Shelf Unbound October/November 2013 October 2013 | Page 16

feature interview A Brief History of Yes by Micheline Aharonian Marcom Dalkey Archive Press | www.dalkeyarchive.com A Brief History of Yes wallows in the fizzling of a breakup at the edge of madness. Its main character, Maria, is a middle-aged woman of mixed heritage—Armenian and Portuguese. She is divorced and has an 8-year-old son.  She is difficult to characterize since much of the novel focuses on her inexpressible emotions and internal conflicts (at one moment she summons this disheartening reaction: “I would not like this feeling that I have now, 14 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013 which is a feeling without a name, not a feeling even…”). She is passionate, a woman who “loves love,” and she is flawed?? Q????????????????????)?????????????????????????? ??Q??????????????????????????)????5????e?????????????????????)?????????q???????????????????)??????????????????????????t? ?????)?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????5??????((