THIS WEEK: LITERARY FICTION


Brief wondrous life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
Oscar is a gentle, somewhat naïve young man, who loves the ladies—the problem is, they do not love him. Dominican men are good dancers, sharp dressers, and outrageous womanizers. But Oscar is an overweight nerd, who reads science fiction and designs computer games.
Oscar’s story is told by his sister Lola, and her sometimes boyfriend Yunior. It is also intertwined with the story of Oscar and Lola’s mother, and her parents, back in the Dominican Republic during the murderous Trujillo regime. The story is at times funny, heartbreaking, horrifying, and eye-opening. This book won a Pulitzer Prize.
If you enjoyed this book, here are some other titles you may want to read.

Known world by Edward P. Jones
Set in Virginia 20 years before the Civil War, this is the story of black slaveowners. Henry was the son of slaves who had bought their freedom, but as soon as he had saved enough money, he bought a slave. When he died, would his wife free the slaves? A troubling look at the cruelty of slavery.

Mambo kings play songs of love by Oscar Hijuelos
The mambo Kings are two Cuban brothers who come to American in 1949, and dream of becoming stars. They eventually appear on “I love Lucy” and tour in their pink bus. Pulitzer Prize winner.

Loving Pedro Infante by Denise Chavez
Tere Avila is in love with Mexican movie star Pedro Infante, who is Elvis and Cary Grant all rolled into one. The author explores feminity and cultural identity, and there are many references to Chicano culture and language.

Nonfiction: Brother, I’m dying by Edwidge Danticat
Haitian-American Danticat learned in the same day that she was pregnant and that her father was dying. A poignant memoir of a family separated and changed.

Angela’s ashes: a memoir by Frank McCourt
A Pulitzer Prize winning book which tells of the brutal childhood of McCourt, whose father regularly drank up the family income. Franks and his siblings went cold, hungry, and some died. His mother was reduced to begging. Yet there is humor midst the poverty, and hope for Frank.

Nonfiction: China men by Maxine Hong Kingston
The story of three generations of men who immigrated to America—their struggles, triumphs, and failures. Kingston weaves fables, ghost stories, legends and memoirs into her tale.

Trujillo: the death of the goat by Bernard Diederich
After reading Junot Diaz’s book, the reader may want to know more about Trujillo and his rule in Santo Domingo. This is the story about his assassination and the reign of terror by his relatives. The era did not end until his sons executed the last of their captives and fled the country with their father’s body and a good portion of the country’s wealth. Not for the squeamish.