PRO CONNECT
Rolando, Roy to his friends, loves to write. A published author in the Philippines, The Ideal Woman is his debut novel in the States.
He is a physician. He is married to Alicia and has 3 children. A film buff, he collects movies and watch them in his spare time. He also loves to collect antiques. He supports Smile Train and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
“...poignant tale that explores the difficulties of conflicting cultures.”
– Kirkus Reviews
In this psychological thriller, a sex worker falls for a wealthy client who may harbor dark, unsettling secrets.
Crystal Stone, as a well-paid escort based in New York City, has heard any number of odd requests in her career. But a client’s never asked her to see them exclusively before—until her newest one: billionaire novelistBernard Scott Diamond III. He pays her so well that she agrees to his terms, and as he showers her with affection and sparkling gifts, she soon fantasizes about being the next Mrs. Diamond. However, Scott is still married, and, on occasion, he shows a side of himself that gives her pause; for example, the privileged White man, who was born into an affluent family, refers to Crystal, a mixed-race woman of color, as a “mulatto.” She largely overlooks his moodiness and hurtful comments, but she can’t ignore the rumors that make her believe he’s capable of violence—or something worse. She wants to know more about this reticent man, and the answers may be revealed in unexpected places.The perspectives in Espiritu’s novel alternate between those of Crystal, Scott, and his shrewd chauffeur/bodyguard, Stan Strassberg, the son of Austrian immigrants. Scott isn’t the only one with secrets; Stan keeps mum about his personal life at work, and Crystal suffered a violent confrontation in her past. Each of these characters’ voices stands out in different ways as Crystal nurtures a growing obsession with uncovering the truth and Scott reveals his prejudices and condescension. However, they sometimes use odd expressions, as when characters call Scott “Mr. Diamond III.” Readers know more than Crystal about what her client has done, but Espiritu wisely retains some ambiguity regarding Scott. Excessive snippets from a book-within-the-book unfortunately decelerate the final act, although the story ends on an unforgettable note.
An often engrossing tale of deception with a worthy payoff.
Pub Date:
Page count: 349pp
Publisher: Manuscript
Review Posted Online: June 16, 2022
Debut novelist Espiritu tells of the struggles of a mixed-race woman, torn between Filipino and American cultures.
Pearl’s mother, Aurora, was a sort of mail-order bride for her American father, Red. Members of both sides of the family fretted about the marriage for racial and cultural reasons, even though people of mixed Caucasian and Filipino heritage are valued in the Philippines for their perceived beauty. Aurora herself, however, is the result of a different mixed-race coupling: a rape that remains a closely guarded family secret, which Pearl doesn’t discover until later in life. The novel traces Pearl’s development from her beginnings in Evanston, Illinois, to her courtship by P.J., the scion of a powerful Filipino political family; and Brian, an American suitor. Soon Brian falls by the wayside, and it appears that P.J. will marry Pearl—until his family discovers her family’s secrets and snubs her. Pearl then moves to New York to pursue a career as a flight attendant. There, she’s raped by an intruder in her apartment; she later spots her assailant on a flight and informs the police, who gun him down at the airport. Many years later, while running a Filipino restaurant in Illinois, Pearl meets P.J. again. He never married, and the two agree to wed—but then tragedy strikes again. Espiritu offers a poignant tale that explores the difficulties of conflicting cultures. His strengths are in illuminating the dark shadows of family secrets, limning the tensions of race, and portraying an exuberant, exotic Filipino culture full of colorful fiestas, foods, and superstitions. The characters tend to be sketchily drawn rather than fully realized, however. Readers know Pearl only through a skin-deep description of her beauty, and they get few insights into her thoughts, beyond some journal entries in which she concludes that she’s not an “ideal woman,” according to Filipino tradition. The dialogue is occasionally stilted, and the narrative is sometimes hampered by clichés; for example, characters always seem to be “smiling from ear to ear.” The plot also sometimes stumbles into inexplicable dead ends and unbelievable twists, such as the unlikely, unbelievable airport shootout, and scenes involving a fortuneteller-turned-jewelry-saleswoman who pops up only briefly.
Despite its flaws, an often worthy, if tragic, tale of festering family secrets, cultural conflicts, and failed hopes.
Pub Date: July 31, 2014
ISBN: 978-1491730485
Page count: 308pp
Publisher: iUniverse
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2015
Day job
Physician
Favorite author
Michael Crichton
Hometown
Oshkosh, WI
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