New Immigrant Tales: Pulitzer-Prize Winner Junot Diaz On Tour

March 12, 2009. Dominican-American writer Junot Díaz read in Berlin from his 2008 Pulitzer Prize winning novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. The audience of 160 included all ages and members of Berlin’s immigrant community. The program was co-sponsored by Fischer publishing house and Thalia book store. His novel, which has already received wide critical acclaim also in Germany, combines Afro-Latino and American identity in a tale of immigration and the challenges of integration. His fresh approach on a traditional topic excited many readers and makes Junot Diaz one of the strongest voices of his generation. Commenting on a question from the audience, Diaz enthusiastically described President Obama’s election as due to the successful mobilization of minority communities, among them specifically the Latino voters. Díaz also read in Frankfurt (March 9), Hamburg (March 10), and was a highlight at the Leipzig Book Fair (March 11). He ended his German tour in Cologne (March 13). more