The Turkish Lover: A Memoir (A Merloyd Lawrence Book)

Enthralled admirers of Esmeralda Santiago's memoirs of her childhood have yearned to read more. Now, in The Turkish Lover , Esmeralda finally breaks out of the monumental struggle with her powerful mother, only to elope into the spell of an exotic love affair. At the heart of the story is Esmeralda's relationship with "the Turk," a passion that gradually becomes a prison out of which she must emerge to become herself. The expansive humanity, earthy humor, and psychological courage that made Esmeralda's first two books so successful are on full display again in The Turkish Lover . The Third Installment Of The Author's Memoir Recounts How She Freed Herself From The Influence Of Her Mother, Only To Be Caught Up In A New, Romantic, Relationship. El Hombre Que Yo Amo/the Man I Love -- That Is Not Good, Chiquita. -- A Nena Puertorriquena Decente -- Come, Chiquita, This Is Your Job. -- I Want You Here, With Me. -- What Are You Doing Here? -- Do Not Concern Yourself, Chiquita. -- Is There Something You Want To Tell Me? -- This I Do Not Like. -- You Think Your Life So Bad? -- I Want You Together, Like The Fingers On My Hands -- Do You Believe In Reincarnation? -- You Puerto Ricans Are So Romantic. -- Another Train Will Come -- I Wanted You Here, With Me. -- Were You A Gasser Biter? -- Don't Worry, You Still Have Me. -- You Are Very Important To Me. -- I'm Not Neurotic! -- Today Is The First Day Of The Rest Of Your Life. -- I Belong Here! -- My Name Is Esmeralda. -- Is There Anything You Would Like To Know About Him? -- Tell Me About Yourself. -- Alterity -- You Are The Last Person I Expected To See In Boston. -- You Used To Be Prettier. -- We Have To Talk. -- Reify -- Nisus -- Leave Me Out Of Your Plans. -- You Have Many Men Friends, Chiquita. -- A Pen Makes A Lovely Graduation Gift. -- It Takes A Long Time To Get Over A Breakup. -- Alabate Pollo ... Esmeralda Santiago. Continues: Almost A Woman. A Merloyd Lawrence Book. "Esmeralda Santiago is a star among today's preeminent Latina authors. Legions of fans have waited five long years for the next chapter of the story begun in her memoirs When I Was Puerto Rican and Almost a Woman." "In The Turkish Lover, Esmeralda finally breaks out of a monumental struggle with her powerful mother - only to come under the thrall of Ulvi, an older, more worldly Turkish man. Esmeralda then discovers that romantic passion, too, can become a prison." "Her journey of self-liberation and self-discovery is a daring one, and leads to her triumphant graduation from Harvard. Throughout, she details her affair with Ulvi, using the lens of their troubled relationship to explore racism, sexism, feminism, and the value of education - and ultimately unveiling a person who, against all odds, emerges victorious."--BOOK JACKET. Presents the final volume in a trilogy of memoirs by Puerto Rican author Esmeralda Santiago in which she uses the turmoil of her affair with Ulvi, an older Turkish man, to explore racism, sexism, feminism, and the value of education in her life The memoir continues with the author finally freeing herself from the influence of her mother, only to be caught up in a dangerous love affair. Esmeralda's relationship with ""the Turk"" is told with expansive humanity, earthy humor, and psychological courage Esmeralda Santiago. A Merloyd Lawrence Book. Originally Published: 2004.