Junot Díaz reads from his Pulitzer Prize-winning debut novel, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (2007), and, in far-ranging comments, addresses the danger inherent in a dominant authorial voice. “No matter how many ruses I use,” Díaz says, “I’m the only one speaking.” He goes on to connect this danger, “the way a story silences other stories,” to the dictatorial regime of Trujillo in his native Dominican Republic, to U.S. militaristic pride, and, on the other hand, to the often-frustrated desire of readers to understand each component of his stories.
From KWLS 2008: New Voices
This recording is available for noncommercial and educational use only. All rights belong to the author. © 2008 Junot Díaz. Used with permission from Junot Díaz.
Larry Polsky says:
Just learned of Junot Diaz as he was listed in Progressive Magazine as the author of one of the books banned in Tucson. What the f— is that all about?
Paul Gomes says:
That is his style. People use his type of descriptive adjectives everyday.