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Meike's Reviews > Lost Children Archive
Lost Children Archive
by
by
Winner of the Dublin Literary Award 2021
Nominated for the Booker Prize 2019
Unfortunately, this novel illustrates the difference between well-intentioned and well executed: Luiselli writes about the plight of migrants trying to cross the border between Mexico and the US, especially children making this dangerous passage through the desert in hopes of being re-united with family members who work in the States. So this author has a message, and an important one, and there is nothing wrong with selling a message to readers per se, but Luiselli is trying way too hard, thus over-constructing her text by throwing in all kinds of ideas as well as narrative strands and sometimes forcing connections that simply make no sense.
The main storyline is about a patchwork family in the process of falling apart: Each parent brought one child into the marriage - a boy and a girl - and the grown-ups used to work together on a soundscape project, trying to record the languages spoken in NYC. Now the husband (they remain unnamed) wants to do a project about the removal of the Apaches, so the family makes a road trip to former Apacheria. The wife wants to do a project about the children who get lost in the desert and is also trying to help a woman to find her two kids who disappeared while trying to cross the border. Oh yes, and the boy and the girl are afraid they will lose each other when their parents separate.
This is symbolism overload, and the composition is based on comparing apples to oranges. In their respective projects, the husband and the wife aim to record the "echoes" of the lost children and of the Apaches. I do not know how many books Joshua Whitehead, Terese Marie Mailhot et al. have to write until people stop pushing the destructive narrative of the "vanishing Indian" - Native Americans are still a vital part of North America, but they only appear as a vanished people in this story, firmly stuck in the past, a narrative device without a voice, defined by an alleged absence. The fact that one of the children has a Mexican Indian great-grandmother (this info is buried deep in the text) just feels like another idea that adds to the over-construction of the story.
The children who cross the border also don't get to speak in this text, they are represented through stories: In the news, in books, in the imagination. Once they are looked at, but to what end? The point here is to document and record their absence - that's the idea the author had, and it remains an idea in the text as well ((view spoiler)). And does it make sense to compare the Native American genocide to migrant children trying to cross the border to siblings being torn apart by divorce, because people get "lost"? I think it's a mess, to say the least (genocide and migration and divorce? Really? Really??).
What makes it even harder to read is that the characters are difficult to accept: The children sometimes don't sound ike children, and it remains abstract why the parents want to separate. Often, they read like caricatures of leftist intellectuals (this novel has literary cross-references abound), which makes the reader feel sorry for the children. Oh yeah, and the book is too long.
I wish I could have loved this, because migration is such an important topic, and the racism of the current US administration needs to be fought, but this book does not have the heart and the power it would have needed to succeed.
Nominated for the Booker Prize 2019
Unfortunately, this novel illustrates the difference between well-intentioned and well executed: Luiselli writes about the plight of migrants trying to cross the border between Mexico and the US, especially children making this dangerous passage through the desert in hopes of being re-united with family members who work in the States. So this author has a message, and an important one, and there is nothing wrong with selling a message to readers per se, but Luiselli is trying way too hard, thus over-constructing her text by throwing in all kinds of ideas as well as narrative strands and sometimes forcing connections that simply make no sense.
The main storyline is about a patchwork family in the process of falling apart: Each parent brought one child into the marriage - a boy and a girl - and the grown-ups used to work together on a soundscape project, trying to record the languages spoken in NYC. Now the husband (they remain unnamed) wants to do a project about the removal of the Apaches, so the family makes a road trip to former Apacheria. The wife wants to do a project about the children who get lost in the desert and is also trying to help a woman to find her two kids who disappeared while trying to cross the border. Oh yes, and the boy and the girl are afraid they will lose each other when their parents separate.
This is symbolism overload, and the composition is based on comparing apples to oranges. In their respective projects, the husband and the wife aim to record the "echoes" of the lost children and of the Apaches. I do not know how many books Joshua Whitehead, Terese Marie Mailhot et al. have to write until people stop pushing the destructive narrative of the "vanishing Indian" - Native Americans are still a vital part of North America, but they only appear as a vanished people in this story, firmly stuck in the past, a narrative device without a voice, defined by an alleged absence. The fact that one of the children has a Mexican Indian great-grandmother (this info is buried deep in the text) just feels like another idea that adds to the over-construction of the story.
The children who cross the border also don't get to speak in this text, they are represented through stories: In the news, in books, in the imagination. Once they are looked at, but to what end? The point here is to document and record their absence - that's the idea the author had, and it remains an idea in the text as well ((view spoiler)). And does it make sense to compare the Native American genocide to migrant children trying to cross the border to siblings being torn apart by divorce, because people get "lost"? I think it's a mess, to say the least (genocide and migration and divorce? Really? Really??).
What makes it even harder to read is that the characters are difficult to accept: The children sometimes don't sound ike children, and it remains abstract why the parents want to separate. Often, they read like caricatures of leftist intellectuals (this novel has literary cross-references abound), which makes the reader feel sorry for the children. Oh yeah, and the book is too long.
I wish I could have loved this, because migration is such an important topic, and the racism of the current US administration needs to be fought, but this book does not have the heart and the power it would have needed to succeed.
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Lost Children Archive.
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Reading Progress
January 11, 2019
– Shelved
January 11, 2019
– Shelved as:
to-read
January 14, 2019
–
Started Reading
January 17, 2019
– Shelved as:
2019-read
January 17, 2019
– Shelved as:
usa
January 17, 2019
– Shelved as:
mexico
January 17, 2019
–
Finished Reading
July 24, 2019
– Shelved as:
2019-booker
Comments Showing 1-50 of 72 (72 new)
message 1:
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Lark
(new)
Jan 15, 2019 07:40AM
I liked The Story of My Teeth!
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Lark wrote: "I liked The Story of My Teeth!"That sounds encouraging, thanks Lark! This is my first Luiselli, so I have no expectations (well, apart from those created by the hype train! :-)).
ah, too bad. "Story of My Teeth" uses a lot of the same devices you mention here--it has a 'found text' feeling, for instance--and I think I liked it because it was so different. It would get on my nerves too if it had been about such a serious subject as this one is.One of my favorite border stories is "Signs Preceding the End of the World" by Yuri Herrera. Maybe that will work better for you.
...I just took a look at that one, and it seems great indeed - thanks for the tipp, Lark!!
Great review, Meike. I almost requested this, but after your review and how I felt about her other book I DNF’d, I’m glad I didn’t.
Sarah wrote: "Great review, Meike. I almost requested this, but after your review and how I felt about her other book I DNF’d, I’m glad I didn’t."Thank you, Sarah! I think I kind of got swept up in the "The Millions" excitement...I will listen more to my gut feeling now, especially as quite a few of the ToB entries were also flops that kept me from reading all of the other stuff on my TBR...
It seems we agree on this one although you put it much more eloquently than I did.
Yeah you’re right, I get caught up in that when all these lists come out too!
Neil wrote: "It seems we agree on this one although you put it much more eloquently than I did."Thank you, Neil, but I think you captured the core problem in your very first sentence: The topic is so important which makes you root for the book, and when it falls short, you feel terrible because you wanted to love it!
Sarah wrote: "Yeah you’re right, I get caught up in that when all these lists come out too!"Hahaha, it's always the same: I should know better, but my actions don't show that! :-)
I liked this book so much! Unbelievable how much we disagree on almost everything...
Chris wrote: "I liked this book so much! Unbelievable how much we disagree on almost everything..."Hahaha, I always enjoy reading different opinions as long as they're well-argued!
I don't know if this will change your perception of the novel, but I just wanted to add some trivia: the plot is almost autobiographical. Luiselli's (ex?) husband Álvaro Enrigue just published a book in spanish about the apaches called Ahora Me Rindo y Eso Es Todo ('Now I give up and that's it', allegedly Geronimo's words after being captured)", half novel, half nonfiction book about that same trip through the Apacheria.
