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    Dominicana: A Novel
    Dominicana: A Novel
    Dominicana: A Novel
    Audiobook10 hours

    Dominicana: A Novel

    Written by Angie Cruz

    Narrated by Coral Pena

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    A GOOD MORNING AMERICA COVER TO COVER BOOK CLUB PICK

    This program includes a bonus conversation with the author.

    Named a Most Anticipated Book by The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, The Washington Post, O Magazine, Time, Real Simple, Chicago Review of Books, Kirkus Reviews, Nylon, BuzzFeed, Lit Hub, The Millions, Instyle, Bustle, Refinery29, Hello Giggles, AARP, Domino

    "Coral Pena's strong delivery is a breath of fresh air...a master of accents and emotion, bringing genuine pathos to the story." — AudioFile Magazine, Earphones Award winner

    Fifteen-year-old Ana Cancion never dreamed of moving to America, the way the girls she grew up with in the Dominican countryside did. But when Juan Ruiz proposes and promises to take her to New York City, she has to say yes. It doesn’t matter that he is twice her age, that there is no love between them. Their marriage is an opportunity for her entire close-knit family to eventually immigrate. So on New Year’s Day, 1965, Ana leaves behind everything she knows and becomes Ana Ruiz, a wife confined to a cold six-floor walk-up in Washington Heights. Lonely and miserable, Ana hatches a reckless plan to escape. But at the bus terminal, she is stopped by Cesar, Juan’s free-spirited younger brother, who convinces her to stay.

    As the Dominican Republic slides into political turmoil, Juan returns to protect his family’s assets, leaving Cesar to take care of Ana. Suddenly, Ana is free to take English lessons at a local church, lie on the beach at Coney Island, see a movie at Radio City Music Hall, go dancing with Cesar, and imagine the possibility of a different kind of life in America. When Juan returns, Ana must decide once again between her heart and her duty to her family.

    In bright, musical prose that reflects the energy of New York City, Angie Cruz's Dominicana is a vital portrait of the immigrant experience and the timeless coming-of-age story of a young woman finding her voice in the world.

    Praise for Dominicana:

    “Through a novel with so much depth, beauty, and grace, we, like Ana, are forever changed.” —Jacqueline Woodson, Vanity Fair

    “Gorgeous writing, gorgeous story.” —Sandra Cisneros

    Editor's Note

    Vibrant coming-of-age novel…

    Set in the political turmoil of the 1960s, this vibrant coming-of-age novel explores the propulsive forces behind immigration. When 15-year-old Ana’s parents marry her off to a man twice her age, she leaves her home in the Dominican Republic countryside to start a new life in New York, determined to find a way to bring her family over to join her. “Good Morning America” launched a book club in October 2019 called Cover to Cover, and this was the first pick (selected by Robin Roberts).

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherMacmillan Audio
    Release dateSep 3, 2019
    ISBN9781250242556
    Author

    Angie Cruz

    Angie Cruz is the author of the novels How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water, Soledad, Let It Rain Coffee, and Dominicana, which was shortlisted for the Women's Prize and a Good Morning America Book Club pick. She is founder and editor in chief of Aster(ix), a literary and arts journal, and is an associate professor of English at the University of Pittsburgh.

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    Reviews for Dominicana

    4.5/5

    131 ratings4 reviews

    What did you think?

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    • 5/5
      This book was like looking into the mirror. Thank you for being bold and sharing your story.
    • 5/5
      Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time! This is such a beautiful and necessary story. I'll miss Ana so much. She will always have a place in my heart. ❤️
    • 5/5
      Excellent book ... Being from immigrant parents I can relate to helping family move up on the other hand having the desire to find your own aspirations
    • 5/5
      A must read. If you like Coming to America stories the main character will have you engrossed from the beginning to the end.