The blog tour starts today and runs until December 7th. You'll have a chance to read reviews and interviews as well as enter our giveaway. Check out the full tour schedule below.
More About the Book
From glittering ballrooms to verdant mountains to poverty-stricken slums, A Delicate Marriage takes the reader on a vivid tour of Puerto Rico forty years after becoming a U.S. colony, a time of great change and political turmoil on the island.
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.
Advance Praise for A Delicate Marriage
“Margarita Barresi’s A Delicate Marriage is an electrifying debut … smart, heartfelt and timely… a trenchant portrait of an island and a marriage pushed to the breaking point.”— Junot Diaz, author of This is When You Lose Her
“Immersive and interesting, empathetic, and expansive, Barresi skillfully interweaves a love story with the history of Puerto Rico politics. An impressive debut!”
— Susie Orman Schnall, author of We Came Here to Shine
“Barresi is a naturally gifted storyteller with a talent for narrative structure…What emerges is a fully three-dimensional portrait of a couple trying to find a way forward in a time of political and social upheaval…An absorbing and deeply nuanced romance.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Barresi expertly weaves captivating details of Puerto Rican history into this gripping love story.”
— Independent Book Review
“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.”
— Literary Titan
Publisher: Atmosphere Press
Raised in Puerto Rico by her grandparents, Margarita Barresi grew up hearing stories about the “good old days”—the genesis for this, her first novel. She studied public relations at Boston University, and after
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ISBN-10: 1639889302
ISBN-13: 978-1639889303
Print length: 352 pages
Purchase a copy of the book at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Bookshop.org and add it to your Goodreads reading list.
About Margarita Barresi
a successful career in marketing communications, now devotes her time to writing. Her essays have been published in several literary magazines and compilations. Margarita lives in the suburbs north of Boston with her husband and two Puerto Rican cats, Luna and Rico.
Learn more at www.margaritabarresi.com.
Instagram: @margaritabarresi https://www.instagram.com/margaritabarresi/
X/Twitter: @Barresi_Writes https://twitter.com/Barresi_Writes
Facebook: Margarita Barresi
Instagram: @margaritabarresi https://www.instagram.com/margaritabarresi/
X/Twitter: @Barresi_Writes https://twitter.com/Barresi_Writes
Facebook: Margarita Barresi
---- Interview by Michelle Cornish
WOW: Congratulations on the release of your book, Margarita! The title A Delicate Marriage not only represents the relationship between Isabela and Marco but also draws parallels with Puerto Rico and the U.S. Why did you choose to tackle the island's political history through the lens of a marriage?
Margarita: Because Puerto Rico is a U.S. colony, the island is in an arranged and therefore delicate marriage. Telling the story of a marriage where one person was pro-U.S. involvement and the other is pro-independence allowed me to illustrate both sides of the political debate. 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.
WOW: Your novel celebrates Puerto Rican culture. How did you decide which elements of the culture to highlight, and were there any you felt were essential to include?
Margarita: Honestly, I tried to include as many elements of Puerto Rico’s rich culture as I could. Certainly, food plays a big part in the book, but also literature and music. Puerto Ricans have hundreds of popular refrains or dichos that have been passed down through the generations. They tend to be funny, and I think my grandmother knew them all. One of my characters, Carmen the housekeeper, espouses dichos at every opportunity, and I had a lot of fun with her. I’ve also written about dichos in my blog.
WOW: How did you approach the research for this book? Were there any fascinating tidbits you came across that didn't make it into the final manuscript?
Margarita: My grandparents told stories of the good old days on the island, which is what sparked my interest in writing this story. I immersed myself in the history of Puerto Rico from 1898, when it became a U.S. colony, to the early 1950s. My research showed me how little of the island’s history I learned in school and how much what I learned leaned pro-U.S. Gaining a more well-rounded understanding of the island’s history and status has enabled me to connect to my roots more deeply. And, yes, I uncovered so many interesting tidbits that didn’t make it into the book that I created a blog so I could write about them. Go to my website to learn why frozen ices in Puerto Rico are named after Charles Lindbergh and why an island dependent on rum as a primary exports willingly voted for Prohibition.
WOW: What a great idea creating a blog for all those extra tidbits! Let's switch gears a bit. It's always fun to find out how authors get started. After a successful career in marketing communications, what prompted your shift to writing? How has your background in public relations and marketing influenced your approach to storytelling?
