How we cite our quotes: (Act.Chapter.Section.Paragraph), (Act.Special Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
Beli in love! Round Two! But unlike what happened with Pujols, this was the real deal: pure uncut unadulterated love, the Holy Grail that would so bedevil her children throughout their lives. Consider that Beli had longed, hungered, for chance to be in love and to be loved back (not very long in real time but a forever in the chronometer of her adolescence). [...]. With The Gangster our girl finally got her chance. (1.1.9.17)
We at Shmoop would like to note the following: although Beli falls in love (a few times), she usually chooses the wrong guy. The same can be said for Oscar. (Or even Lola, although she eventually drops Yunior for a more stable relationship.) Is the family cursed in love, or does everyone just make bad choices in their romantic lives at some point or another?
Quote #5
Two weeks late, La Jablesse gave Oscar the coup de friendship: he walked in on her while she was "entertaining" the punk, caught them both naked, probably covered in blood or something, and before she could even say, Get out, he went berserk. Called her a whore and attacked her walls, tearing down her posters and throwing her books everywhere.
If Oscar ate at the Cafeteria of Love, unrequited love would be his favorite entree. The guy just has a knack for getting himself hurt. At the end of the novel, however, Ybón finally returns Oscar's love. It's really quite touching. We admit it: it made us cry.
Quote #6
And there were pictures of Oscar's mom and dad. Young. Taken in the two years of their relationship.
You loved him, [Oscar] said to her.
[Beli] laughed. Don't talk about what you know nothing about. (2.6.1.14-2.6.1.16)
Beli says that Oscar doesn't know anything about love. Is she wrong? Hasn't Oscar fallen in love a number of times already? Or is Beli right—since no one has ever loved Oscar back? That is, until Ybón.