Drown

This is the first of local author Junot Diaz’s books, Drown, a series of ten short stories about the early life of the author.  DYK? The author was an undergraduate resident for one of the NYU Faculty in Residence?  I love how few degrees of separation we all are in this world.  The stories, all about twenty pages long, provide an in-depth look into the life of a young immigrant coming from the Dominican Republic.   Diaz holds nothing back in his inaugural book, allowing the “real” aspects of his family life, such as: the infidelities associated with married life; drugs and making money; sex and drugs; many sides of the “DR” culture living in America.  Junot shares his own challenges as a young boy and even as a young man trying to make it through life finding some level of self-esteem to adjust to this melting pot called America.  Luckily, I had Gladys sitting on the boat with me while I was reading as she was able to help me with words from time to time (yes, Spanish words!).  From his youth being picked on by his parents (mainly his father) for not being able to travel in a car without vomiting to being taken to his father’s mistress’ home and finally to being picked on by his older relatives, family plays such an instrumental role in the life of the immigrant child.  Being an adult struggling with making a dollar in NJ and working at the local furniture delivery store, my favorite of the stories, shows Diaz at his best, a man who is able to throw his finger in the air to the world.  Diaz and his co-worker go from lower middle class to uber-high end millionaires delivering pool tables and other valuable “toys” and accessories to their homes.  Diaz explains how he “treats” those who didn’t reciprocate with good tips, etc.  From childhood to adult life, Diaz’s work is compelling and needs to be read.  I am a big fan of his “raw” and uncensored life.  For someone who didn’t grow up with much diversity around me, hearing how to live among the “American Dream” as an immigrant child with none of those dreams painted before him, it is a testament to Diaz’s hard work that he is as successful of a writer as he is.  Good read!  After you finish this one, jump to The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao!