The LacunaThe Lacuna
Score Modern
What it's about
Harrison William Shepherd is a man caught between two worlds, Mexico and the United States, in the 1930s, '40s and '50s. His search for identity leads him to the heart of the century's most tumultuous events, including work in the household of the painters Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, where the exiled Leon Trotsky lives.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Women's Prize for Fiction and spent 43 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It's Barbara Kingsolver's richest historical novel.
You'll love it if you liked
Demon Copperhead
The Poisonwood Bible
A Gentleman in MoscowGood to know
It's told through diaries, letters and articles. It starts slowly and builds.
By the numbers
- Readers61 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics56 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller41 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #387 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #765 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by Barbara Kingsolver
Demon CopperheadThe Poisonwood Bible
Flight BehaviourIf you like this, read next
All the Light We Cannot See
Americanah
The Underground Railroad
Alexander Hamilton
My Brilliant Friend
A Fine BalanceExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Lacuna worth reading?
Yes. It won the Women's Prize for Fiction and spent 43 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #765 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 75.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Lacuna about?
Harrison William Shepherd is a man caught between two worlds, Mexico and the United States, in the 1930s, '40s and '50s. His search for identity leads him to the heart of the century's most tumultuous events, including work in the household of the painters Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, where the exiled Leon Trotsky lives.
How long does it take to read The Lacuna?
About 14 hours (549 pages), or about 4 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Lacuna won?
Women's Prize for Fiction winner (2010).
What should I read after The Lacuna?
If you liked it, try Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver or A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles.