The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

2007 • 360 pages

Ratings182

Average rating3.8

15

I LOVED it, but I think a lot of my enjoyment arose from my year+ spent in the DR. For example, on the very first page I cracked up at this sentence: Despite “discovering” the New World the Admiral died miserable and syphilitic, hearing (dique) divine voices. That “dique” killed me, since Dominicans throw it out all the time to say, “I heard that.../they say that...” and distance themselves from whatever rumor or madeup thing they say. Granted, the backbone is a semi-typical “immigrant/ generational culture shock” story, but executed with panache. For added enjoyment, move to the DR.

May 1, 2009