The Festival of San Joaquin
 Book cover | |
| Author | Zee Edgell |
|---|---|
| Country |
 |
| Language | English |
| Subject | English Literature |
| Genre | Novel |
| Publisher | Heinemann (Caribbean Writers Series) |
Publication date | 1997 |
| Media type | |
| Pages | 155 (paperback) |
| ISBN | 0-435-98948-0 |
| Preceded by | In Times Like These (1991) |
| Followed by | Time and the River(2007) |
The Festival of San Joaquin is a 1997 novel and the third from Belizean-American Zee Edgell. In a change from her first two novels, Beka Lamb and In Times Like These, the story is set in the village of San Joaquin, Corozal District.
Plot summary
Upon her release from prison at the start of the novel, Luz Marina must figure out how to approach her mother-in-law in order to gain back the custedy of her three children.Luz Marina had three children with her husband Salvador Juaquin which is no longer alive,She went to prison for the death of her husband witch she had killed in self difense.The name of her children were Teresa,Edwardo and the youngest was Feliciano.The mother of her husband was Dona Catalina Casal her husband was DonPablo their children were Andres Casal,LuisCasal and Salvador Juaquin.Luz Marina had two sisters named Concha and Perla her mother was named Mama Sofia her father was Papa Apolonio.Luz Marina had worked at the home of the Casal family before she was married to Salvador. Salvador didn't really love Luz Marina he only asked her to marry him because4 he was in love with the future wife of his brother Luis. Luz flashes back on the night of her 15th birthday on that same night was Luis' engadgement party.She also remembers when Salvador usedto abuse of her and her children,jhe would always lock them up in the house for weeks with out eating or drinking anything,Her son Feliciano is sick and in Coma because of her husband Salvador.Her father dies and Don Pablo leaves SanJoaquin so Dona Catalina now bwecomes a dedicated business woman.Luz Marina tries to uplift her self along with her mother since ger father is longer with them ,she tried searching for jobs all over but she was always turned down.The only job she got was in Elodio Alpuche Guerra's office but she was fired because of Dona Catalina who was also a member off the office. Then Andres Casal offered her a job at his Hotel named CANNA Hotel the translation in Enlish of the name of the hotel is'Sky Palace'.They were offered the job of being a gardener their responsibility was to provide the kitchen with fresh vegetables and fruits.Andres Casal had loved LuzMarina from a long time ago so he asked her to marry him and he will help her to gain back the custedy of her children from his mother. She dicided to leave the job and she nad her mother opened a day&&night cafe named Cafe Feliciano,but their place was shut down because they needed to have running water,proper garbage disposal,and they needed to find a away to get rid of the flies.So she went to the representatives office for help so she can reopen her business,but uppon arrival from the representatives office she finds her business under flames she was told that it was DonaCatalina had had sent to do it.She had sent to do it when she found out that her son Andres Casal had ask Luz Marina to marry him. Dona Catalina was scared of louseing the costedy of her grand children. The novel takes place during the festival of the patron saint of the village.