The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

[Butcher]

Just finished this book. Really, really good. Probably the best book I've read this year. I highly recommend it.

[Coldneck]

<!--quoteo(post=62630:date=Sep 11 2009, 09:25 AM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Sep 11 2009, 09:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Just finished this book. Really, really good. Probably the best book I've read this year. I highly recommend it.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I've heard from a lot of people that this is fantastic. I'll have to move it up my list.

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=63186:date=Sep 15 2009, 03:14 PM:name=Coldneck)-->QUOTE (Coldneck @ Sep 15 2009, 03:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=62630:date=Sep 11 2009, 09:25 AM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Sep 11 2009, 09:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Just finished this book. Really, really good. Probably the best book I've read this year. I highly recommend it.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I've heard from a lot of people that this is fantastic. I'll have to move it up my list.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'll be curious to hear what other people think about it. Let me know when you read it.

[Coldneck]

Just started reading it last night. Am I missing stuff by not looking up what the Spanish sentences mean? For the most part I think I know what they are saying, but there are several words I've never seen before?

I love learning about new cultures and this book is right up my alley so far. I had no insight into a Dominican American's life prior to reading this book. I'm only 30 pages in, but this should be a quick read.

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=64239:date=Sep 24 2009, 07:41 AM:name=Coldneck)-->QUOTE (Coldneck @ Sep 24 2009, 07:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Just started reading it last night. Am I missing stuff by not looking up what the Spanish sentences mean? For the most part I think I know what they are saying, but there are several words I've never seen before?

I love learning about new cultures and this book is right up my alley so far. I had no insight into a Dominican American's life prior to reading this book. I'm only 30 pages in, but this should be a quick read.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
For the most part, I just tried to glean meaning from the context. But there were a couple of times I had to translate because it felt like what was said had more impact on the story than in other places.

[rok]

I'll be looking for something new to read in a few days. I really need to stop trying to read 2 books at once. I've been halfway through a couple for a while and can't decide which one to finish first. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wacko.gif[/img]

[BT]

<!--quoteo(post=64254:date=Sep 24 2009, 09:08 AM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Sep 24 2009, 09:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'll be looking for something new to read in a few days. I really need to stop trying to read 2 books at once. I've been halfway through a couple for a while and can't decide which one to finish first. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wacko.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


I think I can help. Finish "Curious George at the Aquarium" first (spoiler, he gets the dolphins back into their tanks before they die), then you can concentrate on "Goodnight Moon".

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=64654:date=Sep 29 2009, 11:14 AM:name=BT)-->QUOTE (BT @ Sep 29 2009, 11:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=64254:date=Sep 24 2009, 09:08 AM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Sep 24 2009, 09:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'll be looking for something new to read in a few days. I really need to stop trying to read 2 books at once. I've been halfway through a couple for a while and can't decide which one to finish first. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wacko.gif[/img]<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


I think I can help. Finish "Curious George at the Aquarium" first (spoiler, he gets the dolphins back into their tanks before they die), then you can concentrate on "Goodnight Moon".
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well, now that you've ruined it for me, I think I will move on to more challenging subjects like this Oscar Wao character...

[kbwsb]

<!--quoteo(post=64654:date=Sep 29 2009, 11:14 AM:name=BT)-->QUOTE (BT @ Sep 29 2009, 11:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=64254:date=Sep 24 2009, 09:08 AM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Sep 24 2009, 09:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'll be looking for something new to read in a few days. I really need to stop trying to read 2 books at once. I've been halfway through a couple for a while and can't decide which one to finish first.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think I can help. Finish "Curious George at the Aquarium" first (spoiler, he gets the dolphins back into their tanks before they die), then you can concentrate on "Goodnight Moon".
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]
I just read "All My Friends Are Going To Be Strangers," by Larry McMurtry. It's not a Western; I think it's kind of a novel-as-semi-bio. It's about a college kid (grad student) who sells his novel, and then they turn it into a movie. (this happened in real life; McMurty's first novel was turned into the Paul Newman vehicle "Hud.")

Really well-written, some funny Hollywood stuff, some funny West Texas stuff, kind of a lot of sex, some interesting ruminations on the "creative life;" in all, an excellent book.

[bz]

I'm halfway through The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and it's pretty good so far. The guy has a strange style of that's almost schitzo in terms of plot development.

[Coldneck]

I'm halfway through Oscar Wao, Butch, and it is beginning to drag like crazy. I almost past Part II, where the story revolves around the mother grwoing up in the DR, but dammit this has been a much slower read than I thought it would be. I hope the last 150 pages are a lot better than the first.

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=65326:date=Oct 5 2009, 07:48 AM:name=Coldneck)-->QUOTE (Coldneck @ Oct 5 2009, 07:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I'm halfway through Oscar Wao, Butch, and it is beginning to drag like crazy. I almost past Part II, where the story revolves around the mother grwoing up in the DR, but dammit this has been a much slower read than I thought it would be. I hope the last 150 pages are a lot better than the first.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Sorry to hear that, Cold. I didn't have that issue, but I could see that some people wouldn't find all of the characters as intriguing as others. The focus does come back to Oscar later in the book, so I think you'll like the last portion (assuming you enjoyed the first).

[Butcher]

Did you finish the book, Coldneck? I'd like to hear your thoughts once you've finished.

I just re-read Blood Meridian -- and I'm pretty sure it's right up there with what are considered the "classics." Amazing book.

I just started White Tiger -- only about 20 pages in, but it's a good read so far.

[Coldneck]

I put it down about a week ago and haven't touched it since. I've been real busy at work and haven't had any free time. I'll probably finish it off this weekend. It has gotten a lot better now that the focus is back on Oscar. I like his roommate's point of view and the way he tells the story.

[Coldneck]

I just finished it and this book has me perplexed. I liked the story and the characters were interesting, but I don't know what the meaning of the book is, if there is one. I kept waiting for the ending to bring everything together but it didn't do that at all. I thought it was a decent read but don't think I'd ever read it again. Butch, what do you think the meaning of this book is?

I just found out via Wikipedia that Yunior is the protagonist in Diaz's first book called Drown.