Margarita: Writing has always come easily to me, and as a life-long avid reader, I dreamed about writing a novel. I wasn’t brave enough to take on this challenge in my younger years but did use my writing talent to forge a career in marketing communications. But writing a feature article, website copy, or an ad is vastly different from writing fiction. When I finally rolled up my sleeves to write creatively, I was wise enough to know I needed to learn the craft first and started by taking classes. I dipped my toes in through memoir essays, which enabled me to use my journalistic skills, and then graduated to full-on creative writing.
WOW: Renowned authors like Junot Diaz have praised your work. How does it feel to receive such commendation for your debut novel?
Margarita: It’s surreal. First, I was floored by the generosity of these very busy authors. I approached them out of nowhere, an unknown debut writer, and asked for their endorsement. They willingly gave up their valuable time to read my novel and help me market it. When I read Junot Diaz’s quote, I ran around the house mumbling, “Oh my god. Oh my god.” I didn’t know what to do with myself!
WOW: I love that! Now that you've delved deep into Puerto Rico's history and culture for this novel, do you have plans to explore other aspects or time periods of Puerto Rican history in future works?
Margarita: While conducting research for A Delicate Marriage, I learned that doctors tested the original birth control pill on low-income women in Puerto Rico in the 1950s. The women were not told they were participating in a drug trial. Even though the trial results were problematic, the FDA approved the pill, and the rest is history. But there were real costs to the women in Puerto Rico and that’s focus of my next book.
WOW: That sounds fascinating (and also a bit scary)! Thank you for answering my questions today. Congratulations on the release of A Delicate Marriage, and all the best with your writing career.
---- Blog Tour Calendar
November 10th @ The Muffin
Join us as we celebrate the blog tour launch of A Delicate Marriage by Margarita Barresi. You'll have the chance to read an interview with the author and win a copy of the book.
Join us as we celebrate the blog tour launch of A Delicate Marriage by Margarita Barresi. You'll have the chance to read an interview with the author and win a copy of the book.
November 12th @ World of My Imagination
Stop by to read Nicole's review of A Delicate Marriage.
November 14th @ Michelle Cornish's blog
Read a guest post by Margarita Barresi about the evolution of her writing process.
November 16th @ Deborah Adams's blog
Check out Deborah's spotlight of A Delicate Marriage, read a guest post about Puerto Rico by Margarita Barresi, and enter a giveaway.
November 17th @ A Story Book World
Visit Deirdra's blog to view a spotlight of A Delicate Marriage.
November 19th @ What is That Book About?
Stop by Michelle's blog while she spotlights A Delicate Marriage.
November 20th @ Author Anthony Avina's blog
Check out Anthony's blog where he shares a spotlight of A Delicate Marriage.
November 21st @ Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews blog
Join Lisa for an interview with Margarita Barresi.
November 23rd @ World of My Imagination
Return to Nicole's blog to read a guest post by Margarita Barresi about writing based on reality.
November 25th @ Boots, Shoes & Fashion
Join Linda as she interviews author Margarita Barresi.
November 27th @ Author Michelle Cornish's blog
Stop by to read Michelle's review of A Delicate Marriage.
November 30th @ The Knotty Needle
Visit Judy's blog to read a review of A Delicate Marriage.
December 2nd @ Reading is My Remedy
Stop by Chelsie's Instagram to read her review of A Delicate Marriage.
December 4th @ Author Anthony Avina's blog
Check out Anthony's blog where he shares a guest post by Margarita Barresi about writing historical fiction.
December 5th @ Nikki's Book Reviews
Stop by to read Nicole's review of A Delicate Marriage.
December 6th @ StoreyBook Reviews
Join Leslie as she spotlights A Delicate Marriage and shares a guest post by Margarita Barresi about writing setting as a character.
***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****
Enter to win a copy of the novel, A Delicate Marriage by Margarita Barresi! Fill out the Rafflecopter form for a chance to win. The giveaway ends November 23rd at 11:59pm CT. We will choose a winner the next day and announce in the widget and also follow up via email. Good luck!
What a wonderful interview! Margarita, I loved hearing about your inspiration for writing your book, and how you reached out to Junot Diaz! That's so inspiring and what a great quote. Your book has one of the most beautiful book covers I've ever seen. :) Congratulations on the release of A Delicate Marriage and good luck on your tour!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a fascinating book. I don't know much of Puerto Rico's history but am anxious to learn.
ReplyDeleteAn enticing book for my reading list
ReplyDelete