'The most important part of a story is the piece you don't know'

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver

Kingsolver is a fantastic author and her latest book, The Lacuna, is no exception. Written as a piecemeal recovered diary and a series of letters, the book centers around a shy author and his journeys between Mexico and the US in the 30s-50s. Kingsolver must have spent years researching this book and it was time well spent. The main character, Harrison Shepherd, engages us with his experience as a plaster boy turned cook in the homes of famous communists Diego Rivera, Frida, and Trotsky in the 30s and 40s. Shepherd is a bit in awe of his employers, but as their cook he runs their day-to-day lives and becomes fast friends with them as people, not simply icons. The famous Frida is allowed to shine and keep her scars. Shepherd is certainly a man without a country and while his own books begin to open the minds of readers, he is quickly accused by J. Edgar Hoover of communism. The tone of the story and the 'Red Scare' politics become a mirror into our own lives. The Lacuna wasn't a fast read, but it was very interesting reading about communism from such an interesting perspective as Mexico. Happy Holidays and Happy Reading!