The Lacuna cover art

The Lacuna

 Preview

Get 30 days of Standard free

£5.99/mo after trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options

The Lacuna

By: Barbara Kingsolver
Narrated by: Barbara Kingsolver
Try for £0.00

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £16.64

Buy Now for £16.64

LIMITED TIME OFFER

£0.99/mo for 3 months - terms apply. Offer ends 24 August 2026.
Born in the US and reared in Mexico, Harrison Shepherd is a liability to his social-climbing mother, Salome. When a violent incident sends him to North Carolina, he remakes himself in America's hopeful image. But political winds continue to throw him between north and south, in a plot that turns many times on the unspeakable breach - the lacuna - between truth and public presumption.©2009 Barbara Kingsolver (P)2009 Harper Collins Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Fiction Heartfelt
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
All stars
Most relevant
Strangely enough, the fact that the writer herself narrated the novel was an attraction for me. She also read one of her earlier novels (Prodigal Summer) herself, and I enjoy her narration very much. Yes, you can tell she's not a professional reader and her evocation of one or two of the characters not perfect, but for me this is more than compensated for when she describes the natural world; flowers, plants, birds, insects, animals, landscapes. And for me her evocation of early twentieth century Mexico was wonderful; the heat, colours, food and people. I find her voice with its gentle Southern US lilt very soothing and enjoyable to listen to. The subject matter itself made for a great story and has made me want to learn more about the relationship between Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo and their work.

Well, I like her voice!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
The book was well written. I thought the narrator's voice lacked the passion a colours the book depicts. Very informative and gripping book. Perhaps a little too long as toward the end but good ending.

great booj

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

What made the experience of listening to The Lacuna the most enjoyable?

Her gift for evocative writing and her inventive ideas made this book compelling. I love the way she brings characters to life - I can see Salome, Frida and Violet and the old Lawyer Mr Gold - and the vivid settings and contrasts. I like the way she makes historic events personal and gives you a window onto history. I'm not going to spoil anything by revealing the story but it brought me to tears in places and also made me smile.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Lacuna?

The discoveries - milestones in Harrison's life - the underwater world, archaeology, art, love and people. Also the conversations between all kinds of people from so many walks of life.

What about Barbara Kingsolver’s performance did you like?

Anyone who stopped listening because her voice isn't 'professional' has sadly (for them) missed out on a great book read sensitively and evocatively. Her voice is compelling and beautiful - she may not modulate it to the extremes of professional actors/readers but you can still oh so clearly hear and see the characters through it. Her incredible gift for spoken accents is a pleasure to listen to and brings characters to vivid life - from Mexicans to American boys in the 30s to Southern genteel drawl to New York Jewish Lawyer to Russian Emigre - all really well done and so clear.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Panoramic and heart-stopping view of the American continent in the mid 20th century.

Beautiful vivid writing read by a beautiful voice

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
19 hours and 14 minutes. Was that really all? It felt longer.
Yes, the parts about Mexico were interesting. Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, well, you learned a little of them, and of Trotsky.
And descriptions of post-war America and racial neuroses were shocking - mirrored in the Trump administration of today.
But OH the tedium of the main character, and of his secretary - their thoughts, lives, dreams.
Barbara Kingsolver wrote a brilliant book in The Poisonwood Bible. What happened here??
And she should not read her own books aloud to an audience.
Not recommended.

Oh thank goodness it is FINISHED

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Excellent story, great narration. learnt loads, esp. that there wasnt a time USA was 'great'

sad but true

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews