Summary

This document appears to be a personal narrative, possibly a chapter from a book, about a young person's life experiences in the Dominican Republic. The narrative involves adolescent relationships, family conflicts, and personal growth.

Full Transcript

PART 1 The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Was Reading Chapter 1: Covers · 1974-1987...

PART 1 The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Was Reading Chapter 1: Covers · 1974-1987 Oscar de Leon-Protagonist · Not good girls adult he · with as an but was when was younger compared to Porfirio Rubirosa - Oscar's "Golden Age of 7 years old and had girlfriends Dating" · - I Maritza Chacon and Olga Polanco - - Oscar'sMother wouldn't allow Olga in the house because she smelled , so after a week he broke up with her - A week after that Maritza broke with him for another , up classmate , Nelson Pardo · In the after the breakup Oscar gained weight quickly and years , developed acne. He became dorky shy and an outcast , , · Attended Don Bosco Tech an All-Boys Catholic school , · Nicknamed "Pariguayo" = Party Watcher · Loved "The Genres" - science fiction , fantasy , and comic books · Oscar harbored intense secret crushes that made him feel inferior to other Dominican males like his Uncle Rudolfo · In contrast to Oscar , his sister, Lola, was confident Tried to help Oscar "not deflects with dying virgin" - a but he - He continues to nurture painful crushes on her friends · By Senior year Oscar , was even heavier and more depressed Had 2 friends, Al and Miggs who eventually got girlfriends · , and grew apart from him · Oscar and Lola sent to visit their abuela that summer Santa in Domingo Oscar spent time writing science fiction - his stories Back home , Oscar falls Ana · in love with Obregon in SAT Prep · Friend-Zoned and rejected by Ana started at Rutgers the following September · PART 1 The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Was Reading Chapter 2 · Narrated by Lola-starts in 2nd person then flips to 1st · Covers 1982-1985 · Lola describes an intense moment with her mom , in which her mom asked her to feel for lumps in her breast in the bathroom. Following this , Lola's had mastectomy and began chemo - mother a · (Now in 1st person) Lola discusses being a "Punk Chick" - Listened to Siousie and the Banshees · Her mother called herugly L Nickname Fea" = = ugly · Lola and Oscar up afraid of their mom's temper and violence grew · " · Lola observes that as an "Old World Dominican Mother , it was her duty to keep her daughter "crushed under her weel" Lola warns reader not to judge - · When Lola learned of her mother's sickness , she worried she had an "inner wildness" that would burst out - One day , Lola and her goth friend , Karen Cepeda , Shave Lola's head and declare her punk - Lola's mother tries to make her wear a wig , but she burns it This causes tension and Lola with year old · 19 runs away a named Aldo (frequently rascist) she loses her to him and it virginity regrets - · Lola calls Oscar for money , but he shows up with their mom Lola tries to run away , but her mother falls in tears - , - Lola relents , but her mother had faked her tears. she was sent to Santa Punishment Domingo as - made up with her mother eventually but decided to stay - longer Lola has another "witchy feeling" her abuela tells · as her about her mother's youth PART 1 The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Was Reading Chapter 3 · Primary narrator returns to tell Oscar and Lola's mother. Hypatia Belicia "Beli" Cabrals story, · Covers 1955-1962 · Beli was dark-skinned and lived in Bani , a Dominican City famous for its anti-blackness · She lived with La luca , her "Mother-Aunt" who owned a bakery · Beli was restless and desired escape At 13 she scholarship to Redenton won a prestigious Colegio El · , school made her because she orphan she - miserable ; was an , was outcasted She lied back home about it and having - enjoying many friends at school She began to develop crushes , specifically one · on Cocky , a wealthy , and entitled light-skinned boy named Jack Pujols She tried to get his attention to no avail until she - "hit the biochemical jackpot" puberty sophomore year of and realized she had power over men. · One of Beli's classmates writes a paper on why the Dominican Republic should be a democracy and both he and the teacher vanish In October Jack Beli began Pursuing · , Came end when they to an were found having sex in a closet at school - caused Scandal, Beli blamed After this Beli got a job as a waitress using her · , , body to get attention from men. - La Inca Mourned Beli's "fall" & PART 1 The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Was Reading Chapter 3 (continued) · Beli had many admirers , 2 specifically , but she only wanted Jack ~ White Fiat dealer-reacted poorly when rejected Idealistic young student named Arquimedes more understanding - - , when rejected Meanwhile 1959 , youth-led communist failed resulting · , in a , invasion , tortured and killed in many young people being In February , Beli met Constantina at work · a woman named. Hollywood Bani" " She took Beli to El the place to be in - , Here , "The a man known as Gangster" offers to buy Beli ~ a drink and grabs her arm after she rejects him. - This causes Beli to scream and attack him and remain upset for days - still she , couldn't get him out of her head and went back to El Hollywood with Constantina to introduce herself to him , heavily involved The Gangster was in the Trujillo Regime · , - kicked out by age Secret Police by 12 and 7, involved with the , and had killed his first communist by age 14. * had an affinity for "the flesh trade" and owned brothels · Romanced her intensely , said he felt tormented by his crimes · Beli connected with him over orphanhood and she fell in love · Beli proud and started grew breaking rules; she got fired Hired back after threats from the Gangster then she quit - , Trujillo Regime struggles to Maintain control-Gangster leaves for · long periods of time her old During one long disappearance , Beli goes and tells - loves about the Gangster * Fiat Dealer attacks her , she kills him with whiskey bottle AArquimedes has silent rage PART 1 The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Was Reading Chapter 3 (continued) When the Gangster returned, he took Beli vacation to · on Samana , where he was born Trip made Beli feel close to the Gangster - One night, he told Beli that he felt free , unlike ordinary people · Beli said she wanted to be free like him - The next had to palace urgently day the Gangster report to · , the He said he would send a to take her back to Bani, but - car none came. Beli hitch hiked home Beli discovered she was pregnant upon arriving home · - She was excited , wanting a son Gangster implied she should have abortion - an Gangster turned out to already be married - to Trujillo's · Sister known "La Fea" The One as Ugly - - · La Fea approached Beli one with z cronies and told her day they would take her for an abortion-Beli managed to escape · Beli was captured by the Elvises after leaving La Inca's house to speak to La Inca for the Gangster prayed her survival - · Elvises left Beli beaten , , in a cornfield to die A golden-eyedmongoose appeared and told her that her baby · dead, but that if she didn't was get up she would never have her future son or daughter. · Beli found her way to a highway and was taken to a hospital · While she recovered , news came of Trujillo's assassination La luca made arrangements for Beli to go to New York · · Beli saw the Gangster one last time before she left · At 16 , she left for New York PART 1 The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Was Reading Chapter 4 · Covers 1988-1992 · chapter wherein narrator reveals himself - His name is Yunior · Yunior met Lola at Rutgers Sophomore year, he got mugged-Lola was only friend to show up - Not after this they had affair , but Lola felt long an guilty for - cheating on her boyfriend and ended it Oscar also went to Rutgers · Almost drank himself to death freshman year after girl rejected him - a caused nobody to want to room with him & To impress Lola and secure housing Yunior offered , to room with him · Oscar's nerdiness surprised tunior - Had a sign in Sindarin on his door They gradually became friends · Yunior also wrote fiction and they occasionally exchanged - work He also tried to help Oscar with women - Yunior cheated his girlfriend and he took his mind off of his · on troubles by trying to help Oscar change his life Encouraged new diets, avoiding self-criticism and exercise - , ~ fed up and quit Oscar grew causing a rift , · Yunior and his friends started to bully Oscar " "That fat homo Oscar Wilde" - "That fathomo - Oscar Was · Jenni Munoz helped end their Fend - Yunior tried flirting With her , but she rejected him - After their falling out , Yunior noticed Oscar liked her - She agreed to go out with Oscar continued - PART 1 The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Was Reading Chapter 4 (continued) Oscar and Jenni started spending time together · more · Oscar resumed his self-care His transformation made Yunior jealous ; Yunior "How you be - : can love ? You just met the bitch " Oscar : "Don't call her " in. a bitch. · One day , Oscar's mood dipped and Yunior suspected Jenni rejected about him ; Oscar refused to talk it walked 2 weeks later, Oscar in Jenni having sex With · on another guy. - Oscar attacked Jenni and called her a whore · soon after , llunior announced his plans to more out On their last night as roommates, they got drunk - Yunior left to go have sex with a girl ; Oscar continued - drinking Oscar made his to overpass at the New Brunswick way - an train station - Had a vision of a mongoose with golden eyes ↓ sat next to him in silence then disappeared - Oscar threw himself off the bridge & Instead of landing on the road, he crashed into the median-saving his life but breaking both of his legs · Oscar recovered