Gael wrote: "I don't know if this will change your perception of the novel, but I just wanted to add some trivia: the plot is almost autobiographical. Luiselli's (ex?) husband Álvaro Enrigue just published a bo..."Thanks for that information, Gael, I didn't know that! It doesn't change my perception of the novel though, as it does not affect the points that bothered me. In case you decide to pick up Luiselli's book, I hope you'll enjoy it more than me though!
" I think it's a mess. " and yes " this novel illustrates the difference between well-intentioned and well executed", and it is too long. A REALLY good editor would have helped here. There is a lot of good writing buried in all the writing and way too much inventiveness. I loved the writing in the first part in the voice of the woman. After that - she lost me. The boy's part was unbelievable, especially for a supposed 10 year old - no matter how precocious. And weaving the other book throughout - The Elegies -which the author should have published separately rather than burying within this novel - basically - a lot to like - but way too much - hence - "Its a mess.
Ginny wrote: "" I think it's a mess. " and yes " this novel illustrates the difference between well-intentioned and well executed", and it is too long. A REALLY good editor would have helped here. There is a lot..."Thank you for your comment, Ginny! I was particularly bothered by the logical incoherence and the "vanishing Indian" nonsense - I agree with you that the whole text is basically a missed chance!
This statement, " I do not know how many books Tommy Orange, Joshua Whitehead, Terese Marie Mailhot et al. have to write until people stop pushing the destructive narrative of the "vanishing Indian" - Native Americans are still a vital part of North America, but they only appear as a vanished people in this story, firmly stuck in the past, a narrative device without a voice, defined by an alleged absence" is what I was afraid of once I read the synopsis. I'm sad to hear that my concerns were real (sad, but not surprised). I'm tireeddddddd of authors writing about indigenous people as if we don't exist. Like, hello. We do, thanks. Thanks for the review, because now I know not to pick it up.
E. Adeline wrote: "This statement, " I do not know how many books Tommy Orange, Joshua Whitehead, Terese Marie Mailhot et al. have to write until people stop pushing the destructive narrative of the "vanishing Indian..."Thank you for your comment, E. Adeline! I was really upset when I encountered this narrative pattern (and in a text that aims to raise awareness about social issues!), and all those false and weird analogies that came with it (the "vanishing Indian" - lost kids at the border - divorce). So disappointing. I still hope that one day, what actually vanishes will be those stupid misrepresentations in contemporary literature! :-)
Apparantly, Tommy Orange had no problem with the book:“Impossibly smart, full of beauty, heart and insight, Lost Children Archive is a novel about archiving all that we don’t want to lose. It is an ode to sound. Valeria Luiselli looks into the American present as well as its history: into Native American history, and the many intersections between American and Mexican history that are and have always been there. This is a road trip novel that transcends the form, while also being the perfect American road trip novel for right now. Everyone should read this book.” —Tommy Orange
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo...
I read the whole "vanishing indian" theme not as if indigenous people don't exist anymore, but more that they were for a large part violently 'removed' (killed, slaughtered) by white people
Chris wrote: "I read the whole "vanishing indian" theme not as if indigenous people don't exist anymore, but more that they were for a large part violently 'removed' (killed, slaughtered) by white people"There is no living indigenous person in this story, Chris, no trace of them in contemporary culture, no sentence about them in the now - they are reduced to "being violently removed" in the past, like this is all there is to indigenous people, like this is what their whole history amounts to. This kind of framing is toxic when it comes to the representation of indigeneous people, both for their self-perception and the ideas non-indigenous people have about them (and it plays into the settler society's attempt to remove them, in this case by removing their voices - Luiselli only has a white guy talking about "dead Indians", e.g., and makes it even worse by creating an analogy with children who get lost and die in the desert). The narrative strategy of the "vanishing Indian" means that indigenous people are portrayed as people who are about to disappear, when in fact their numbers are growing and they have fought, persisted and accomplished a lot and had a great impact on North American society in the last century and until today (Treuer's new book The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present does a great job illustrating this). The "vanishing Indian" theme is plain wrong and harmful per se, which is why I find it so upsetting that Luiselli employs it as a plot device to make a point about border policy.
