, and Violet Brown. Kingsolver’s use of Shepherd’s
journals to tell the story was effective in keeping him at a distance. However,
through the other characters, we learn much about this enigmatic character. I
am convinced that Kingsolver herself is conflicted by similar traits, for she
is both passionate about her politics, but lives a rather reclusive life as an author
and a farmer.
The Lacuna was a book that slowed down for me in
the middle, and I struggled to pick it back up for this reason. However, I’m
thankful that I did. Even though I didn’t care for Shepherd’s character, I
definitely felt his pain and his passion. Kudos to Kingsolver for that!
