Of Dubious Origin by David I. Santiago is a fiction story based on a very relatable issue of identity crisis, Israel Cruz is the character which’ll lead us through.
But what’s cookin’…let’s find out.
““Did I just kill Dad?” asked Judah, waving a box of tissues
while pacing in the waiting room at the hospital’s emergency
area.
“It’s a distinct possibility,” said Israel, seated on a chair, sucking a lollipop he had taken from a basket at the reception.
A small boy, perhaps five or six years old, pushed a red
toy carrier truck past Israel.”
Book Review: Of Dubious Origin
What do you do when you’re unemployed, living with your parents’ basement, and people won’t stop asking where you’re really from? Sad…:(
Israel Cruz and then decides to become Portuguese. Because honestly, why not?
Israel, a geography grad with no job, no direction, and a dude with cultural ambiguity. His dad is Puerto Rican, his mom is Jewish, and people always try to guess your identity. He is clearly not having a clear answer, He is now Portuguese as he announced. Problem solved. Right?
Enter Judah, Israel’s younger brother, fresh out of high school and he is also nor sure about his future. Together, they work in kitchen shifts and run errands in exchange for that cruise. What could possibly go wrong?
Quite a bit, actually.
As the trip goes, Santiago shares nos. of encounters, cultural misunderstandings, and relatable incident that make the journey both funny and oddly touching.
Israel’s cluelessness is a constant smiling point, he’ll believe almost anything if it helps him feel like he belongs. Is he naive? Absolutely. Is it hard not to root for him anyway? Also yes.
The novel moves at an interesting pace, humor is good and at time it quietly asking bigger questions: Can you choose an identity?
The ending leans a bit toward the dramatic, but by then you’re invested very much into it. Of Dubious Origin doesn’t hand you direct answers, but it does have humor, moments that are very much human.
A funny, thoughtful, and very human story about searching for where you fit—and learning something along the way.
“I’m tired of the ambiguity. I hereby relinquish my ethnicity and now proclaim that I am Portuguese.”
Storyline: So here’s the thing- Israel is tensed. Why people won’t stop asking him that question about his origin.
Fair question, right? But Israel doesn’t have a clear answer—and instead of just let it go, he spirals. Hard.
And then comes the big and sort of unusual idea:
What if he… became Portuguese?
New identity. New origin story. New life. Problem solved? (Spoiler: absolutely not.)
What starts as a half-serious fantasy somehow turns into a real journey—with family tension along, his brother Judah, awkward encounters, and a few reality checks that hit hard. Israel learns identity is not everything.
Is it funny? Yes.
Is it awkward? Very.
Is it weirdly relatable? Unfortunately, also yes.
By the end, Israel doesn’t magically get out of everything —but he does stop running from the questions. And honestly, isn’t that kind of a win?
Also Read: The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel
| Genre | Fiction |
| Number of Pages | 291 pages |
| My Rating | 4.0⭐⭐️⭐️⭐️ |
| Release Date | 15 December 2025 |
What I Loved
Is it perfect? No. Some moments are hard to believe. But the humor, warmth, and relatability more than make up for it.
By the end, you don’t close the book thinking, “Ah yes, everything solved.” You close it with a smile on your face.
And honestly? That’s a comforting takeaway.
Quotes:
“People didn’t want to know who I was. They wanted to know what I was.”
Final Verdict?
Overall, Of Dubious Origin by David I. Santiago is a good fiction read…
Who should read it:
- If you like non stop drama
- If you also feel like having an identity issue
- Readers who like humor that’s quiet, awkward, and a little self-aware
- People who enjoy travel stories
Books like Of Dubious Origin by David I. Santiago:
- The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
- Less by Andrew Sean Greer
