“But if these years have taught me anything it is this: you can never run away. Not ever. The only way out is in.”
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao is a novel that chronicles the life of Oscar, an overweight Dominican boy growing up in New Jersey. He is obsessed with fantasy and science fiction novels, falling in love, and the curse that has plagued his family for generations.
The author tells this story with a unique blend of humor, tragedy, and cultural exploration. I found Junot Díaz's writing style engaging at first, but my interest started to dwindle around the halfway mark. I did not like the execution of the narrative's nonlinear structure. The incessant flashbacks and switches in perspectives pulled me out of the overall storyline too much and interrupted the flow of the plot.
I appreciated the exploration of Dominican history and culture. I gained some form of understanding about the brutal dictatorship of Trujillo, so I am grateful that I learned a few things while reading this book.
Overall, I think this is an insightful novel that offers a unique perspective on themes of identity and the immigrant experience. This was not exactly my cup of tea but I understand why so many people love it.
I read this book as part of my Read Around the World Challenge for the Dominican Republic.
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