Retelling a story

[Rachel Adams]

Hello.

Should it be "doesn't want" or "didn't want"? When you are retelling a story and you speak about the person who the story is about should it be retold in the simple past?
"It is a story about a young woman who thinks that marriage is for fools. Her boyfriend proposed to her but she decided she doesn't want to get married."
It's from the book "Impact Issues" by Richard R Day.

 

[emsr2d2]

It should be "didn't" in reported speech. In reported speech, she said "I decided/I have decided I don't want to get married".

Having said that, I have read the sentence back to myself and, as long as she still doesn't want to get married, the present simple is possible.

 

[GoesStation]

I'd write this synopsis in the present simple: "It is a story about a young woman who thinks that marriage is for fools. Her boyfriend proposes to her but she decides she doesn't want to get married."