Writing and Personal Relationships

The author uses this theme to demonstrate that writing is a fundamental part of Yolanda's life, and that her devotion to her craft frequently causes problems in her personal relationships. This is clear from the beginning of the novel in the chapter titled “The sisters,” which includes the reactions of Yo's family members to the publication of her semi-autobiographical first book. Yo defends herself to one of her sisters, declaring, “What's art going to mirror if it isn't life? Everybody, I mean everybody, writes out of his or her own experience!” (9). Later, in the chapter told from Sarita's perspective, the reader is shown an earlier instance of her mining her personal relationships for material when she writes a report about the maid's daughter for her college course. Sarita recalls listening to Yo bang away on the typewriter and observing her extreme focus on...