The Marriage of Opposites: by Alice Hoffman Conversation Starters The Marriage of Opposites, Alice Hoffman's newest novel, illustrates the struggle between personal desire and social norms. Though the story based in the 19th century, it portrays three generations that live on the Island of St. Thomas. Growing up in St. Thomas, Rachel dreamed of traveling away from the island to Paris. She is married to a man who is much older than her. When her husband...