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The Cost of Progress
A Delicate Marriage follows two people who, during their marriage, change and develop opposite political views causing a rift paralleling the country’s own troubles. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
My grandparents’ love story was the original inspiration for the book. My grandmother was a debutante from a wealthy family, and her father strongly objected to her infatuation with my grandfather, who came from very modest means. Their courtship survived my great-grandfather’s interference, and they married and lived happily ever after. But that doesn’t make for good fiction, so I decided Isa and Marco would have opposing political views. That enabled me to illustrate how being a U.S. colony has affected the island in both negative and positive ways. The give and take in Isa and Marco’s marriage mirrors the relationship between the U.S. and Puerto Rico, which remains fraught with tension to this day.
What kind of research did you do for this novel to ensure you captured the essence of the story’s theme?
When I set out to research the 1930s to 1950s in Puerto Rico, I ended up getting an education. I learned how the independence movement was largely silenced, how the population was manipulated by politicians, and how the hopes and dreams of the Puerto Rican people were exploited in the name of progress. Whenever possible, I accessed primary sources like speech transcripts, the writings of the politicians of the time, government records, and newspaper accounts of current events. I also interviewed historians and experts in different fields of study relevant to my work. And, of course, I had a first-hand account of the time from my grandparents and other friends and relatives. It’s easy to see what happened in retrospect. But many of those living at the time only saw the benefits of progress and not its potential cost.
What were some goals you set for yourself as a writer in this book?
Well, I wanted to, first and foremost, write a good, compelling story. But I also wanted to bring to light Puerto Rico’s history and continued status as a colony. Most Americans know very little about the island, even though it’s part of the U.S. I’ve been asked if my home was near a village (I lived in a high-rise on the beach in the city of San Juan) if I have a green card (Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens), and why I don’t “look” Puerto Rican (we come in all shades, from pasty white to darkest ebony). My college roommate freshman year called me “María” for two weeks. I guess she’d seen West Side Story too many times.
So I wanted to tell a good story wrapped around the history of my island, particularly during the first half of the 20th century, which was a time of tremendous change. I hope readers enjoy the ride while falling a little in love with Puerto Rico.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
While conducting research for A Delicate Marriage, I learned that the birth control pill was tested on low-income Puerto Rican women in the late 1950s. The women were not told they were participating in a drug trial, and the results were problematic. Nevertheless, the pill received FDA approval based on the results of this study. That’s my next story.
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Isabela, a wealthy woman, sacrifices her artistic aspirations to marry Marco, a penniless man dedicated to improving conditions on the island. As the island’s insular government enacts pro-U.S. policies, Marco builds a real estate empire while struggling to maintain his populist principles. Meanwhile, Isabela feels unfulfilled in her traditional role as a wife and mother and becomes disillusioned with Marco’s shifting moral compass. She begins to identify with anti-U.S. factions, leading a dangerous double life that puts her family in peril.
As political violence threatens their paradise, Isabela and Marco question whether their marriage, like the island’s relationship with the U.S., should continue. Margarita Barresi’s debut novel celebrates Puerto Rican culture while delving into themes of class, oppression, and the effects of colonialism through the lens of a marriage.
A Delicate Marriage
In Margarita Barresi’s captivating novel, A Delicate Marriage, readers are immersed in a riveting narrative, shedding light on the unlikely union between Marco, a man of humble origins with soaring ambitions, and Isabela, the privileged daughter of a successful businessman. Set against the enchanting backdrop of Puerto Rico in the tumultuous 1930s, the tale offers a keen exploration of the intertwined destinies of these two characters.
Will Marco manage to convince Isabela’s father of his worth? Can Isabela transcend her sheltered, superficial lifestyle to discover a deeper sense of contentment? A nostalgic, romantic ambiance infuses the narrative as readers find themselves instinctively championing these characters. Moreover, the development of Puerto Rico – navigating the journey from a colonial outpost to an industrialized state – constitutes an engaging subplot interwoven with the central romance.
Barresi’s A Delicate Marriage skillfully etches each character with minute precision, providing an immersive reading experience that allows the audience to traverse through their vicissitudes. Isabela, in particular, is depicted as a remarkably human character, prone to errors as any of us, which only enhances her appeal. The author meticulously describes the exotic locale without overindulging in detail, adding an intriguing layer to the narrative.
Despite its merits, I think the novel could have benefitted from a more in-depth exploration of its secondary characters. I think that delving into their perceptions of the unfolding events and their roles within the broader narrative would have enriched the story. And I think greater usage of internal monologues would have added more depth to the motivations driving each character.
A Delicate Marriage, with its blend of glamour, charm, and a nostalgic nod to a bygone era, promises to uplift readers’ spirits on even the dreariest of days, inviting them to revisit the tempestuous yet enchanting landscape of Puerto Rico. This delightful romantic saga, with a touch of Latin American flair, is likely to enthrall readers, particularly those with a penchant for compelling love stories.
Pages: 352 | ISBN : 1639889302
LITERARY TITAN 