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The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
339 pages, 2008
fiction
1382 booksOscar has never had an easy life. A sweet but disastrously overweight, lovesick Dominican ghetto nerd, he lives in New Jersey with his old-world mother and rebellious sister. And although Oscar dreams of becoming the Dominican J. R. R. Tolkien and, most of all, of finding love, he may never get what he wants—thanks to the Fukoe , the curse that has haunted his family for generations. It has doomed them to prison, torture, tragic accidents, and ill-starred love. Oscar is just its most recent victim; still waiting for his first kiss at age 27, he might already be too late...
Junot Diaz's book, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, shows us the transformative power of love. Oscar, the protagonist, is a hopeless romantic who believes in the power of love, despite his lack of success in relationships. This book encourages us to keep believing in love, even when it seems impossible.
The book explores how history can shape our lives. Diaz weaves in the history of the Dominican Republic and its impact on Oscar's family. It's a reminder to look into our own histories and see how they have shaped us.
Oscar's struggle with his identity is a central theme in the book. He grapples with his Dominican heritage, his American upbringing, and his outsider status. This book encourages us to embrace our unique identities and not be afraid to stand out.
Family is a key theme in The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. Despite their flaws and complex relationships, Oscar's family is a source of strength and support for him. This book reminds us to appreciate our families and the roles they play in our lives.
Junot Diaz doesn't shy away from depicting the harsh realities of the immigrant experience. He shows us the struggles and sacrifices Oscar's family makes in their journey from the Dominican Republic to America. It's a call to empathize with and understand the experiences of immigrants.
Quotes 3
A tale of love, fuku and family, 'The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao' is a triumph of storytelling, a novel that is as entertaining as it is deeply moving.
Michiko Kakutani - Pulitzer Prize CriticDiaz's novel is a spellbinding saga of a family’s curse and the cosmic battles of their youngest son, Oscar.
Lev Grossman - Novelist, JournalistJunot Diaz's 'The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao' is a wondrous, not-so-brief first novel that is so original it can only be described as Mario Vargas Llosa meets Star Trek meets David Foster Wallace meets Kanye West.
Salman Rushdie - Controversial Novelist