Title: SONG OF THE BORICUA
Author: Olivia Castillo
Publisher: Independent
Pages: 335
Genre: Fiction
Author: Olivia Castillo
Publisher: Independent
Pages: 335
Genre: Fiction
BOOK BLURB:
Elena: Resilient and ambitious, but trapped by duty to her children.
Maria: Passionate and headstrong, but married to a man she does not love. Josephina: Optimistic and romantic, but in love with an alcoholic.
Isabella: Clairvoyant and spiritual, but denies her heritage and roots.
Like the land these women are held hostage, unfulfilled and unable to find their happiness. Each generation like the land is cursed. Can they defy the powerful bond of the curse and free themselves to find love everlasting?
New Author, Olivia Castillo, like the jibaros of the past weaves a tale of sorrow and joy. Castillos’ fiction is timely, offering a glimpse into the islands rich history and offering insight into the story that has plagued women for all of time, the search for true love and acceptance of self.
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Book Excerpt 15 –
Some Puerto Ricans
saw Spain as the motherland and they felt they owed a debt to the country that
brought them Christopher Columbus. Under Spanish rule, a large number of free
blacks and other people of color thrived. They were working toward even more
independence and freedom from four hundred years of Spanish rule when the
Spanish–American War broke out.
This
was important to Pablo because, being of mixed blood, he had dreamed of
equality for people of all color. That dream was not realized, as North
American companies took over most of the principal centers of sugar plantations
and all Spanish administrative powers were dismantled.
Americans
felt superior to the mixed and indigenous people of the island and felt that
Puerto Ricans needed to be led by their superior white brothers. At least this
is what Pablo would mumble to Ricardo and his mother on the nights he would
come home intoxicated.
In
the third decade of American Colonial rule, things were changing for the worse.
The Puerto Ricans, Creoles, and white elite each felt that they were the true
representatives of Puerto Rico. And that, along with the growing poverty and
lack of jobs, caused much conflict and division in the island.
As
much as Ricardo didn’t want to have anything in common with his father, the
feelings about the colonization of Puerto Rico were the same. Just before he
ordered his father’s death, he overheard his father screaming at his mother
about the pig Americans and that they were injecting Puerto Ricans with cancer.
Ricardo thought it was just the mad ravings of a lunatic—until he saw the
newspaper.
Dr.
Pedro Albizu Campos had leaked a letter written by a drunk Dr. Cornelius P.
Rhoads that said, “[Puerto Ricans] are beyond doubt the dirtiest, laziest, most
degenerate and thievish race of men ever inhabiting this sphere. It makes you
sick to inhabit the same island with them. They are even lower than Italians.
What the island needs is not public health work but a tidal wave or something
to totally exterminate the population. It might then be livable. I have done my
best to further the process of extermination by killing off eight and
transplanting cancer into several more.”
Ricardo
felt an anger that he had never felt before. When the Ponce massacre took place
he decided to join the Nationalist party. He donated money to them from his
profits, feeling justified that his country would benefit from his illegal
activities. He knew that the only way to change was to be rich enough to exert
his power and influence.
One
night after a busy day from delivering a large shipment of rum, he decided to
spend the night at his favorite local inn rather than go home. He wanted to
carouse Cristo Street and visit the brothels. Not wanting to attract the
authorities he took a detour near El Morro and spotted a gorgeous young woman
walking alone.
He
followed her for a block, making sure that she did not see him. Finally, not
being able to control himself, he approached the gorgeous vision ahead of him.
Never one to miss an opportunity, he quickly found out her name, and, using his
arsenal of small talk and charm, he offered to escort Elena home.
At
the front door of her small home he promised himself he would be back soon. He
quickly leaned over and stole a kiss before she had a chance to say goodnight
and vowed that he would conquer her and make her his.
Olivia Castillo is a New York
native. After going to the prestigious Fiorello H. Laguardia High School of
Music & Art and Performing Arts, she went on to study graphic design at
Otis Parson's College in Los Angeles. Along with being an entrepreneur, she is
the mother of three children, and grandmother of two. When not writing or
spending time with her family, she travels the world and paints. Song
of the Boricua is her first novel.
Website Address: www.oliviacastillo.org
Blog Address: https://www.oliviacastillo.org/blog
Twitter Address: https://twitter.com/oliviacauthor
Facebook Address: https://www.facebook.com/songoftheboricua/
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