The Not That Brief, Not That Wondrous Book of Junot Díaz

[spectralbovine]

I waited for a month or so to get my hands on The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz. It's the latest Pulitzer Prize winner, and everyone's reading it. There were forty holds on it at the library when I gave it a click. I was very excited.

I loved all the geeky references, from Akira to The Stand, from Doctor Who to Dungeons and

Comments

[spectralbovine]

Is it weird that this review makes me want to read it?
Hee! Probably not? I didn't specifically say not to read it! I didn't hate it or anything.

I agree that the concept sounds interesting, and even some of the stylistic stuff, (plus nerd references!), but it sounds like it didn't ultimately work, and now I'm curious why. A lesson in what not to do, perhaps.
Problem is I can't figure out what the intangible fuck-all is that kept me from getting into it. Because the whole "write really casually like you're just shooting the shit with the reader" thing should do the opposite, you know? It should create a nice bond with the reader. But I think all the random Spanish makes the reader feel like he's not the target audience, like it's not really written for him. I mean, honestly, you get the impression that the book is specifically written for people from the Dominican Republic, that's kind of the way the narrator addresses you. As if you're one of his people. Although, no, there are several times where he assumes you're ignorant of DR stuff.

I don't regret reading it. At least now I have an opinion on it. And I can definitely learn from it because a lot of it was stuff I would like to do as a writer but was sort of disappointed and scared by the fact that it didn't totally work for me as a reader. Like you said, it was certainly an interesting lesson in what not to do. And what you can do. I think that's what I'm always continually surprised by as I read new books. You can get away with ANYTHING in this industry! There are no boundaries! People will read it! It heartens me.

I only read it this year, and I'm amazed I remained unspoiled for so long.
And it's going to be harder and harder to do so once the movie comes out because reviews will certainly mention what's changed and such.

(I think it's because most Watchmen fans realize the importance of not spoiling Watchmen for potential readers... which makes doing it randomly in an unrelated book kind of a dick move, actually.)
And it's so fucking unnecessary. All he wants to do is quote a cool Dr. Manhattan line, but to put it in context he randomly lists, like, three major spoilers about the ending. What the hell, Junot? For someone who has not read the book, those details mean nothing and do not heighten the impact of the line, which is powerful all on its own. And for someone who has read the book, those details make you look like a dick for spoiling people.