The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao

I probably would have run. I would have waited until we got back to the States, waited like paja de arroz, burning slow, slow, until they dropped their guard and then one morning I would have disappeared. Like my father disappeared on my mother and was never seen again. Disappeared like everything disappears. Without a trace. I would have lived far away. I would have been happy, I'm sure of it, and I would never have had any children. I would let myself grow dark in the sun, no more hiding from it, let my hair indulge in all its kinks, and she would have passed me on the street and never recognized me. That was the dream I had. But if these years have taught me anything it is this: you can never run away. Not ever. The only way out is in.

And that's what I guess these stories are all about.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao


Books by Junot Díaz in Black Latin American Writers In Translation

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Junot Díaz

About Black Latin American Writers In Translation

Welcome to Black Latin American Writers In Translation, an organization and digital project that highlights the historical works of Black Latin American writers and their translated works. BLAWiT is a resource for readers, writers, publishers, students and teachers interested in Black American and Latin American culture in general, and Black Latin American culture in particular. It gathers book covers, excerpts, bibliographic clues and digital downloads of works by Black Latin American authors in original language and in translation.