The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

by Junot Diaz

[layawaydragon]

My Notes:
-->Loving how it's all intellectual and then drops into modern vulgarity and slang.
POVs: Oscar's told by Jr. with intervening stories about this mom and grandad. It remains in past tense for all of them including Lola's, but Lola tells her own tale in her own way. And once you find out Jr.'s history and involvement, I'm REALLY glad for that change. It felt odd at the time, but I love Lola, easily my favorite character of the bunch.

-->Uses the n-word A LOT. I was put off by this, but I figured it's one of those times where, even though I hate the phrase, I had to lean into my discomfort. I'm supposed to feel that way but I need to be educated and improve as a person, so I told myself to buckle up.

-->You don't know who they're talking about when switching POVs until enough information is unearthed through the narrative. If you don't pay attention, you'll be lost.

-->So much talk about women's bodies, esp. “assets”, pussy, getting ass, cheating, toxic masculinity, men being animals that can't control themselves.

-->Only uses the rape to describe rape in ONE instance.
-->“Men don't cry” bullshit.
-->Don't find out who The Watcher is until halfway through approx.
-->Lots of great nerdy references
-->Double standard with “ugly” and/or fat women.
-->Depressing AF.
-->Disappointing ending.
-->Magical realism throughout, fuku, mongoose, singing, dreams.


FYI/Content Warning:
-->Fatphobic AF.
-->Homophobic
-->Uses “bitch”, “retard”, “skanks”, “putas”, “japs”, “fags”
-->Lots of young girls dating men 2 or 3 times older.
-->Rape
-->Slut shaming,
-->Anti-sex work.
-->Racism against Asians
-->Friendzone bullshit
-->Afro-latinx are abundant but there is clear colorism from within and racism without against blacks
-->Graphic violence,
-->DR vs PR and Haitian hate

After it all, I can't say I enjoyed reading about Oscar's “brief wondrous” life. Even the title now is tainted since it stems from a homophobic nickname. I found nothing brief or wondrous. It felt longer than 335 pages. It was depressing and sad and unsettling with all the problematic stuff. I kept waiting for the upturn but it kept sinking. And sinking. Jr finds solace that O didn't die a virgin, that the statement “No Dominican man has died a virgin” still holds true. But given the trauma and painful journey that ended with him finally thin, finally “being a man” and finally getting “rewarded” with pussy, I'm just put off by the whole damn thing.

I'm glad I listened to the audible version for the proper pronunciation, but it also means I don't know how to spell any of it or Google it. But I got everything I needed from the text itself, I didn't feel lost. Sometimes confused where it was going and what was the point, but still clear on the path paved by Jr.'s narrative.

On the other hand, I'm still glad I read it. I'm glad I made it through. I don't regret reading it at all. I feel instead rewarded for making through it and a better person. Depressed, but more knowledgeable, more understanding, more empathetic, more resolved to be better. Maybe that's a message lots of whites & non-Dominicans are missing here. Maybe that's why this book is so lauded while less problematic works gets ignored….