From the Bookshelf of Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge…

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

Junot Díaz

Start date: February 28, 2015

Finish date: March 10, 2015

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What Members Thought

Jan 16, 2009 Kris Springer rated it it was amazing

Funny, sad, earth-shattering. Oscar Wao is a dreamer, a reader, an iconoclast who doesn't fit in with his Dominicano friends. This is his story, but also his narrators' stories (his sister Lola and best friend Yunior), as well as the story of the Dominican Republic and the suffering brought on by Trujillo and his men. All of Diaz's characters are tragic, yet there is humor and hope against the fuku--Isis will grow up and learn how to defeat the family curse. Amazing book of history, pop/Sci fi f ...more

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Dec 09, 2011 Lisa rated it really liked it

Oscar is the most tragic, but lovable hero. He embraces everything nerdy, has an endearing want to simply experience love, but the misfortune of being obese and carrying a supposed family curse leads to his lifelong struggle. The story has actually less to do with Oscar and more to do with this curse and how it has affected each of his family members. We follow the narrator, Yunior as he tells each story and watch as the mascot or guardians of the curse (a talking mongoose and faceless people) m ...more

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Jan 07, 2009 Katie rated it it was amazing

I started TBWLoOW this morning on the bus. Within the first five pages, there were both gratitious use of footnotes and a Silmarillion reference - and then a Silmarillion quotation in a footnote! - so, I'm hooked. High hopes for the rest of the book.

**

I was not disappointed... Quick, haunting read. On my "reread asap" pile - I'll revisit this after I've processed it a bit. Wow. ...more

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