The Love You Promised Me

Rating:
Summary: absorbing read
Review: I'm surprised by the other comments that characterize this book as either sentimental or about someone depressed. I found it to be much more mature than that. There are so many poorly written books on the best seller list, I was glad to find something a bit different. Of course, there are some flaws, perhaps in her reading her lover's letters a bit too much rather than recalling some more vivid scenes in a flashback. And her husband is a stereotype, her children cardboard. But I liked it that she was trying to find out more about her own family's past. The fact that her father had two families was so interesting - I wish it had been explored more. But the novel sets itself in a few days' timespan where she is in a hotel. The political turbulence is also a bit remote as a backdrop for a U.S. reader who would like to know more, esp. about her husband's activities and politics. Also, the ending was very disappointing. Still, it was an absorbing read for me and something I would recommend to others. It could be a good reading group book. I wish the author would go back to this subject and maybe extend the time period beyond just staying in the hotel and the few memories she has while there. The book is about 150 pages and could have been 250 easily. I would definitely read more by this author sometime. She has a very fresh voice, very real and mature and it was nice reading something that was real, as opposed to magic realism, which I have a harder time connecting with.

Rating:
Summary: REVIEW QUOTES
Review: THE LOVE YOU PROMISED ME is the 6th recipient of the Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Prize and was a finalist in the Dublin Literary Awards.

"This lovely work, astonishing in its quietude, was deservedly winner of the Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Prize and belongs in all literary collections" --Library Journal

"The novel's biggest strength is Ms. Molina's unsentimentality in her treatment of Marcela's emotional journey" --Beatriz Terrazas, Dallas Morning News

"For aficionados of Latino literature, this entertaining book reveals how lovers in modern-day Mexico-as do their US counterparts-face (and fight) familial and societal odds to realize a dream" --Saldudos Hispanos

"Molina weaves the past and present together into a seamless tapestry of hopes and passions, fears and failings, love and longing" --Booklist

Rating:
Summary: The love you promised?
Review: Throughout life, one often confronts both happiness and disappointment. In Silvia Molina's novel, The Love You Promised Me, the story revealed during the two-day trip taken by the main character, concentrates on the disappointing moments of life. The main character, Marcela, takes this trip to uncover her past by learning of her family genealogy. She also uses this time to reflect on an affair that has turned sour, during which the reader learns of her sadness and disappointment in life. Marcela, the wife of an incredibly successful, hard-working lawyer, Phillip, finds herself caught in an unsatisfying marriage. As often the case with the spouses of those holding a demanding position, Marcela feels neglected and often complains about the absence of her husband. Despite this fact, he remains a good husband and father to their children. As Marcela unfolds her life, the reader learns of an intimate affair with Eduardo, a well-known doctor. The two meet as Marcela's mother undergoes treatment for her terminal illness. Marcela notes Eduardo's compassion and concern for his patient and begins to care a great deal about him. Shortly after this, he reveals his love for her and the two begin intimate communications, first through a series of letters and later in person. However, the promising affair is short lived as Eduardo confesses he no longer feels for her, causing incredible heartache for Marcela. Amidst the telling of the lovers' tale, Marcela does research into her ancestors' lives. She finds that her past uncovers some unsettling family issues. Marcela is disgusted with her grandparents' choice to abandon their son after his marriage with a person of another class. Anger at the hands of Marcela's family, both in and out of the immediate, roams throughout the novel. The author deliberately puts a large focus on different angles of her family life that has upset her. The relationships with her family, and her opinion of the members of it, display Marcela's inability to accept her past and present position in life. In fact, this causes her to take the trip in the first place, to resolve questions of her unknown relatives. The first and most immediate cause of unhappiness brought by family members, comes from her husband Rafael. Although an excellent provider and good father, Marcela is disappointed with the way that the marriage has turned out. She often feels alone, and wishes to have the companionship that marriage brings. Emotionally, her relationship with Rafael feels not existent because of his need to ensure the financial stability of the family and maintain the respect he has earned as a prominent lawyer of the area. Even though Marcela realizes the need for her husband to work so hard, she complains to herself and gives her an excuse to begin an affair with Eduardo. Another portion of family life that Marcela struggles to deal with comes directly from her father. After his death, she learns of another family he kept hidden from her. Marcela is angered, not only by her father's unfaithfulness, but also by her mother's decision to stay with him. The struggle is evident as she asks her dying mother whether she knew of her father's affair. Aside from the actions of her father, treatment he received from his family disturbs Marcela as well. On her trip she learns of her father's rejection by his own family after marrying a housemaid, a member of a lower class. Marcela views this family with disgust, eventually adding another factor to her depression. As the novel moves towards a conclusion, Marcela begins to realize the true causes of her unhappiness. Although she experiences a great deal of pain from the termination of her affair with Eduardo, Marcela learns that she must learn to accept her place in life and her family. This does not mean that she agrees with all the actions of her family, but she is willing to not let it affect her anymore. Therefore she can begin to put her life back in order and recover from the past that so strongly influences her while dealing with her marriage in a more positive manner