I understand what you mean now Meike. I didn't read it that way
I am currently reading this and it is a bit of a struggle.
Jo wrote: "I am currently reading this and it is a bit of a struggle."I totally understand, Jo - I found it painfully pretentious! :-(
I so agree. It is really way too stuffed with references.
Valerie wrote: "I so agree. It is really way too stuffed with references."Thanks, Valerie! I was so disappointed, as this could have been such a timely and important novel!
Thank you so much for your articulate review!I had skimmed a couple of sentences of Luisellis writing at some point and dind't feel convinced enough to pick up anything.
I am really glad to get your perspective on this book, you gave me a really good sense of what went on and I'm especially glad to have a better awareness of this "disappearing indian" thing.
Maria wrote: "Thank you so much for your articulate review!I had skimmed a couple of sentences of Luisellis writing at some point and dind't feel convinced enough to pick up anything.
I am really glad to get y..."
Thank you so much, Maria! I'm afraid Luiselli is not my kind of writer either, but fortunately, there is so much other good stuff out there for us to enjoy! :-)
Meike, having just finished this one, I read through your review again. So very astute (your review). I think this is a book I will enjoy discussing, more than I enjoyed reading it.
Marchpane wrote: "Meike, having just finished this one, I read through your review again. So very astute (your review). I think this is a book I will enjoy discussing, more than I enjoyed reading it."Thank you so much, Maggie! I have to say that the more I think about the book, the more it upsets me...
Your review is just so spot on. I am working my way through this book and it is...a struggle. At times, I find the story flows and I am enjoying it (at times!), but most of the time I feel like I am caught in an MFA syllabus. The difficulty in appreciating the message but not so much the delivery is so key. Thank you for summing up my thoughts so well. Now to see if I manage to finish this...
Toni wrote: "Your review is just so spot on. I am working my way through this book and it is...a struggle. At times, I find the story flows and I am enjoying it (at times!), but most of the time I feel like I a..."Thank you, Toni! I found this book really annoying, it was as if the whole text was yelling at me: Look how smart I am! Hey, book: You're not as smart as you think, so get over yourself.
Meike wrote: "Toni wrote: "Your review is just so spot on. I am working my way through this book and it is...a struggle. At times, I find the story flows and I am enjoying it (at times!), but most of the time I ..."Indeed!
Your review was very eloquently stated. Such a timely subject matter I was intrigued to get into this book and see how the author approached and delivered the issue to the readers. I was left feeling empty and overall frustrated with the author, the narrator, the premise and the overall pretentious tone. (Did not read reviews until I finished, so as not to influence my reading.)
Dawn wrote: "Your review was very eloquently stated. Such a timely subject matter I was intrigued to get into this book and see how the author approached and delivered the issue to the readers. I was left feeli..."Thank you, Dawn! Yes, I also got more and more agitated for all the wrong reasons while reading this book...
Helpful and thoughtful review, Meike.
Dan wrote: "Helpful and thoughtful review, Meike."Thank you, Dan! I bet this is going to be a rather controversial IBR discussion, but that's when we come up with the broadest range of ideas! :-)
I have chosen to not read this one after trying to read this author twice before. I just do not get her themes and ways she tries to present her analytic arguments or conflicts. I usually choose not to express any negative effects an author may have on the reading public. The immigration policy in our USA has become such a serious issue in our everyday lives. I feel so torn between doing what is morally and ethically right in our hearts and what is right by our fellow citizens, family and closest friends. It has really brought serious indecisiveness upon all of us in our country of haves and have not's to survive day to day. I do not tend to take any of this subject matter lightly. I do appreciate a review and recommendation about literature that is truly honest. Time spent is a commodity you can never get back. In my view, time is not to be wasted. I am a caregiver living with my parents right now. I cherish each blessed minute. I choose my books wisely nowadays. Thank you for your opinion.
