This Is How You Lose Her

In the beginning of “Invierno,” Yunior mentions that his father didn’t point out the ocean when he took them to their American apartment for the first time. Why is this important and what does it reveal?

Despite the plot-driven aspect of cheating, the narrator respects—or at least claims to respect—the women in these stories. Does this respect seem genuine to you? Why or why not?

How does Yunior’s cultural identity affect his worldview and inform how he perceives both himself and other racial groups?

Throughout the stories, Yunior is caught cheating through the written word: letter, journal, email. How is this mode of apprehension meaningful?

What do the contrasts between Yunior and Rafa highlight? What is revealed about Yunior through how he feels about Rafa?

Discuss the postmodern aspects of this collection, including metafiction, pastiche, and dark humor.

The first line of the text is: “I’m not a bad guy!” Do you agree with this statement by the conclusion of the collection? Why or why not?

Do you view Yunior as more of a victim of hypermasculinity, or merely a product of it?