Oscar de León is an overweight Dominican nerd living in New Jersey who obsesses over science fiction, fantasy novels, and falling in love. He struggles against the "fukú," a supernatural curse believed to have haunted his family since the brutal dictatorship of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic. The narrative shifts between Oscar’s isolated modern life and the violent history of his ancestors, detailing his mother Belicia’s survival under a totalitarian regime and his sister Lola’s attempts to break free from familial trauma.
Readers who enjoy multi-generational sagas and street-level linguistics will find value in the blend of Spanish slang and high-concept pop culture references. This book serves those interested in the psychological lasting effects of political tyranny and the immigrant experience in America. You walk away with a specific understanding of how historical atrocities shape individual identity and the ways regional superstition functions as a lens for interpreting personal tragedy.
- Published
- 2007
- Language
- EN
