Isla Verde [Hardcover]

Garry Hoyt (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 2001

Set in the 1960's, this is the story of a compelling attraction between a divorced American Ex-Marine and a Puerto Rican woman of unusual beauty. From bare fisted, bawdy house brawls, to racially tinged sailing escapades in the Virgin Islands, to passionate encounters in Old San Juan, Brad Fichton pursues the scintillating but elusive Mercedes Cordova. While following the twists and turns of this intense love affair, the plot delves incisively into the complex world of Island politics, providing rare insights into the deep seated, emotional ambivalence Puerto Ricans feel over their relationship with the United States. The reader will come away with the pleasure of a rousing tale, plus a new understanding of the simmering nationalism and divided loyalties that fuel the current unrest on this detached and little understood part of America. Cosmetically classified as "The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico"--the island remains essentially an American colony, torn between strong economic dependence on the U.S. and equally strong longings for its own identity. How the main characters struggle to make sense and find love in this tangled, political web makes for an interesting read that will instruct as well as entertain.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Garry Hoyt is a Yacht Designer and Writer, currently residing in Newport, R.I. He is the author of two books on Sailing--Go For The Gold and Ready About, as well as numerous articles in the marine magazines. Hoyt was the founder of Freedom Yachts in 1976 and his new designs, the Escapes, are today the best selling small sailboats in the world. He was also an Olympic sailor and has won the Sunfish World Championship, along with a wide variety of other Sailing titles. In January 2000 he was named by Sail Magazine as one of the 30 most influential sailors of the past 30 years.

In his earlier career in advertising, Garry lived for 25 years in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where his two sons were born. During this period he traveled extensively to Latin America and the Far East, as area manager for Young & Rubicam, Inc. This experience, together with his acquired knowledge of Spanish, has given Hoyt a unique perspective into the complicated world of Latin politics, especially the events in Puerto Rico, where he was a close-up observer.

A 1952 graduate of Colgate University, where he majored in English Literature, Hoyt also received a degree from the Thunderbird School of International Management. He served as a Lieutenant J.G. in the U.S. Coast Guard with Search and Rescue duties in Florida and the Caribbean.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 209 pages
• Publisher: Newport R&D; 1ST edition (August 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971269602
• ISBN-13: 978-0971269606
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,543,470 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Garry Hoyt's articles have appeared in Sail Magazine, Sailing World, Sailing and Yachting. He is the author of four books, "Go For The Gold", "Ready About", "Go For The Green" and "Isla Verde; Adventure, Romance and Political Intrigue in Puerto Rico". Hoyt's first career was in advertising where he rose to the rank of Creative Director and Area Manager for the International agency Young and Rubicam. Following that he founded Freedom Yachts and produced designs for the F-21, F-25, F-29, F-32 and F-65. He also designed a series of small boats for the "Escape" brand. As a competitor he participated in 3 Olympics in the Finn and Tempest classes and was World Champion in the Sunfish class. After having lived in the Caribbean for 25 years, Hoyt currently resides in Newport, RI with his wife Donna.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ISLA VERDE, January 9, 2002

By 

MARIA Y. MALDONADO (CAROLINA, PUERTO RICO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Isla Verde (Hardcover)

WOW!!.... was my reaction after reading this book. Very well written, entertaining, romantic and truly filled with political reality.

Being a Puerto Rican, I was skeptical about reading a book with an American view on my "Isla del Encanto" (Island of Enchantment), and even more where politics were involved for fear of feeling offended. But, as they say, "curiosity killed the cat... and the information brought him back", so I decided to read it.

My hat goes off to Mr. Hoyt!. An American that not only shares his views on the island's political status, which he accomplishes in clear concise language and great knowledge through the eyes of Brad Fichton (one of his characters), but is also able to capture and understand with much insight the strong heart-felt sentiment that Puerto Ricans have toward their island.

No matter what political party you identify with you will truly relate with the emotions expressed by the Puerto Rican characters, and will have to agree with the opinions expressed by Brad Fichton. The book is very well documented with facts and the undeniable truth about our political status since the early 1960's. You will come across some great straight-to-the-point speeches made by one of the characters with questions and answers that will undoubtedly have you thinking about our political future.

I encourage every Puerto Rican, and for that matter every American, to engage in a romantic/political journey that will make you either question your identity - if you're a Puerto Rican or inspire curiosity and awareness about our "Isla Verde" - if you're an American.

It's a short book, so it's a quick read. I recommend it.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Polemical Portrayal of Puerto Rico's Political Passions, October 5, 2001

By 

J. Hoyt (FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Isla Verde (Hardcover)

Say that ten times! This is a compelling American viewpoint of the tortuous lengths to which the Puerto Rican psyche has been affected by and contributed to this island's indecison over its ultimate political status. Don't let this initial description cause you to think this book is only or mostly about Puerto Rico's political landscape. It really explains the cultural ambivalence felt by most Puerto Ricans between their American citizenship and their need and pride in asserting their Puerto Rican culture. The story line deftly presents these conflicting feelings through the main characters who do justice to their respective points of view while engendering the reader with an almost schizophrenic understanding of what seem like mutually exclusive choices. The author has done a great job of using the lives and adventures of the characters to portray Puerto Rico's ongoing status dilemma for what it is ... a clash of cultures. Even if getting exposed to this island's politics is not of primary interest, you will still enjoy a good love story that is foremost at the heart of Isla Verde.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ISLA VERDE, January 9, 2002

By 

MARIA Y. MALDONADO (CAROLINA, PUERTO RICO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Isla Verde (Hardcover)

WOW!!.... was my reaction after reading this book. Very well written, entertaining, romantic and truly filled with political reality.

Being a Puerto Rican, I was skeptical about reading a book with an American view on my "Isla del Encanto" (Island of Enchantment), and even more where politics were involved for fear of feeling offended. But, as they say, "curiosity killed the cat... and the information brought him back", so I decided to read it.

My hat goes off to Mr. Hoyt!. An American that not only shares his views on the island's political status, which he accomplishes in clear concise language and great knowledge through the eyes of Brad Fichton (one of his characters), but is also able to capture and understand with much insight the strong heart-felt sentiment that Puerto Ricans have toward their island.

No matter what political party you identify with you will truly relate with the emotions expressed by the Puerto Rican characters, and will have to agree with the opinions expressed by Brad Fichton. The book is very well documented with facts and the undeniable truth about our political status since the early 1960's. You will come across some great straight-to-the-point speeches made by one of the characters with questions and answers that will undoubtedly have you thinking about our political future.

I encourage every Puerto Rican, and for that matter every American, to engage in a romantic/political journey that will make you either question your identity - if you're a Puerto Rican or inspire curiosity and awareness about our "Isla Verde" - if you're an American.

It's a short book, so it's a quick read. I recommend it.