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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
This was such a diverse collection of short stories. Each story is set in the Philippines, but what was so interesting was when it was set. Taking place either in the past, present, or future, Alfar creates fantastical and speculative worlds that showcase the rich history and culture of the Philippines (and, I should add, complex). The tone and direction of each story was always a surprise, and I think it speaks to Alfar’s creativity and versatility.
Admittedly, this collection was a bit of a mixed bag for me. Some I really liked (e.g., “The Kite of Stars (L’Aquilone du Estrellas)” and “MaMachine”), while others were a bit harder to get into. I will say that the ones that I struggled with, such as “How Rosang Taba Won a Race,” clearly required knowledge of Tagalog (which I do not have) and Filipino history (which I know very little of), but I recognize their importance in uplifting Filipino stories.
I’ve read some works by authors from the Filipino diaspora, but it’s the first time I’m reading something by an author from the Philippines. It was a nice introduction to modern Filipino literature, and I’d love to find more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Racism, Sexism, Colonisation
Minor: Drug use, Cannibalism
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Absolutely enjoyed every story of this collection, especially that it speaks to hearts that search for a place that it calls home, in a world where all the comforts lead to an existential discomfort.
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
The book comprised of settings with Spanish influence reflecting the old days of the land. It started with a bittersweet tale of an unrequited love, yet it ends with a hopeful tale of falling in love. What I liked most in this collection of short stories is it charters the sleep towns (before the Jejemons of Mass Tourism disturbed them).
More thought soon, I was reading this in Benguet and I was still mesmerized.
More thought soon, I was reading this in Benguet and I was still mesmerized.
4.5 stars
It would be a 5 stars read if not for some parts of the story "Four-Letter Words". It made me feel uncomfortable to read but I guess the twist at the end redeem the story a bit as it wasn't adultery after all. I obviously love this book as evident with my high rating of it. I will certainly read this over and over again. Magic in every word. Also, I love all the shoutouts to Filipino myths, folktales and culture.
My favorite stories are:
L'Aquilone du Estrellas - MY GOODNESS! The feels. Unrequited love galore!
How Rosang Taba Won the Race - so many levels of awesome. It touch relevant issues like racism, sexism and body image for such a short story.
The Middle Prince - my favorite quote from the book comes from this story: “The middle prince stared at her, wordlessly accepting the truth that sometimes kindness was redundant.” In addition to that, kindness aren't always acknowledge and it shouldn't be imho. Kindness should just be a normal everyday thing you do, not some special occurrence one does to be admired -even by yourself. (Remind to self: I shan't pat my own back when I do something remotely kind)
In the Dim Plane - would like to read a full novel of this. It's a very intriguing world. I want to know about the backstory of all the characters even the unpleasant Lord Jussin.
Disclaimer: Review is from an average pleasure reader who is not proficient in English whatsoever.
It would be a 5 stars read if not for some parts of the story "Four-Letter Words". It made me feel uncomfortable to read but
My favorite stories are:
L'Aquilone du Estrellas - MY GOODNESS! The feels.
How Rosang Taba Won the Race - so many levels of awesome. It touch relevant issues like racism, sexism and body image for such a short story.
The Middle Prince - my favorite quote from the book comes from this story: “The middle prince stared at her, wordlessly accepting the truth that sometimes kindness was redundant.” In addition to that, kindness aren't always acknowledge and it shouldn't be imho. Kindness should just be a normal everyday thing you do, not some special occurrence one does to be admired -even by yourself. (Remind to self: I shan't pat my own back when I do something remotely kind)
In the Dim Plane - would like to read a full novel of this. It's a very intriguing world. I want to know about the backstory of all the characters even the unpleasant Lord Jussin.
Disclaimer: Review is from an average pleasure reader who is not proficient in English whatsoever.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A