Just before we left France, I ran across The Lacuna in the English bookstore in Aix. I was excited to find it because The Bean Trees is one of my favorite novels and I had been wanting to read more of Barbara Kingsolver. I bought it to read on the plane on the way back but overestimated the amount of reading time I would have on our long travel day, what with having an infant and all. Because of all the moving and stuff I have done over the past year, I never made much progress in it until recently. I finally settled into it and didn’t even bother to start over, just picked up where I had an envelope shoved in, and was completely engrossed. Kingsolver just has a way with words that is truly artistic and I thoroughly enjoy reading her.
I will say that she does deal with political issues in her works, which normally I find very annoying. If I want to be preached at I go to church. (The Temperance Brennan novels by Kathy Reichs, for example, always deal with some “issue” and I always skip the part at the end where she summarizes the issue and does the preachy thing.) Somehow, though, Kingsolver does it subtly and it’s not offensive at all (to me, anyway) and really makes you think about whatever it is the characters are dealing with. Anyway if you find politics and literature a truly abhorrent mixture then I guess stay away.
But I thought it was fantastic and mesmerizing.
November 7, 2011 at 2:08 am
Dear Suzanne,
I tries to start a conversation with you yesterday in church. I am sorry for that awkward moment. The couple behind you thought was coming over to talk to them. I teach their son- he happens to have a project due tomorrow.
I wanted to tell you that my students prayed for you during the trash strike! We have your card up in our classroom. If you are still in the DFW area, it would be lovely if you could talk to them about your experience. I will probably reference your blog about the French social medicine experience. I thought trusting a French hair stylist was a test of my French skills! I am happy to read that your family is well and settled.
November 8, 2011 at 10:20 am
No worries! Thanks for your prayers – one can never have too many during a trash strike. We are indeed in DFW, permanently (at least for now). I would be happy to talk about living in France, as long as I don’t have to do it in French!
I only went to a salon once while we were there and I made a very fluent friend go with me to ensure everything went smoothly. It was actually one of the better haircuts I’ve had.