The brief wonderous life of Oscar Wao - Junot Díaz

The brief wonderous life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz is a crazy, unique, stomach churning novel about an overweight, sci-fi obsessed boy growing up in the Dominican Republic and New Jersey. It chronicles the struggles he faces with the mythology of Dominican men as predatory lovers and macho cavemen. It's about tolerance and acceptance and love, then death.

I heard about Oscar Wao in a writing group at Grub Street in Boston. My instructor, Lara, mentioned how amazing the book was but I didn't think I wanted to read a biography or autobiography - because at the time I didn't know if it was either - of Oscar Wilde, which is what I thought she said. Katherine, another student in the group, told us her book group had read Oscar and unilaterally hated it. Lara was aghast having thougth it one of the best books she'd ever read. Katherine, on the other hand, explained that whole sections of the novel were told in footnote - what? - and Spanish. That clenched it for me; I knew I'd never read it.
Until, I saw it in a bookstore. Then I realized it wasn't Oscar Wilder but Oscar Wao and I wondered who the heck that was, so I picked it up and read the back. I have to say the write-up and the cover intrigued me so I signed up for it at the library and forgot about it.
When it finally came through (about 2 months later), I was surprised it had won the Pulitzer Prize. Now I was convinced I would hate it but I dove in and, I have to say, I loved it! The brief wonderous life of Oscar Wao is one of those novels that read like the author speaks, which - yes - is interspersed with Spanish and heavily footnooted, but the footnotes are intriguing and his way of getting "behind the scenes".
I tore through the book in a week and loved every minute of it. Some of the story is told from other people's points of view but each shows a different side of Oscar and the trials he faces as he grows older and continues to be hampered by his weight and appearance. It reminds me a little of She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb but edgier and less Oprah-ish.
Because of its Pulitzer and, mostly, because of the writing I'd say this is a novel to buy and share with friends. Let me know what you think!

Four Circles Hell & 19th Wife review

I hate my book. I hate it! I worry about it constantly..should Jack's story be first, should it be the short version or the longer version with Trista's back story? Should I start with Marsha, as I originally intended? Should all of the characters be introduced before going into what the Four Circles is? Is the chapter explaining the Four Circles too much of an information dump? What even happens at the end of the book because it's been so long since I've read it to the end I'm not sure I know.

I would quit, I'm telling you I would, but my big mouth is stopping me - which is good, I guess. People ask, e-mail, or call me about the book about five times a day - more than they ask me about the kids. Which means I can't quit but I still hate it. Though it's a good book, I just feel like someone else should have written it at this point.

The 19th Wife - David Ebershoff

First off, I marvel at David's ability to write in completely different voices depending on the chapter. His chapter's in Jordan's voice (if you see the review below you will catch up) were excellent but all of the following chapters were also engaging.

I loved this book, though it was a slightly long in certain parts but always informative and well written.
If you are a fan of historical fiction this book is well worth the money so I suggest you check it out and, if you love it as much as I did, recommend it to five friends!!