Randomanthony's review
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
by Junot Díaz
If a book this glowingly reviewed only gets four stars, I have to wonder if anything merits five? Here I was thinking I had a harsh rating scale, you blow me out of the water.
That's a good point, sir. I don't pretend to have the star thing down. But I don't give five stars much...not because I'm elitist, I hope, but because I can't figure out a good goddamn system. I think it's the term "amazing" that I associate with books that at the end leave me like Catholic mass is supposed to feel if it works or whatever. I give most books three stars so within the context four stars is high. Please forgive my bastardization of the stars.
Yeah, I'm gonna read this someday. Quit naggin' me already.
Randomanthony's review
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
Randomanthony's review
rating:
You know those books that remind you why you like reading so much? The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao is one of those books. Diaz’ whip-smart writing and brilliant characterizations pulsed on the page and his integration of Dominican history (which could have dragged this book down big-time) melded with Oscar’s story as naturally as if (and I suppose Diaz would say they are) one. You have to fight through some of the thickets of the intertwining plots but the effort is worthwhile. Did it deserve the Pulitzer? What the fuck do I care? I’m recommending “Oscar Wao” to my friends, and it’s on the top of my 2008 booklist. Thanks, Mr. Diaz. Well done.
If a book this glowingly reviewed only gets four stars, I have to wonder if anything merits five? Here I was thinking I had a harsh rating scale, you blow me out of the water.
That's a good point, sir. I don't pretend to have the star thing down. But I don't give five stars much...not because I'm elitist, I hope, but because I can't figure out a good goddamn system. I think it's the term "amazing" that I associate with books that at the end leave me like Catholic mass is supposed to feel if it works or whatever. I give most books three stars so within the context four stars is high. Please forgive my bastardization of the stars.
Yeah, I'm gonna read this someday. Quit naggin' me already.