Scan barcode
natcoleman3's review against another edition
4.0
love leaves a lasting impression through heartbreak
biscuitcrux's review against another edition
3.0
This was just OK. I loved Oscar Wao, it had so much more to offer than this. This was basically about/from the POV of a guy who is fascinated with his own wang and feels he is unable to control himself and stop himself from banging the wrong chick or cheating on the women in his life. Yeah, that's not that interesting to me. Some of the stories had interesting aspects, but his relationships, the focus of the book, were not that compelling.
weissaroni13's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty much reconfirmed all the ways men are failing my expectations of decency.
vivalibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
One part geek and two parts swagger, Junior claims he isn't a bad guy but most of the women in his life might disagree. This might be my shortest review ever-I love Diaz's words. His stories are lyrical, bittersweet and emotionally complex in a very succinct way. My rambling ellipses of thought appreciates them greatly.
leereadsbooksforfun's review against another edition
3.0
I don't know. I wanted to like this book more, but I found the voice distractingly inconsistent and a bit contrived. Some beautiful lines, though.
charmained311's review against another edition
3.0
I was hoping to be moved by this book, but there was a missing piece to Junot's stories that I can't put into words. Also, I wanted to like Yunior, but I really couldn't.
iggyt's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jennyjanuary's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book very quickly, captivated by a prose style that employed high-brow vocabulary with the same ease as Spanish slang. What I liked about it was how the style informed character, and in that way, the book is a great teacher. But, "how you lose her"... well, you lose her by cheating on her, endlessly, remorselessly, until she catches you. And that's a protagonist for whom I have very little empathy.
ygraine00's review against another edition
2.0
Sorry, the writing style and the title doesnt match. Read this 3/4 then gave up.
abbutterflie's review against another edition
4.0
I really like Junot Diaz' writing style. It reminds me of the South American movies I used to watch when I was younger, like Amores Perros and City of God. It's fresh and vibrant and feels like its playing the world in technicolour.
Diaz often writes in the second person, not a common technique. I remember wondering, when I would try to write, why only the 1st and 3rd person voices were used. The second person voice draws the reader into the action, its not about someone else, its about you.
I've heard reviewers say that his female characters are very one dimensional. They may be, but I'm not sure if that isn't on purpose - I am not sure that Yunior really sees any of the women in his life as complete people. Like a child perhaps, no one is really real outside of himself, and that's how he is able to continue his pathological betrayals.
Oh, and as a side benefit, I learnt a ton of Spanish vocab reading this. Not sure how much of it is repeatable in polite company though... [or whether a more rudimentary knowledge of Spanish than mine, and mine isn't great, would detract too much from the experience of reading it]
Diaz often writes in the second person, not a common technique. I remember wondering, when I would try to write, why only the 1st and 3rd person voices were used. The second person voice draws the reader into the action, its not about someone else, its about you.
I've heard reviewers say that his female characters are very one dimensional. They may be, but I'm not sure if that isn't on purpose - I am not sure that Yunior really sees any of the women in his life as complete people. Like a child perhaps, no one is really real outside of himself, and that's how he is able to continue his pathological betrayals.
Oh, and as a side benefit, I learnt a ton of Spanish vocab reading this. Not sure how much of it is repeatable in polite company though... [or whether a more rudimentary knowledge of Spanish than mine, and mine isn't great, would detract too much from the experience of reading it]