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Feb 12, 2016GLNovak rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
I think a person will either like or dislike this book. It is definitely not for everyone. I thought I would not really like it, but as I progressed I got more involved. The characters live life with gusto, collecting women like notches on a belt, using lots of spicy language, and in general trying to be the most desired and envied in the neighbourhood. The writing is conversational with a lot of Spanglish thrown in. I don't speak Spanish and didn't take the time to look up the words so probably didn't get the full flavour of the story, but don't think it hindered my understanding. Oscar and his family, Dominicans living in the United States, are trying to escape the curse placed on their family in the days of Trujillo's dictatorship. Oscar's grandfather was imprisoned, tortured, and murdered, and his family cursed forever. We learn many ugly horrifying things about the regime of the day and what the Dominicans suffered and are still suffering. Corruption, brutality, entitlement seem to be the watchwords in that society. We hope for better for Oscar and his sister Lola but life is still a struggle. Poor Oscar is hugely overweight, nerdy, practically friendless and still a virgin. He yearns to be a cool dude and have a girlfriend but fails at every turn. His life changes dramatically when he goes to visit his aunt in the Dominican Republic.