The word "lacuna" has various definitions and Kingsolver adroitly weaves them all into this immensely satisfying read from a hugely talented author. Woven from journals, letters and newspaper clippings, some real, some fabricated, the story follows the path of protagonist Harrison Shepard, a writer—naive, perhaps brilliant, perhaps ordinary— who has front row seats to some very infamous periods in Mexican, American and world history in the 30s, 40s and 50s. He hires on as a cook in Diego Rivera's house; he connects meaningfully with Frida Kahlo; he acts as a secretary to Lev Trotsky in the years leading up to his assasination, all the while recording every moment in his journals. As a result, Shepard can claim involvement in some very notable incidents in history. Not so helpful when Hoover and McCarthy start scourging the United States of reds.
