I'm sure we're still working on this ourselves, but maybe the key is for both partners to be true to themselves. It's important to operate from a place that feels genuine. To find a real balance in a partnership, both people have to find fulfillment on their own terms.
In terms of our careers, each of us has tried to support the other in pursuing our dreams. I wasn't sure that I wanted John to run for public office, but I could tell the idea really intrigued him, so I told him to pursue it—and it's been a fascinating experience. Similarly, I'm sure John could have thought of topics he would have rather had me address other than illegal immigration, but when I said I wanted to write a book about these girls, he said I should go for it, and now he's out mentioning this book everywhere he goes.
The main characters constantly struggle with the dichotomy between their American lives and their Mexican heritage. Why do you think it's so hard to meld the two?
American culture is just so different from Mexican culture in certain regards. For example, the girls often had relatives ask them when they were planning to marry. Their relatives thought it would be right and normal for them to marry in their late teens; this was considered preferable to allowing a young woman to lead a "wild" lifestyle, such as cohabitating with a boyfriend. Yet many peers at college thought it was crazy to marry before obtaining a bachelor's degree. So the world of their parents and the world of college was quite disparate. It was a hard distance to bridge.
Thanks so much, Helen! Now, let's discuss...
What's the best book you've read this year? Don't you love getting recommendations on books? (My friends and I swap titles all of the time!) I can't wait to hear what you recommend! Do you think you'll give Just Like Us a read?
