Drown by Junot Diaz

This was an interesting read concerning culture. I was lost in one area or I just didn't get the relevance of the information that Junot Diaz presented. This area concerned the boy who wore the mask. I understood that the first time this was addressed that it was the experience of the narrator when he was a child. However, when it was mentioned later on in the book I just didn't get the relevance or the meaning. Why would this narrative concerning a young man's life would drift back to this. The only thing that I could think of was that it is relevant because it concerns assimilation into society and how it is different for everyone depending on your background, culture, and position in society. I liked how the author integrated Spanish vocabulary into the text. This definitely aided in showing what role culture plays in someone's life. The last tale concerning Ramon was especially interesting because it showed how hard this man wanted to become Americanized. He went to America unable to speak English, yet he succeeded in this task over a period of time. The jobs that it describes him working are so real, especially for people who are attempting to assimilate into American society. The description of the places Ramon had to live because of the jobs he held was also a reality. I somewhat understand Ramon's relationship with Nilda because he was wanting to assimilate his family into society, but did he have to have children with her. I'm sure over time it was difficult to be away from his family; however, was it necessary to spend money at the bar instead of saving money to bring them into America to offer them a chance at a better life? Even though he had other children with Nilda, he never really had a true love for her. I really don't think he had true love for his first wife or those children. If one did, how can you just forget that life existed? He often refered to this life and how life back home would save him, yet when he had the opportunity he let it pass him by. Perhaps because it was too much after too much time had passed. I also like how Diaz described all the different living environments, especially when describing the campo and how the tia and tio lived there. Very realistic and saddening. In doing this, it is clear who the people involved defined themselves and their own identities.