melitta's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Misogyny, Police brutality, Sexism, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, Fatphobia, Kidnapping, Body shaming, Murder, Physical abuse, Violence, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Xenophobia, Sexual harassment, Racism, Classism, Terminal illness, Stalking, Gun violence, Infidelity, Trafficking, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Sexual violence
Minor: Torture, Confinement, Child abuse, Slavery, Injury/Injury detail, and Homophobia
mirandyli's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Child death, Police brutality, Cancer, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Blood, Classism, Colonisation, Cursing, Murder, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Racial slurs, Stalking, Violence, War, Suicide attempt, and Xenophobia
lacifaeria's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I see Oscar so much in the people I've known and in myself, the Nerd of Color. The deeper connection with the women in his family was so beautiful (Lola and Beli for sure! and a whole monument to La Inca), these beautiful complicated women creating the structures that he would develop within, complete with their own difficulty grappling with freedom and independence, womanhood and the role love plays within it, generations of de Leon's fantasizing about being saved. This was just - amazing.
Oscar, that lovable nerd, and the own nerdiness of the narrator, Lola's novio, was cringeworthy in accuracy and I laughed and cringed with each self-sabotaging, self-deprecating line. Being a teenage/early adult nerd in constant love was something I felt so deeply. That juxtaposed against his cultural pedigree, the reputation that smothered him about Dominican men and their lothario prowess, was a new level of angst and anxiety I have rarely articulated but wholeheartedly appreciated seeing in print.
And the cadence of the narrator? UGH -- amazing. I've heard this language, this perfect weaving of the profane and the obscene with salient witticism, was comfortably colloquial and so accessible. It felt like the stories you heard in hushed whispers once the relatives got enough liquor in them at the cookout. Like....nostalgia. Like home.
I don't want to go into detail because I think the story is so perfect that I'd rather someone read it first. It made me literally laugh out loud more times than I can count, and actually made me cry on no less than three occasions. Truly the best book I've read this year and there were some heaters on the list already but this was truly a fucking awesome read and I am now a Junot Diaz forever fan.
Stop reading this review and go read it. Just -- go read it right now!!!
Graphic: Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Torture, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Drug use, Infidelity, and Misogyny
cloudyrose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Suicide attempt, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Torture, and Fatphobia
Moderate: Xenophobia, Cancer, Miscarriage, and Rape