Carlin

finished reading this today so that I didn't have to bring an almost finished book on holiday. Probably not the correct choice, I should've just bought a book if I needed to on holiday ahah

Absolutely love her writing style, everyone I've recommended this to I've described it as a weird person in a weird world. Now I've read it I wish I was a bit more tentative about my recommendation ahaha

definitely literary fiction and definitely a comedy. Lots of this will stick in my mind and can see myself re-reading eventually

I don't think the epilogue was needed. Half off for the ending and its pacing, but also maybe it was how I ended up reading it today

Reading this book was inspired by two things: A desire to read challenging literature and wanting to get ahead of the discourse tsunami that will be emerald fennel's wuthering heights in January 2026

One the former front this definitely is a challenging read. Not only is the vast majority of the book narrated 👵 to the main character👨‍🦱, but also the narrator 👵 relates stories told to her and letters that she's read so there's a lot of nested framing. Also there is a pretty decent chunk of this in northen dialect which is less comprehensibly scribed than in Trainspotting. Finally we also have the naming conventions of the era (mister vs master) and a strong reliance on pronouns where keeping track is demanding in itself.

On the latter front, the movie looks like it will be bad. However it also is easy for this story to come across as racist, narratively, so I think it was doomed from the get go.

I thought the writing was of a high quailty, but mostly enjoyed it the less baggage there was about the framing (i.e. before the narration starts at the beginning and the monologues that the characters fall into throughout).

In terms of the story, I eventually realised that its mostly just an exercise in elaborating on the crazy family tree that develops by the end of the story. We know already the births and deaths, but how they manifest is interesting enough to keep you reading

I think overall it was a decent read, but I think there's other classics you should get to first before this one

PS every summer solstice, since 2021, I have devoted the day to reading and I finished this book as part of my tradition this year :)

--- spoilers ---

There is a non-racist reading of this story — particularly in it being a ghost story — but as it stands, the story is a morality tale about how you shouldn't let foreigners into your family as they will seize it from you. (in this case it's also anti-adoption)

Finally, this must've been huge for the enemies-to-lovers girlies

I feel so outraged after reading this, how can you create such beautiful characters and still make the book about yourself?

This is probably the most conflicting book I've ever read. On one hand the first 4 or so chapters are some of the most beautiful and interesting character depictions I have ever read. However, everything after we are introduced to the narrator just leaves such an awful taste in my mouth.

When I first started reading the book the tone of the author was revolutionary. It was as if I was sitting in a bar and I was being told a story with more detail than they could tell. The first couple chapters are so full of information that it comes across as fact, like everything is genuine. Using footnotes to continue the story too, was very interesting and I was surprisingly yearning for more.

The use of Spanish was also well done, but I did feel left out at parts where a whole sentence or so was in it with no explanation.

Additionally the deft that cancer is talked about is amazing and it made me truly believe in the Pullitzer win.

However. When we are introduced to the narrator character he brags about how “[Oscar] loved writing the way that I loved cheating” and that he had “three fine-ass bitches at the same time”. Like jesus christ that's not cool, why is your personality based on the fact you are a nymphomaniac.

Just before reading this chapter I learned about the allegations against Diaz during this time and allowed me to realise that the narrator is probably a Mary Sue. Disgusting.

Where the book really lost me was when the narrator starts just straight up insulting Oscar. I was very sympathetic to Oscar and wanted to see him realise that his worth was not defined by his virginity (more on that later). However the narrator cannot stop bringing up how disgusting his weight is, how is passions are stupid and how he should realise getting pussy is the only motivator in life.

After this we are introduced to the mother, Beli, and he c a n n o t stop talking about how she has massive boobs. We get it. You want to fuck your girlfriends mum. Ace.

Okay and the ending. What the literal fuck. Why does Oscar think sacrificing himself is worth it. Why doesn't Beli step in and say “yo, I literally did this and almost died. learn.” Oscar and this ‘puta' aren't even friends ???? like they have 0 common interests. Why do they actually kill Oscar? like if I was the capitan I'd take pity on him bc he is obviously nuts. Why is denouement of the book the fact that oscar actually lost his virginity?? Is that supposed to make us feel like his death was worth it?

Even if the ending was respectful to Oscar, why does he think that anyone cares about how his life is going? lol like Oscar dies and he's like “on a side note I might be a teacher and I write a lot nowadays” okay?? cool?? I'm reading this book bc I want to know about Oscar and his family not this self insert narrator who projects his massive libido onto his race.

If that wasn't bad enough, why does Diaz suggest that every Dominican just wants to fuck? Like I don't know much about the place or people but it just sounds kinda racist... like I know he's dominican but he's really playing into the “negros are animals” type thing. Idk it just made me uneasy the whole time that he was making his people two dimensional stereotypes.

Finally I'm not really clued in on race relations in DR but do they use the N word that much?? like he just couldn't stop.

If I ever had faith in the Pullitzer Prize I've completely lost it now.

Had super high expectations which brings my score down. It is defo a good book but I much preferred “Brave New World”. Made me recognise a lot of things in our own culture that are scary

Finished this ages ago so can't really remember much. sry.