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The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
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The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Author: Junot Diaz

Book Information
Publisher: Riverhead Hardcover
Book Type: Hardcover
Members Wishing: 590
Rating:

ISBN-13: 9781594489587 - ISBN-10: 1594489580
Publication Date: 9/6/2007
Pages: 338

Book Description:
This is the long-awaited first novel from one of the most original and memorable writers working today. Things have never been easy for Oscar, a sweet but disastrously overweight, lovesick Dominican ghetto nerd. From his home in New Jersey, where he lives with his old-world mother and rebellious sister, Oscar dreams of becoming the Dominican J. R. R. Tolkien and, most of all, of finding love. But he may never get what he wants, thanks to the Fukœ-the curse that has haunted the Oscar's family for generations, dooming them to prison, torture, tragic accidents, and, above all, ill-starred love. Oscar, still waiting for his first kiss, is just its most recent victim. D'az immerses us in the tumultuous life of Oscar and the history of the family at large, rendering with genuine warmth and dazzling energy, humor, and insight the Dominican-American experience, and, ultimately, the endless human capacity to persevere in the face of heartbreak and loss. A true literary triumph, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao confirms Junot D'az as one of the best and most exciting voices of our time.

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Top Member Book Reviews

Stephanie C. (crawford) wrote on 10/22/2007...

10 member(s) found this review helpful.

I absolutely loved this book. I've never read a book that is ANYTHING like this, the language used and sense of humor was wonderful. It's a fiction story, but filled with historical footnotes (mainly dealing with with Dominican history) that puts everything in context. The book goes from one character's point of view to another, all coming together to tell the story of Oscar and his "fuku" (cursed) bloodline. If you aren't offended by cursing and sex in books, this book is a real experience and completely unforgettable.

Mariann S. (Ashantix) wrote on 12/18/2008...

4 member(s) found this review helpful.

I just finished this book and had a hard time getting through it. There are many interuptions in the story with footnotes that describe Dominican life. That was sometimes helpful but sometimes interrupted the flow of the book. The author also uses quite a bit of un-translated spanish throughout. Having had a few years of spanish, I could put it in context but if you have no knowledge of spanish, keep a language translation dictionary handy.

This book is the story of Oscar a nerdy and extremely geeky Dominican man that is struggling to find where he fits in life. Diaz explores three generations of his family and at times you aren't quite sure which family members background story we are getting. If you enjoy light reading this is not the book for you.

W. R. (NYbooks) wrote on 1/13/2008...

4 member(s) found this review helpful.

Fiction. * * * *. Looks at the life of an overweight, lonely nerd aspiring to be a writer and fall in love, and how his life may have been affected by an old Dominican curse. Interspersed with pop culture references and idiomatic expressions, it is both humorous and tragic.

Adam C. (i12bnmovie) - Saint Louis, MO wrote on 4/28/2009...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

This was an excellent story. It is written in Spanglish, but the footnotes will help you out. I couldn't put this one down.


Please Rate these Book Reviews

Nikki W. (mommawolf) wrote on 2/17/2009...


An interesting read.


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