It took me forever to read this book. I don't know why. I liked it, it was very interesting, not the usual topic. 
 The story follows Harrison Sheppard from childhood to adulthood, from Revolutionary Mexico to post WWII (McCarthy era) United States. There are some interesting peeks into what life may have been like for someone living in the Rivera/Kahlo household, and a fascinating description of Trotsky and his exile in Mexico and affair with Kahlo. I love how Kingsolver mixes fiction with historical events. She paints a colorful picture of a life between two countries. 
 Some quotes I liked: 
 The market in Coyoacan is not like the Zocalo downtown, where everything comes ready-made. The girls in blue shawls sit on blankets with stacks of maize they just broke from the field an hour before. While waiting for people to come, they shell off the kernels. If more time passes they soak the corn in lime water, then grind it into wet nixtamal and pat it out. By day's end, all the corn is tortillas. 
 ...people love to read about sins and errors, but not their own. 
 With Artie, irony carries the mailbag right to the door of nonchalance.