Margarita Barresi
Author Interview - Margarita Barresi
Author of A Delicate Marriage
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.
Author Interview - Margarita Barresi
Author I draw inspiration from:
Esmeralda Santiago is my literary idol. Her beautiful memoirs, When I was Puerto Rican and
Almost a Woman, are each a tour de force. She came from literally nothing, but her path took her to Harvard and to great success as a filmmaker and author. I can’t wait to read her latest novel, Las Madres.
Author Interview - Margarita Barresi | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
Under a beach umbrella with the sound of ocean waves breaking in the background or all cozy beneath a duvet in my bed.
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
I can imagine crossing paths with Jude St. Francis from Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life in an elevator. He is such a beautiful, damaged character that I wouldn’t even speak. I would just hug him for the entire ride, trying to instill some love in his tortured heart.
Author Interview - Margarita Barresi | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
I discovered historical fiction as a teenager and starting having dreams where I’d be writing a book in the exact same style as the one I was reading. I’d wake up with dialogue in my head. It took me more than 40 years, but now I’ve done it for real.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
For me, nothing compares to holding a physical book in my hands. Hardbacks are beautiful on the shelves, but sometimes bulky to read. Paperbacks are the most reader-friendly, but easy to beat up. I have never listened to an audiobook and don’t really have a desire to. I’ve only read a handful of ebooks and enjoyed being able to look up unfamiliar words instantly.
The last book I read:
I just finished Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo, a Dominican-American writer who has previously written YA books. It’s a beautifully written story told from the perspectives of four sisters and two cousins. Acevedo serves up lots of family drama, magical realism, humor, and Latin culture and passion.
Author Interview - Margarita Barresi | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
Computer, hands down. I can’t write quickly enough by hand to keep up with my thoughts. Plus, I love all the cutting and pasting you can do on the computer, moving things here and there to see what works best.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
I’d love to hang out with Olga Acevedo from Xochitl Gonzalez’s Olga Dies Dreaming. She’s funny, spunky, and we have a lot in common culturally, but from different perspectives.
Author Interview - Margarita Barresi | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
I’d be a percussionist in a Latin or funk band. Unfortunately, I’m tone deaf, so this will always remain a fantasy.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
Dior’s post-World War II New Look. All those sweeping skirts and clinched waists in gorgeous fabrics! And the hats! Sigh.
Place I’d most like to travel:
All of Europe fascinates me, but Italy in particular. The food! There’s nothing like it.
My signature drink:
Coffee in the morning, iced water throughout the day, and sauvignon blanc or a dirty vodka martini in the evening.
Favorite artist:
There’s something about a Jackson Pollock drip painting that can mesmerize me for hours.
Number one on my bucket list:
When my husband retires, we want to live in a different country for one or two months each year, so we can fully immerse ourselves in the culture.
Anything else you'd like to add:
I’d like to encourage readers to explore contemporary Latinx writers. I’ve already mentioned Esmeralda Santiago, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Xochitl Gonzalez. I also recommend Angie Cruz, Marisel Vera, Ivelisse Rodriguez, and Jaquira Díaz. Then, there are the big ones: Christina Garcia, Isabel Allende, Sandra Cisneros, Julia Alvarez, and Junot Díaz. Happy reading!
Find more from the author:
Author Bio:
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 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.