back home - dreamt of becoming the "Dominican Tolkien" - Confesses to Yunior that the curse had made him attempt suicide ~ Yunior dismisses this as nonsense leftover from generation Oscar says "It's ours too " a previous , , ,. Yunior moves back in with Oscar and begins going out · With Lola as well as taking his writing more seriously , · Chapter ends with Oscar's journal entries, where in he at the acts recklessly , falling asleep wheel. PART Z The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Was Reading Interlude · Lola returns as narrator briefly , · After 14 months in the Dominican Republic , La Inca tells Lola needed to return to she New Jersey caused Lola to grow depressed during her final weeks there - - She quit track and dumped Max Sanchez. She convinced older man to her $2 000 for - an pay , sex & She planned to use this money to travel to Japan or Goa Beli came to Lola Santa get Domingo · in First she said to Lola that ngly thing she looked - was Lola dreams · of running away but realizes it is impossible · Just before leaving , Lola learns Max died in a traffic accident - She gives her $2 ,000 to Max's mother Lola cried on the plane back home-passengers · complained and her mother ignored her. Chapter 5 · Yunior resumes narration ; covers 1944-1946 · Covers Lola and Oscar's grandfather Abelard Luis Cabral , Abelard was gifted surgeons completed studies in Mexico · a and went back to the Dominican Republic to start a family Cabral family · was wealthy and lived in a mansion · Had a wife , Socorro , a nurse , and 2 daughters Jacquelyn , and and Astrid. Jacquelyn was favored. · Abelard was an intellectual but , as Yunior says , "The Reign of Trujillo " was not the best time to be a lover of ideas. · Abelard gave the appearance of supporting Trujillo , but Privately Kept his head down and tried to ignore the violence. PART Z The Brief and Wondrous Life 5 (continued) of Oscar Was Reading Chapter thing's changed when Abelard began attending Trujillo's · events alone, rather than with his family "Hoarding daughters" was tantamount to treason but · , Abelard feared Trujillo Would be attracted to Jacquelyn His wife refused to acknowledge his concerns · One while Abelard's hand , Trujillo he night · Shaking told him had heard that Abelard had beautiful daughters Abelard "They're only beautiful you taste for ~ : if have a " women with mustaches. - Abelard had a vision of Trujillo assaulting his daughter and spent the next 3 months paralyzed with worry. · Yunior compares life under Trujillo to an episode of The Twilight zone where a young white boy , can control everyone in his town. · His reign was from 1930-1909 ; acted like he owned everything and everyone and convinced Dominicans that he had supernatural powers still many defied his regime - , · actively ignored it and preferred to live Abelard "peace" in practicing medicine ; figured it would end soon enough · In February 1945 , Abelard attended another event This time I his wife and attend daughters told to - were Caused Abelard to start drinking heavily study · in his · Jacquelyn was excited · As the event approached , Abelard's mistress, Lydia , tried to convince him to run away with her to Cuba He rejected but realized he couldn't give Jacquelyn toTrujillo - , At the last minute , he ordered his wife and daughter - to stay home. PART Z The Brief and Wondrous Life 5 (continued) of Oscar Was Reading Chapter · 4 weeks later , the Secret Police arrested Abelard for "slander " and gross the Person of the President Calumny against Event that led to arrest occurred Gala - his before the - Abelard went to Santiago to buy furniture and asked his friends to help more it to his black Packard Trujillo's henchmen infamously drove black Packards - - Abelard joked "I hope there aren't any bodies in there" , when opening the trunk of his Packard One of the reports the joke ; Yunior implies it to be - men Marcus, friend in whom Abelard had been confiding a longtime Nothing happened for the next few weeks , except for Socorro · dreaming of a faceless man standing over their bed - Then , Abelard was arrested · He taken to was a prison in Santiago , beaten , and taken to an unsanitary cell with violent criminals - 3 days later Socorro visited Abelard in prison and realizes , that she is pregnant. She would never see him again · Yunior interrupts to ask if Abelard's misfortune was futu or another version of a common Dominican story , "The Girl " Trujillo wanted. Abelard was convicted and sentenced to 18 years ; Trujillo · confiscated all his property - Cabral family "fall" · several tragedies occur : - After giving birth to Beli , Socorro commits suicide - 2 years later , Jacquelyn drowned in a shallow pool In 1951 Astrid was shot while in church praying - , - Abelard died 14 years into his prison sentence · Beli passed around even being a slave, until La Inca, , a Cousin of Abelard's took her in teaching her to read and write , ,

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