This is a rather charming novel although not entirely novel in material, about immigrants to the USA. The novel show cases immigrants from the Dominican Republic who have moved to New York in search of a better life, income, and opportunities; the age-old immigration story. That said, the voice of the novel is fresh, the short chapters keep the story moving swiftly, and it is a very light read, surprisingly.
Our protagonist is 15 year old Ana Cancion, who marries Juan Ruiz who is already in his 30s, one of the 4 Ruiz brothers, who have all moved to the US and who are doing well for themselves. Juan marries Ana because he had been taken by her green eyes and also because he wants her father’s land, so that he can build a restaurant and other investments. Ana’s mother is keen on the match, to improve the prospects for all her family, particularly as Ana’s elder sister, Teresa, married for love. Ana is taught that she must “demand demand demand” from Juan once she is married. Demand things for herself and for her family and demand for them to get visas to also come to the USA.
I run through the list my mother gave me before Juan’s arrival. Go to America. Clean his house, cook his dinner, clip his nails. Send Mama money, learn from Juan, learn from the brothers. Study hard in school and become a professional. Learn English. Send for Mama and Yohnny first, so they can work. Send for Lenny so he can enrol in school, and then for Papa and Teresa and the baby if she is ever willing to leave El Guardia behind. I’ll demand what I need from Juan, for myself and my family. I will make myself indispensable.
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The reality of course is not quite as simple. Ana enjoys some parts of her New York life – she learns English, she enjoys making money by selling her cooking, she likes exploring with Cesar, and she is a good house keeper. She is clearly lonely and thrilled to make a new friend, and of course trusts to easily, prey to her own need for company. Ana does her best to adapt to her new life, but she is trapped in a marriage to a man she increasingly does not love or even like. She is trapped because although she thinks of catching a bus to JFK and catching a flight home, she knows her mother will be waiting for her with punishments and beatings if she leaves Juan.
Juan is aggressive, slapping, choking, beating Ana when he wishes, but at the same time, he seems to be anxious that she should love him. He is very controlling, but he thinks that is for her protection. He also cheats on Ana with a long-term girlfriend who is already married. By his own lights, Juan thinks he is a good husband, but Ana falls in love with Juan’s younger brother, Cesar, who is all Juan is not – handsome, gentle, merry, amusing, light hearted, and kind to her.
It is of course always fascinating to see how the immigrants manage their new lives. They are extremely entrepreneurial, doing many jobs but also private businesses, like Juan selling suits from his apartment, and offering loans to fellow migrants for high interest rates, Cesar learning to do tailoring, Ana gluing together souvenirs at 5 cents apiece. There are the usual tales of the injustices non-legal migrants are subjected to, such as Immigrations being called on payday to Cesar’s factory, so that they don’t get paid. They save money whenever they can, so that they can send more money home, for the demands that are incessant and bottomless. From pancake mix, to cornflakes to underwear, cans of food, deodorant, toothpaste, soap bars…as well as demands for money and visas.
There are no real surprises in this novel, but for all that it rehearses typical immigrants’ problems and dilemmas, it is a writing voice which still comes across as clear and fresh. I definitely want to read more of Cruz’s writing.
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