Dawn wrote: "I have chosen to not read this one after trying to read this author twice before. I just do not get her themes and ways she tries to present her analytic arguments or conflicts. I usually choose no..."For me, it is obvious that what's currently going on in the US regarding the treatment of refugees and non-White Americans is illegal, immoral and shameful. As a European, I can report that the racist, misogynist US President has pretty much ruined the reputation of the country and lost all moral authority - to see the highest representatives of a society degrade refugees and people of color is shocking and disturbing. Average white Americans should not be silly enough to think that these cruel and inhumane policies will benefit them, because they won't - this is just about fear and hate. Caging children, describing colored immigrants with fascist terminology and telling congresswomen of color who object to go "back to where they came from" - is this the "American Dream"? I used to live in the States and I love the country, and that is exactly why what's happening right now is infuriating me - America can be so much better than that, so please, America, stop disappointing us and live up to your promise.
So the problem I have with the book is not that I disagree with Luiselli's message (I agree with her), and I also think that it is very important to discuss immigration in the public arena. I just had many issues with the way Luiselli decided to convey her standpoints in the narrative. Unfortunately, I can't compare this book with others she has written, because this is the only one I read.
I am still reading but I think this author is a better essayist than a storyteller.
Onome wrote: "I am still reading but I think this author is a better essayist than a storyteller."I can't tell, Onome, because I haven't read Luiselli's essays - and I have to admit that after this novel, I'm not planning to read them either! :-)
Yes!!! "Symbolism overload!" I just finished this book and I just needed your review in my life at this moment. Perfectly captured how I was feeling.
Skyler wrote: "Yes!!! "Symbolism overload!" I just finished this book and I just needed your review in my life at this moment. Perfectly captured how I was feeling."Thank you so much, Skyler! In my lexicon, this novel is listed under "pretentious".
Seems a bit overwrought, Meike. Excellent summary.
Kevin wrote: "Seems a bit overwrought, Meike. Excellent summary."
Thank you, Kevin! Yes, this book has too much of everything, plus some downright nonsense.
"And does it make sense to compare the Native American genocide to migrant children trying to cross the border to siblings being torn apart by divorce, because people get "lost"? I think it's a mess, to say the least (genocide and migration and divorce? Really? Really??). "YES! it's like Luiselli just wanted to put in a bunch of Important Themes and then put a bow on it by alluding to Important Literature. I found the Waste Land allusions particularly jarring since they were simultaneously too on-the-nose and too tonally dissimilar.
Luiselli's sentences are also so muddy and sluggish that I find them hard to read and unlovely.
Elaine wrote: ""And does it make sense to compare the Native American genocide to migrant children trying to cross the border to siblings being torn apart by divorce, because people get "lost"? I think it's a mes..."I was very surprised to learn that many people feel like the comparisons are appropriate because Luiselli's aim is to raise awareness for the plight of refugees - I am German, and if you made a similar comparison involving genocide here, this would be seen as outrageous and tasteless: It is not acceptable to instrumentalize a genocide to make a point. But after reading Learning from the Germans: Race and the Memory of Evil, I feel like that really might be a German thing.
And yes, the literary allusions are so show-offy and exaggerated that it is basically impossible to enjoy them. It's just too much of everything.
I guess I'm okay with comparing the child migration to native genocide...it makes sense in context since the United States is culpable for both, because they're both indigenous populations, and because our (I'm American) current border policies essentially amount to genocide or are at least in danger of becoming it.I'm NOT okay with examining those issues through the lens of a well-off family with a disintegrating marriage, especially since the female narrator mentally corrects the facts of some of her husband's stories about genocide and in general portrays him as pretty unpleasant and smug. It's like she's undermining the importance of his project, and maybe the project IS dumb, but for the book to work we have to be able to take the "issues" seriously.
And then juxtaposing their own children's running away because the boy is upset that he isn't getting enough attention to the plight of the migrant children is just icky.
I might have liked this book if she'd just deleted the four main characters :)
