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Dominicana (novel)

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Dominicana
AuthorAngie Cruz
PublisherFlatiron Books
Publication date
September 3, 2019
ISBN978-1-250-20593-3

Dominicana is a 2019 novel by Angie Cruz.[1][2][3] It is Cruz's third novel, and was shortlisted for the 2020 Women's Prize for Fiction.[4]

Plot

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The book tells the story of Ana, a young woman from the Dominican Republic who moves to New York in 1965 after marrying an older man, Juan. She is unhappy there, but sees a new side of life when her husband temporarily returns to the Dominican Republic leaving her in the care of his younger brother, Cesar: she can study English, go to the beach, and go dancing. When Juan returns, she has a decision to make.[5]

Reception

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Dominicana received widespread acclaim.[5][6] Publishers Weekly described the work as "Enthralling...Cruz's winning novel will linger in the reader’s mind long after the close of the story."[7] NBC described Dominicana as "one of the most evocative and empowering immigrant stories of our time."[8] The Observer's reviewer described it as "a grim portrait of what it means to be doubly disenfranchised as a female illegal immigrant in an oppressively patriarchal community", and says that Cruz "was inspired to write it by her mother’s experience"[1] Kirkus Reviews called the novel "a moving, sad, and sometimes disarmingly funny take on migration and the forces that propel us into the world."[9]

Dominicana won a 2020 Alex Award (as one of ten adult books likely to appeal to readers aged 12-18)[10][11] and was shortlisted for the 2020 Women's Prize for Fiction, which was won by Maggie O'Farrell's Hamnet.[4] It was selected as the inaugural pick for Good Morning America's book club,[12] and viewers were offered a recipe for "Ana's pastelito love bites".[13]

References

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  1. ^ a b Anderson, Hephzibah (March 22, 2020). "Dominicana by Angie Cruz review – disenfranchised in the USA". The Observer. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  2. ^ Crucet, Jennine Capó (September 3, 2019). "Coming of Age as an Immigrant Child Bride". The New York Times. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  3. ^ "Dominicana". Kirkus Reviews. June 17, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Announcing the 2020 Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist". Women's Prize for Fiction. April 21, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Dominicana: a novel". US Macmillan. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  6. ^ "Book Marks reviews of Dominicana by Angie Cruz". Book Marks. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  7. ^ "Fiction Book Review: Dominicana by Angie Cruz". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  8. ^ González, Rigoberto (October 17, 2019). "Hispanic Heritage Month is over and these 15 books by Latinos are still great". NBC News. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  9. ^ "Dominicana". Kirkus Reviews. June 16, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  10. ^ "2020 Alex Awards". Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). January 25, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  11. ^ "2020 Youth Media Award Winners". American Libraries Magazine. January 27, 2020. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  12. ^ "'GMA' Book Club launches with 'Dominicana' by Angie Cruz". Good Morning America. October 9, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  13. ^ "'GMA' Book Club: Get the recipe for Ana's Pastelito Love Bites from 'Dominicana'". ABC News. October 23, 2019.
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