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fekete815's review against another edition
3.0
More like 3.5 stars, but I didn’t love it enough to give it 4 stars. Still an important and worthwhile read!
mafeltz's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
sinamile's review against another edition
4.0
ARC Review: Received for free via Netgalley for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
CW: ableist slurs, police brutality, drug abuse, death, murder,
I want to read the entire book like yesterday! I want to do it so desperately but my heart isn't ready. But I will read this book completely one day, I swear!
CW: ableist slurs, police brutality, drug abuse, death, murder,
I want to read the entire book like yesterday! I want to do it so desperately but my heart isn't ready. But I will read this book completely one day, I swear!
ebtdean's review against another edition
5.0
It was just so good and I loved it so much. Early in the book I was reading it one night, totally engrossed, and my husband was laughing at something he was reading - which distracted me and made me realize I was not actually in the book and part of this story. That is how well written this book is. I loved it.
samiamiam's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
A beautiful story on the complexity of the human spirt and the depths of grief. Genuinly one of the best books on grief and how no one person js just one thing I've ever read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Grief
rruthanne's review against another edition
5.0
"All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle."
5/5⭐️ So happy I've been picking some absolute bangers to read lately. This book was one of them.
I related to Jason so much as a filipino born in Canada that lost their ability to speak tagalog, barely knows how to cook any filipino food, and rarely has any filipino people around me. This beautiful story just motivates me to keep learning about the language, history, culture and food more.
But I also think in a way any North American born/living filipino can relate to Jason in various extents. Especially learning about duterte and speaking to friends about it that aren't filipino. The interactions Jason has about the drug war with his friend, was very relatable and was one of the first points in the book that got me really into the story.
It's absolutely heart breaking and I cannot talk about it too much without choking up, what Duterte has done to the country my family is from. Thousands dead, journalists disappearing and being arrested. Anyone that has supported him in any length needs to reevaluate what is "good for their country". Filipinos have been through enough in history, country after country invading, colonizing taking away resources, culture and people while leaving behind trauma, pain and poverty. Why, would any filipino stand for him, after all the history the country's been through?
This review is kind of specific and a bit ranty, but yeah posting it anyways. This book has a special place in my heart ❤️
5/5⭐️ So happy I've been picking some absolute bangers to read lately. This book was one of them.
I related to Jason so much as a filipino born in Canada that lost their ability to speak tagalog, barely knows how to cook any filipino food, and rarely has any filipino people around me. This beautiful story just motivates me to keep learning about the language, history, culture and food more.
But I also think in a way any North American born/living filipino can relate to Jason in various extents. Especially learning about duterte and speaking to friends about it that aren't filipino. The interactions Jason has about the drug war with his friend, was very relatable and was one of the first points in the book that got me really into the story.
It's absolutely heart breaking and I cannot talk about it too much without choking up, what Duterte has done to the country my family is from. Thousands dead, journalists disappearing and being arrested. Anyone that has supported him in any length needs to reevaluate what is "good for their country". Filipinos have been through enough in history, country after country invading, colonizing taking away resources, culture and people while leaving behind trauma, pain and poverty. Why, would any filipino stand for him, after all the history the country's been through?
This review is kind of specific and a bit ranty, but yeah posting it anyways. This book has a special place in my heart ❤️
twu's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
jnfilippelli's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars - beautiful story about grief, family, and growing up.
peachteatree's review against another edition
3.0
I am giving this book three stars because I think this is a story worth telling but there are so many parts that don't sit well with me.
For instance, how can I trust that the author knows what they're talking about when it is expressed in the book that three thousand pesos was 'probably' more than what a taxi driver makes in a month? Or how about that crass remark on Philippine water? Or the constant references of Filipinoness as just one singular thing?
Of course, my experience is not representative of being a Filipino and neither is Jay or Grace's. But the book talks about Filipino life like the way it's described is all there is. In a way, so much of the book felt a lot like when Seth asked Jay if all people are poor in the Philippines. While I appreciated the stark comparison between the slums and Tito Maning's house, among other parallels, so many of the references didn't seem authentic to me.
It would have been really acceptable if those thoughts came only from Jay. But even characters who have been in the PH their whole life seem to make these weird, disconnected comments about what it's like to be a Filipino. Plus, reading it did not feel at all like how Filipinos talk idk about that but I just couldn't hear it :/.
That said, I don't discount the fact that this story is essential. The dialogue shoots down the idea that Jay should be the savior and highlights the fact that the drug problem in the PH is a multi-faceted issue involving property, education, stigma, family, and so much more.
Overall, it was a good read!
For instance, how can I trust that the author knows what they're talking about when it is expressed in the book that three thousand pesos was 'probably' more than what a taxi driver makes in a month? Or how about that crass remark on Philippine water? Or the constant references of Filipinoness as just one singular thing?
Of course, my experience is not representative of being a Filipino and neither is Jay or Grace's. But the book talks about Filipino life like the way it's described is all there is. In a way, so much of the book felt a lot like when Seth asked Jay if all people are poor in the Philippines. While I appreciated the stark comparison between the slums and Tito Maning's house, among other parallels, so many of the references didn't seem authentic to me.
It would have been really acceptable if those thoughts came only from Jay. But even characters who have been in the PH their whole life seem to make these weird, disconnected comments about what it's like to be a Filipino. Plus, reading it did not feel at all like how Filipinos talk idk about that but I just couldn't hear it :/.
That said, I don't discount the fact that this story is essential. The dialogue shoots down the idea that Jay should be the savior and highlights the fact that the drug problem in the PH is a multi-faceted issue involving property, education, stigma, family, and so much more.
Overall, it was a good read!