Junot Diaz?

GlenBarrington · 09-18-2013, 10:22 AM

I stumbled across his Wikipedia entry early this morning and he SOUNDS like an interesting writer. I notice he seems to be available in ebook format.

I always get a little nervous about a writer that gets too much praise from the hip literati. That often means obtuse, murky writing. Any commentary on him, his writing, and which of his books are best to start with?

HomeInMyShoes · 09-18-2013, 03:05 PM

I read The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao this year. It was good, but I found the footnotes in the beginning to be tedious and I think the book went too far into historical detail in the footnotes. At times it came across, as you are concerned as a bit pretentious in the footnote explanations which I felt could have been handled better within the story itself. Otherwise I thought the story was engaging and the writing pretty reasonable. I might try another book at some point.

holymadness · 09-18-2013, 04:08 PM

I found The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao to be extremely affected. From the faux-streetwise language to the faux-geek posturing to the faux-world-weary analysis of history and politics, each feature was less redeeming than the last.

I gave up halfway through. No regrets.

Latinandgreek · 09-18-2013, 04:33 PM

I gave up on The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao as well. I also found it pretentious and affected.

elemenoP · 09-19-2013, 08:35 AM

I, too, could not finish Oscar Wao. I have friends who loved it, though.

eP

GlenBarrington · 09-21-2013, 07:25 AM

I had a hunch the professional reviews were too "gushy" to be believable. A little too "Awestruck". I think you guys might have confirmed my suspicions.

I think I'll find someone else to read. . .

kennyc · 09-23-2013, 07:03 AM

I've read some short stories by him that I liked, and others that were awful. As you say I think he's one of the literary 'selected/designated'....

kennyc · 09-23-2013, 07:06 AM

Interview here about his linked collection of short stories which is on my wish list but I've not purchased yet:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/30/ma...anted=all&_r=0

09-18-2013, 10:22 AM	#1
GlenBarrington Cheese Whiz Posts: 1,986 Karma: 11677147 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Springfield, Illinois Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Tab A 10.1(2019), Pixel 6a.	Junot Diaz? I stumbled across his Wikipedia entry early this morning and he SOUNDS like an interesting writer. I notice he seems to be available in ebook format. I always get a little nervous about a writer that gets too much praise from the hip literati. That often means obtuse, murky writing. Any commentary on him, his writing, and which of his books are best to start with? Last edited by GlenBarrington; 09-18-2013 at 10:25 AM.

09-21-2013, 07:25 AM	#6
GlenBarrington Cheese Whiz Posts: 1,986 Karma: 11677147 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Springfield, Illinois Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Tab A 10.1(2019), Pixel 6a.	So Far, Damning with Faint Praise I had a hunch the professional reviews were too "gushy" to be believable. A little too "Awestruck". I think you guys might have confirmed my suspicions. I think I'll find someone else to read. . .

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09-18-2013, 03:05 PM	#2
HomeInMyShoes Grand Sorcerer Posts: 19,226 Karma: 67780237 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: none	I read The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao this year. It was good, but I found the footnotes in the beginning to be tedious and I think the book went too far into historical detail in the footnotes. At times it came across, as you are concerned as a bit pretentious in the footnote explanations which I felt could have been handled better within the story itself. Otherwise I thought the story was engaging and the writing pretty reasonable. I might try another book at some point.

09-18-2013, 04:08 PM	#3
holymadness Guru Posts: 722 Karma: 2084955 Join Date: Dec 2010 Device: iPhone	I found The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao to be extremely affected. From the faux-streetwise language to the faux-geek posturing to the faux-world-weary analysis of history and politics, each feature was less redeeming than the last. I gave up halfway through. No regrets.

09-18-2013, 04:33 PM	#4
Latinandgreek Warrior Princess Posts: 5,038 Karma: 9724231 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505; PRS-350, PRS-T1, iPad, Aura HD	I gave up on The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao as well. I also found it pretentious and affected.

09-19-2013, 08:35 AM	#5
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	I, too, could not finish Oscar Wao. I have friends who loved it, though. eP

09-23-2013, 07:03 AM	#7
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,897 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	I've read some short stories by him that I liked, and others that were awful. As you say I think he's one of the literary 'selected/designated'....

09-23-2013, 07:06 AM	#8
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,897 Karma: 119230421 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Interview here about his linked collection of short stories which is on my wish list but I've not purchased yet: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/30/ma...anted=all&_r=0

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