Oscar wao book discussion

It is a joy to read, and every bit as exhilarating to reread. The book centers on the story of oscar and his familyand yet the majority of the book is narrated by yunior, who is not part of the family, and only plays a relatively minor role in the events of the story. However, it is also a deeply personal story dealing with issues of race and immigration in modern day america, similar to works such as adichies americanah or lahiris the namesake. A friend of a friend found juno diazs email address and asked him what she should discuss with her book. It is funny, streetsmart and keenly observed, and it unfolds from a comic portrait of a secondgeneration dominican geek into a harrowing meditation on public and. This month the mc book club argues the merits of a dominican supernerd in the brief wondrous life of oscar wao, now out in paperback.

Basic information on junot diaz and the brief wondrous life of oscar wao with discussion questions that may be helpful in planning book. Books, bars and beers message board gentext book group. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao summary supersummary. Discussion questions what are the cultural expectations put on boys. As a latino teen about to get into college, i related a lot to what oscar and yunior go through and their observations on things. It is a novel within a novel and is much more than ever. Michiko kakutani, new york times winner of the pulitzer prize for fiction. Discussion questions for the brief wondrous life of oscar wao by junot diaz. The pulitzer prize the national book critics circle award the anisfieldwolf book award the jon sargent, sr. We are completely beside ourselves by karen joy fowler. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao was also a new york times notable book of 2007 and time magazines book of the year. Questions for book clubs about the brief wondrous life of oscar wao.

The fact that it could have been a book abelard wrote about trujillo that caused the curse illuminates the role of writing in the novel, since oscar is also a writer, as is yunior. Books, bars and beers discussion forum discussion questions forthe brief wondrous life of oscar wao. Naipul february, 2009 the brief wondrous life of oscar wao by junot diaz january, 2009 people of the books by geraldine brooks december, 2008 confessions of a pagan nun by kate horsley november, 2008 hannah coulter by. It has dominican republic history and how the fuku curse has affected oscar in more ways than you could imagine. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao summary shmoop. Discussion questions the brief wondrous life of oscar wao by junot diaz 1. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao by junot diaz. Srsbooks submitted 5 years ago by yellow9999 so i have to read this book for class and then write an essay on it and. It tells of oscars sister, his mother, and his grandfather who, in defying the vicious dominican. In the book, the brief wondrous life of oscar wao, by junot diaz, the narrator of the story, yunior, attempts to give the reader the same sense of living history through first hand accounts, personal stories and memories he gained from oscar. The brief, wondrous life of oscar wao wendy reads books. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao summary act i. There are several references to science fictional works and.

What affect do these expectations have on both the narrator and oscar. This asset contains classroom discussion questions. The poll for junes book will go on the meetup site tomorrow night and well have a decision by friday nightsaturday morning. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao discussion questions study. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao discussion questions. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Although these stories have been passed on through families it does not always mean the stories. Topics about this book topics that mention this book. Its never the changes we want that change everything. Why did yunior feel he had to write this book in tribute to oscars life. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao by junot diaz reading. The performance will be complemented by a discussion with a teaching artist. Ask and answer questions about the novel or view study guides, literature essays and more.

Check out our revolutionary sidebyside summary and analysis. Heather johnsons book club had a change of scenery for their last gathering. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao chapter 2 summary and. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao takes the form of a historical biography, complete with footnotes and dates on the chapters. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao literature essay samples. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao kindle edition by. Discussion questions for the brief wondrous life of oscar. The book took junot diaz eleven years to write, and was his first novel. Brooklyn public library catalog the brief wondrous life. That writing attempts to portray some kind of truth is a punishment for abelard, and the book is allegedly destroyed, as is. It has a recognizing comingofage story of oscars journey to adulthood but it is also so much more. The narrow road to the deep north by richard flanagan. But he may never get what he wants, thanks to the fukuthe ancient curse that has haunted oscar s family for. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao study guide litcharts.

Its rawer in language and content than what i tend to read. The story is set both in the united states and in the dominican republic. Did you know much about the dominican republic before you read this book. A family curse, mysteriously missing manuscripts and one mans love trials are the focus of the novel the brief wondrous life of oscar wao by junot diaz. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao mount laurel library. The brief and wondrous life of oscar wao pulitzer prize reading. The book also addresses this type of dominican denial by describing it as common throughout the islands, five parts denial, five parts negative hallucination oscar wao 259. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao by junot diaz was awarded the pulitzer prize in 2008. Discussion questions forthe brief wondrous life of oscar wao. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao questions and answers.

Join the discussion about the brief wondrous life of oscar wao. The henna artist opens a door into a world that is at once lush and fascinating, stark and cruel. In the ups and down to and from thesilvergrey fast worms, her feet became as everybody elses in. They attended an event featuring junot diaz, whose novel the. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao is a pulitzer prizewinning novel by junot diaz about american immigrants from the dominican republic. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao by junot diaz book.

The brief and wondrous life of oscar wao oscar is a sweet but disastrously overweight ghetto nerd whofrom the new jersey home he shares with his old world mother and rebellious sisterdreams of becoming the dominican j. If the book s called the brief wondrous life of oscar wao, then why is the madman rafael leonidas trujillo one of the first characters we meet in it. May, 2009 the book of salt by monique truong april, 2009 what is the what by dave eggers march, 2009 a bend in the river by v. Watch for the meetup picture to change to the book chosen by the poll. Beyondthebook events conversations that both illuminate bookits production of the brief wondrous life of oscar wao and act as catalysts for deeper exploration of the books themes. In september of 2007, miramax acquired the rights for a film adaptation of the brief and wondrous life of oscar wao. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao won the pulitzer prize for fiction in 2008. Discussion questions throughout the novel, spanish words and phrases appear unaccompanied by their english translations. Introduction winner of the pulitzer prize for fiction, the brief wondrous life of oscar wao tells the story of oscar, a sweet but disastrously overweight ghetto nerd, a new jersey romantic who dreams of becoming the dominican j. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao book discussion. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao bookit repertory. The brief wondrous life of oscar wao the brief wondrous life of oscar wao is both a typical and a typical novel. Reading guide for the brief wondrous life of oscar wao by. Thursday, march 24, 2011 in the recital hall of the performing arts center on the university at albanys uptown campus.