Scan barcode
r0b3rta's review
4.0
I stayed away from the book because of all the hype and finally borrowed it from a friend. If you enjoy magical realism I highly recommend it. Quite a bit of history on the Dominican Republic which made it very informative. How could you not feel for a nerdy, sci-fi loving kid and his family.
tonatyuh's review
5.0
4.5*
OK so this took me a shit ton of time to finish but here we are!
His writing style sometimes reminds me of Vonnegut, yet still emulates a unique voice.
This whole story is so real it hurts your soul, but somehow Diaz manages to implement some light in all the darkness in the end.
I really enjoyed this wow.
3/10/22 - second time reading
Reading this again was just such an amazing experience.
I loved everything again and although the story can get really dark it's just a story that sticks with you and you find yourself wanting to return again and again.
I'm just speechless. Like idk this revisit really really worked for me
OK so this took me a shit ton of time to finish but here we are!
His writing style sometimes reminds me of Vonnegut, yet still emulates a unique voice.
This whole story is so real it hurts your soul, but somehow Diaz manages to implement some light in all the darkness in the end.
I really enjoyed this wow.
3/10/22 - second time reading
Reading this again was just such an amazing experience.
I loved everything again and although the story can get really dark it's just a story that sticks with you and you find yourself wanting to return again and again.
I'm just speechless. Like idk this revisit really really worked for me
rishmac's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
michellechien930's review against another edition
5.0
Yeah...I really enjoyed this book (also assigned for my contemporary fiction class), it's definitely one of my favorite books of the year. Was kinda wary that book would come off as kinda incel-ish, but it's really more so the story of a myriad of superbly interesting characters: Oscar's rebellious sister Lola, his douchey college roommate, his resilient mother Beli and his unfortunate granduncle Abelard. I particularly loved the chapters with Lola and Yunior; through their eyes Oscar was painted in a much more sympathetic, kind light than he was in his personal chapters. The language is gorgeous to read, a real mix of wonderful laugh-out-loud nerd culture and Dominican pride. Although I've read about Junot Diaz's controversies and do not agree with him personally, I do think that his writing is amazing, and most definitely Pulitzer-worthy.
jennifromthebooks's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jmcook's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
mirandamcilheran's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
judi_ly's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
jenn_geeks_out's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0