Book Selection for February

Our next book club selection is "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Diaz.

Here is the book description:

"This is the long-awaited first novel from one of the most original and memorable writers working today. Things have never been easy for Oscar, a sweet but disastrously overweight, lovesick Dominican ghetto nerd. From his home in New Jersey, where he lives with his old-world mother and rebellious sister, Oscar dreams of becoming the Dominican J. R. R. Tolkien and, most of all, of finding love. But he may never get what he wants, thanks to the Fuku-the curse that has haunted the Oscar's family for generations, dooming them to prison, torture, tragic accidents, and, above all, ill-starred love. Oscar, still waiting for his first kiss, is just its most recent victim.
Diaz immerses us in the tumultuous life of Oscar and the history of the family at large, rendering with genuine warmth and dazzling energy, humor, and insight the Dominican-American experience, and, ultimately, the endless human capacity to persevere in the face of heartbreak and loss. A true literary triumph, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao confirms Junot Diaz as one of the best and most exciting voices of our time. "

Regardless of whether or not the description appeals to you, I can guarantee you that you will enjoy this hilarious, historical novel that shows you a side of the Dominican Republic and its people that you have never seen. Though it has its fair share of tragedy and drama, it is a welcome respite from the woeful tales we have been reading lately.

Here is an interview with this month's featured author conducted by one of our previous authors, Edwidge Danticat.