It was odd, and I did need the excellent "annotated oscar wao" I found online, since it is written in a combination of American English, Dominican SpaIt was odd, and I did need the excellent "annotated oscar wao" I found online, since it is written in a combination of American English, Dominican Spanish, slangs of both, and nerd references FAR beyond anything I know of (and I'm enough of a nerd to get most of the Tolkein references). Seemed like only a select few people would really speak all of those fluently, so kind of an oddball choice. The narrative skips around generations and narrators, shedding odd bits of light without ever really fully illuminating the main story. But it was, finally, a good enough read to keep me with it until the end. Plus, there was one added benefit, in that I grew up in Northern NJ only a couple of years before the main narrator / subject, with plenty of Latino kids of various origins, including the DR, so this was both familiar to me and utterly foreign....more
Made the mistake of reading other reviews before embarking on mine. Guess it's a "you love it or you hate it" book. I personally loved it. I've alwaysMade the mistake of reading other reviews before embarking on mine. Guess it's a "you love it or you hate it" book. I personally loved it. I've always been a sucker for books where the being in the narrator's mind is visiting a different world, and there aren't really all that many of them out there. (I also love stories where I know something the main character doesn't.) I have no way of knowing this is a realistic portrayal of a teenager on the autism spectrum, but I found it by turns fascinating and fun, and would highly recommend it as a novel....more
I won't try to summarize the plot here. Apart from the fact that others doubtless will do so, my feeling is that the magic of this wonderful book liesI won't try to summarize the plot here. Apart from the fact that others doubtless will do so, my feeling is that the magic of this wonderful book lies more in the stories-within-stories, the beautifully-drawn characters and places, and the insights into the practice of medicine in places and times that seem both vastly different and entirely the same....more
One of the most amusing books I've read, and gives a good insight into both her brain and the plight (if that's the right word) of the successful workOne of the most amusing books I've read, and gives a good insight into both her brain and the plight (if that's the right word) of the successful working woman. We all experience the crazy on some level, but she takes it to the next level. I'm exhausted reading about her life, but I laughed all the way through it. My daughter and I quote this one to each other regularly. Definitely a good read....more
I came to this book after a number of books that were either not well-written (I won't name names), or incredibly depressing (aka, Garden of Beasts, wI came to this book after a number of books that were either not well-written (I won't name names), or incredibly depressing (aka, Garden of Beasts, which is about the rise of Nazi Germany). What a pleasure to come across this little jewel of a story, well-told, unusual, and satisfying. Definitely worth a read!...more
Nicely paced, thoughtful book. The characters are intricately drawn and I liked the way she changed perspectives and enriched the story. It's hard to Nicely paced, thoughtful book. The characters are intricately drawn and I liked the way she changed perspectives and enriched the story. It's hard to explain without spoilers, but it's definitely worth reading....more
The narration by the main character (a father and husband) was so utterly convincing that I was shocked at the end to find that the author is a woman.The narration by the main character (a father and husband) was so utterly convincing that I was shocked at the end to find that the author is a woman. It was, considering the topic, a surprisingly good read -- not too fast, but well-paced and satisfying. Definitely recommend....more
I liked it quite a bit. It wasn't a fast-paced read, but it unfolded nicely.I liked it quite a bit. It wasn't a fast-paced read, but it unfolded nicely....more
Loading...
