Sandra Alicia and Raymond Chandler are the ideal couple for those looking for an exciting adventure in the sexual world. The writer of “Sandra and Raymond: An Intimate Portrait”, Max Lucado takes us inside the private world of a happily married couple. In this intimate portrait we learn how the act of dating, as well as the ramifications of that dating, shapes their relationship and family dynamics. We also discover the hurdles that keep these two men from falling in love.
The author begins his tale in the 1950s where he weaves together the personal lives of these two characters who fall in love with each other and then take a journey towards marriage and family. The author’s research shows that women were expected to be home-makers in the past, but now, domestic roles have been shifting and a large number of women now choose to stay at home with their husbands. Now both husband and wife have a duty to be parent and caregiver to the children, which often conflict with each other’s sexual desires. As the tension between the two intensifies, Sandra begins to doubt her own judgment and as her friend and confidante, Raymond, becomes more involved with this unhappy couple.
This romantic tale about two happily married people, one American and one Polish, who fall in love and marry is not only a coming of age story about two friends who find themselves drawn together but it is also a telling of the perils of being a home-maker while retaining your nationality and identity. The author delves deep into the cultural meanings of nationality and family ideals. A number of poems are included to describe the various nationalities and sexual orientations that helped shape the characters as they experienced love, loyalty, and companionship. Ultimately, it is hoped that by reading this charming coming of age tale, the reader will gain insight about their own nationalities and how they relate to others. It is hoped that readers will embrace the romance and comedy found in “Sandra and Raymond: An Intimate Portrait” and view it as a positive coming of age story.