The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

By: Junot Diaz

Narrated by: Jonathan Davis, Staci Snell

Length: 16 hrs

Publisher's summary

Pulitzer Prize, Fiction, 2008

National Book Critics Circle Award, Fiction, 2008

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 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.

Also includes the bestselling short story collection Drown.

©2007 Junot Diaz (P)2007 Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA), Inc. and Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"An extraordinarily vibrant book that's fueled by adrenaline-powered prose... A book that decisively establishes [Díaz] as one of contemporary fiction's most distinctive and irresistible new voices." (Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times)

"Díaz finds a miraculous balance. He cuts his barn-burning comic-book plots (escape, ruin, redemption) with honest, messy realism, and his narrator speaks in a dazzling hash of Spanish, English, slang, literary flourishes, and pure virginal dorkiness." (New York Magazine)

"Genius... a story of the American experience that is giddily glorious and hauntingly horrific. And what a voice Yunior has. His narration is a triumph of style and wit, moving along Oscar de Leon's story with cracking, down-low humor, and at times expertly stunning us with heart-stabbing sentences. That Díaz's novel is also full of ideas, that [the narrator's] brilliant talking rivals the monologues of Roth's Zuckerman - in short, that what he has produced is a kick-ass (and truly, that is just the word for it) work of modern fiction - all make The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao something exceedingly rare: a book in which a new America can recognize itself, but so can everyone else." (San Francisco Chronicle)

Wao? WOW!!!

This audiobook was, without a doubt, one of the best listening experiences I have had to date. It is the rare combination of excellent writing and excellent narration. I was captivated, start to finish. I know that some customers have expressed concern about the amount of untranslated Spanish in the novel; there is no need to worry about that--even if you do not know the exact translation of the Spanish phrases, the context in which they are used leaves no doubt as to their meaning.

Helps to know some Spanish but not necessary

Using street slang, geek slang and making literary references a beautiful, grand story is told about a family and a country.
There are many Spanish phrases used, but not knowing what they mean will not keep you from understanding the book (my level is intermediate - I understood maybe 75%). Understanding them does add some color to the narrative, but they are by no means crucial to the plot. The meanings of most can be figured out from the context anyway. To say that it's mostly in Spanish is ridiculous.
The book is vibrant and the narration was good. It tells a much larger story than its length indicates.

Best of The Quirkies

This was a wonderfully surprising book! The characters are rich and multi dimensional. Like other reviews it took a bit getting used to Oscar's grating voice but once I was into the book, I can't imagine it any other way (thumbs up to Jonathan Davis and Stacy Snell). The story took me through all the emotions that I find in a truly great book.

I am a very eclectic reader. I found this treasure when I was in my quirky book phase. Love the odd and unusual stories and interesting characters.

Jonatha Davis is my favorite narrator. He never disappoints and he shined extra bright in this story.

A great book superbly read

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book blew me away because its unlike anything I've ever read. It's a masterful tale told through exquisitely beautiful passages followed by jarring, gritty, and profane descriptions, enhanced by real cool and encyclopedic references to the mythology of Generation X geekdom.

Thoroughly unique and delectable.

Which brings me to the audiobook. To read this book properly required a stellar talent and Jonathan Davis' delivery is near perfect. And Staci Snell does a great job as well

This is a fantastic audio book. Can't recommend it enough.

What did you like best about this story?

This historical context of the story and the expose of Trujillo's ugly reign. The dark humor. The references to things I grew up with like UltraMan, Lord of the Rings, Star Trek, Star Wars, Dungeons and Dragons, The Watchmen, Xmen, Akira. The mix of the "ugly" spanglish with some exquisitely written passages in the best King's English.

Have you listened to any of Jonathan Davis and Staci Snell ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I have not and I usually don't bother looking at who does the reading but Jonathan Davis is SO good that I had to find out who he is. I am now a huge fan.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I don't know.

Great narration

Great narrator. Unless you're a speaker of it, be prepared to not understand some untranslated Spanish.

Wao!

First review! Very glad that I chose this to be my first audiobook via Audible. This story had me drawn in from the moment it started. Although it is fictional, it seems like a very real story... which I'm assuming is what the author intended. It was like my cool Dominican professor was telling me one hell of a personal story, and giving me a pretty decent history lesson at the same time. Although, if he kept saying "n" word as much, I would have gone off a bit... I liked that it wasn't from just one point of view, and you got to connect on many levels. The characters, though described very well in detail, were hard for me to picture. But still, I could connect to and sort of empathize with each one. I think if you're not too conservative, know a little bit of Spanish, and like a tragic love story, then you will enjoy this book. Good narrators certainly kept things interesting.

A Very Well Depicted Story👍

Well narrated and definitely had me looking forward to the listening to what the next chapter would bring. Looking forward to my next reading authored by Junot Diaz

it's as though it was written for me

I had read this book years ago in HS and have since forgotten all about until I saw it as a suggestion. I decided to give it a listen and was blown away with how much my family, my life and myself related so profoundly with this book. not quite sure why I forgot it but I sure am glad I found it again

very raw untamed literature. loved it.

this book was an excellent read. I wish it didn't end. although the book has a depressing tone, there always seems to be a glimmer of hope.

I wish Junot Diaz had done the reading himself.

Would you listen to The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao again? Why?

No. I didn't like the narrator. He did well at switching between accents and voices but his narrator voice was too much like a radio announcers.

Who was the most memorable character of The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and why?

The mother.

Any additional comments?

The reading I heard of the Wonderland chapter on Selected Shorts blew the reading of it in the book WAY OUT of the water!