Through a set of coïncidences, I read three Hispaniola-connected works in rapid succession (the middle work overlapped, I think, both of the others). I chose Oscar Wao from a list of starred Publishers Weekly reviews. While I was reading it, the folks at my house watched Muppet Treasure Island, which caused me to wonder yet again how close it hews to the Stevenson story. This time, I wondered long enough to go check on Project Gutenberg, and it was (of course) there, so I started reading it online. About that same time, my hold on Pirate Freedom got to the top of the list, completing the weird Hispaniola trifecta. Given the common connection, I’m opting to combine the reviews in one entry.

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, Díaz. Yes. Memory has faded somewhat, but I do recall enjoying the story, and the writing, greatly. Very character-driven, with many shout-outs to the nerd community. Much of the action takes place on Hispaniola.

Treasure Island, Stevenson. Yes. YA fiction used to be a great deal bloodier than it is now. According to Cecil, Stevenson became the standard for pirate depictions, and I have to believe that it’s due to the strength and durability of his narrative. The Muppet version is admirably close, differing mostly for comic effect or brevity. The Hispaniola is, of course, the treasure ship.

Pirate Freedom, Wolfe. Yes. Reading Wolfe makes me wonder why I don’t read more Wolfe. I expect it may be, as with Davies, that he’s so good I have to pay a lot of attention. This was a much lighter work than his multi-volume epics, but nonetheless great for that. Not all that much of the action takes place on Hispaniola, but between the action there and the piracy, it clearly fits in this fortuitous group.