I wanted to add a brief, partial post before I ended the weekend – for several reasons.
First and foremost, I wanted to thank NG for recommending this book. After reading my “Ready Player One” post, he steered me in this direction – primarily due to the main character’s interest in the same aspects of popular culture that figure so prominently in “Ready Player One” – science fiction and fantasy, gaming, anime and movies. It was a great recommendation.
Second – while I’ve only finished about a third of the book – I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s beautifully written – heartbreakingly beautiful. It couldn’t be further from my core genres but I’m probably enjoying it all the more for just that reason. It’s centered on the life of an extremely intelligent, young Dominican boy who constantly and miserably fails in his every attempt to lead the type of life that his family and his culture expects of him. The characters in this book are huge – far larger than the relatively mundane lives they lead. While their stories do not lack for pain and disappointment, they manage – at least in the 1st half of the book – to retain a strength and nobility and humanity that you can’t help but respect and admire.
Third – I’m very thankful for the chance that this book has provided to learn something new – gain some insight – into the history of a country and people to which I’ve never been exposed. The Dominican Republic is so close and it’s been the recipient of far too much unkind American attention over the course of the last century that I find myself wondering as I read how I’ve gotten to this point in my life without gaining an awareness of it’s history and it’s interactions with my own country. All that’s left for me to say is – better late than never.
Finally, the book helps to remind me of something I learned during my 10 years living overseas – there’s a HUGE difference between want and need. Anyone who’s lived in a developing country should be painfully aware of the fact that most Americans exist within a pretty comfortable and safe and prosperous cocoon – one we all too often take for granted. Reading this book helped to remind me of this thing that I learned many years ago and I’m thankful for the reminder.
I’ll have more to write on this one once I’m finished – just felt compelled to say a few words based on the impact that the book is having. It is so worth the time.