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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
follows bulosan’s (quasi) life navigating and adjusting to america, searching for a better future in order to return home to ph. the plight of a walking contradiction of being a filipino man educated, well read, and fighting intellectualism for the sake of intellectualism— being filled with rage, wanting of the understanding and libertarian for him and his people, fighting with kindness, knowledge, literature, violence, solidarity, and pure strength. he escapes beatings and death and hunger and poverty; searches for meaning within himself and this country— all to live a life in america worth living.
emotional
fast-paced
Let me first say that I appreciate the stories and perspectives Bulosan provides to us in these pages. The voice of any minority is crucial in our society. The stories were real, and were told in such a way that made them less of exaggerated fiction for novels than the raw memories of a Pilipino living through the racism and prejudice of others living in America.
I also don’t think it was told in a way that made Pilipinos living in America to be the heroes. Somehow, Bulosan made these people protagonists, but exposed their cancerous flaws.
While I enjoyed these aspects of the novel, it was because of the way it was written that I had difficulty keeping focused on the book and staying motivated enough to continue reading. I could not recognize a by-the-book progression of events that led to a climax or a memorable ending. And many times I found myself confusing the order of events.
Still, the value of Bulosan’s book undoubtedly exceeds my personal reading preferences, and I will not discount any work that demonstrates the struggle for equality and justice.
I also don’t think it was told in a way that made Pilipinos living in America to be the heroes. Somehow, Bulosan made these people protagonists, but exposed their cancerous flaws.
While I enjoyed these aspects of the novel, it was because of the way it was written that I had difficulty keeping focused on the book and staying motivated enough to continue reading. I could not recognize a by-the-book progression of events that led to a climax or a memorable ending. And many times I found myself confusing the order of events.
Still, the value of Bulosan’s book undoubtedly exceeds my personal reading preferences, and I will not discount any work that demonstrates the struggle for equality and justice.
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
reflective
sad
2.14 million Filipinos helped reelect Trump in 2024 despite his hateful rhetoric towards immigrants. I wonder how many of them read this book.
We are not Americans, never have been, and never will be; in some years less than the others. During Bulosan's time, that was probably the least American we could have been, and the least human in their eyes. That racism never went away in the heart of Americans even today. They have directed the worst of it towards other minorities, and have reserved the right to call us Asians monsters with an inherent violence and savagery which we have resisted for the sake of assimilation but is inherent in us regardless. (Remember how they treated us during COVID?)
America will turn on us. Everytime. It was the case during Bulosan's time, and it is the case now. When times get hard, America will look for someone to blame for their misery, and one day, it we will be us, Filipinos, and then the lot of us will realize that we never had a place in their American dream to begin with. Even if you came to that damned country legally or your have a green card, you will never be American, because you are not white. You are a Filipino, and your history in America is a history of displacement, abuse, and exploitation. Nothing you will ever do could ever change that.
That is what this book confirmed to be true for me.
We are not Americans, never have been, and never will be; in some years less than the others. During Bulosan's time, that was probably the least American we could have been, and the least human in their eyes. That racism never went away in the heart of Americans even today. They have directed the worst of it towards other minorities, and have reserved the right to call us Asians monsters with an inherent violence and savagery which we have resisted for the sake of assimilation but is inherent in us regardless. (Remember how they treated us during COVID?)
America will turn on us. Everytime. It was the case during Bulosan's time, and it is the case now. When times get hard, America will look for someone to blame for their misery, and one day, it we will be us, Filipinos, and then the lot of us will realize that we never had a place in their American dream to begin with. Even if you came to that damned country legally or your have a green card, you will never be American, because you are not white. You are a Filipino, and your history in America is a history of displacement, abuse, and exploitation. Nothing you will ever do could ever change that.
That is what this book confirmed to be true for me.
This is the very first book about the Filipino American experience that I ever read. Despite certain complexities regarding how "true" its account is as an actual autobiography the book changed my life. Quintessential for students of Asian American Studies, Filipino American Studies, Ethnic Studies as well as for anyone interested in the "immigrant experience".
3/5stars
I find memoirs and autobiographies very difficult to rate because how does one rate someones life?
But, I'm basing this off what i believe the author wanted the reader to get out of his story. And I think, in some areas, he didn't succeed. I think this story could have been INFINITELY better if he had decided to focus on JUST certain parts of his life - rather than trying to put literally every single person, place and thing he ever did from childhood to adulthood.
The beginning, focusing on his childhood in the Philippines was very strong and had a LOT of information and a lot of beautiful, horrifying passages. And then the end was also very powerful from his story as a aspiring writer and adult person.
But that middle, holy crap, it was SO BORING. Like I said in my update for this book, the middle of this book became "and then i went here... and then i met this person... and then i went here... oh and then i went HERE... and then i met this other person.. and then that person died... and now i met up with this person... and then i went over there... and then they died too... and then i went here... and then.." and it was SO POINTLESS and so difficult to keep up with.
There was a lot of incredible commentary on racism in America especially toward Filipinos and Asian Americans. But definitely not something that I ENJOYED reading.
I find memoirs and autobiographies very difficult to rate because how does one rate someones life?
But, I'm basing this off what i believe the author wanted the reader to get out of his story. And I think, in some areas, he didn't succeed. I think this story could have been INFINITELY better if he had decided to focus on JUST certain parts of his life - rather than trying to put literally every single person, place and thing he ever did from childhood to adulthood.
The beginning, focusing on his childhood in the Philippines was very strong and had a LOT of information and a lot of beautiful, horrifying passages. And then the end was also very powerful from his story as a aspiring writer and adult person.
But that middle, holy crap, it was SO BORING. Like I said in my update for this book, the middle of this book became "and then i went here... and then i met this person... and then i went here... oh and then i went HERE... and then i met this other person.. and then that person died... and now i met up with this person... and then i went over there... and then they died too... and then i went here... and then.." and it was SO POINTLESS and so difficult to keep up with.
There was a lot of incredible commentary on racism in America especially toward Filipinos and Asian Americans. But definitely not something that I ENJOYED reading.