Oscar Hijuelos in many of his works includes Spanish phrases throughout the English narration. He manages to maintain a Hispanic flavor in his fiction, which remains true to his roots as the son of Cuban parents as well as to the subjects of his stories. As the debate for bilingual education and the rights of immigrants in America remains a very important issue, so are stories told by and for immigrants. Also, issues surrounding the working poor and the class stratification within American society are important in this novel.

1. Hijuelos uses various techniques to demonstrate the thoughts, feelings and other nuances of his characters. Often these techniques create a separation of these passages from the rest of the narrative.

What is the significance of the use of italics for long passages within the novel? Is this similar to his use of passages within parentheses? What about...