I read that book a few months ago and felt frustrated for the same reasons. I have no idea for what reason the relationship with Billy was avoided, because I can't see a way it wouldn't have added to the story!
I do love books which tell the story through a variety of sources though (for example Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' is a real favourite)
It started slowly for me, too. The scenes with his mother dragged, I found. I did love the scenes with Frida, though, they were so vibrant. I remember reading an interview with Barbara Kingsolver and she said that she hadn't even intended for Frida to be a presence in the book, but she had wormed her way in!
Being British, I had never really realised the scale of the McCarthy trials before, so I feel like I've learned something :)
I absolutely LOVED the cover too, I couldn't stop looking at it. this was on the UK version (http://images.smh.com.au/ftsmh/ffximage/2009/11/30/lacuna_narrowweb__300x448,0.jpg), was yours the same?
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Date: 2011-01-20 12:22 pm (UTC)I do love books which tell the story through a variety of sources though (for example Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' is a real favourite)
It started slowly for me, too. The scenes with his mother dragged, I found. I did love the scenes with Frida, though, they were so vibrant. I remember reading an interview with Barbara Kingsolver and she said that she hadn't even intended for Frida to be a presence in the book, but she had wormed her way in!
Being British, I had never really realised the scale of the McCarthy trials before, so I feel like I've learned something :)
I absolutely LOVED the cover too, I couldn't stop looking at it. this was on the UK version (http://images.smh.com.au/ftsmh/ffximage/2009/11/30/lacuna_narrowweb__300x448,0.jpg), was yours the same?