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rishvm's review against another edition
4.0
Napakahusay ni Lualhati Bautista magsulat. Akala ko dati mahihirapan akong intindihin ang libro na ito dahil ito ay tinuturing na isang classic ngunit hindi pala. Dapat itong basahin ng bawat Pilipino. Namamangha pa rin ako na ito ay noong 1983 pa inilathala dahil sa mga ideya at isyu lalo na sa pagiging babae na nanatiling isyu hanggang ngayon.
inksploration's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Lualhati Bautista is a known artist and activist during the Martial Law era, in fact she experienced tortures herself. Reading her work is great, somehow I felt closer to the cause of the people.
Reading the book was a challenge since I’m not fluent in written Filipino but I knew I had to read it in its original text in order to fully immerse myself with thoughts that Lualhati wanted to convey. Going in, I am aware of what the book is about since I’ve watched the movie adaptation of it beforehand. However, I was not aware, or perhaps the movie did not focus on it, of how the story telling went. It’s a story of a woman from a middle class family who was forced to wake up from the realities of life.
Amanda is a typical woman from the 60s who was born and raised to be a mother and a wife, however there was something in her that yearned for something more – a sense of purpose. There is this thirst for more in her life, she wanted to be more than just a mother and a wife. Throughout the book the internal struggle of Amanda is apparent, from what she was raised to be – a subservient wife and the perfect mother, and what she wants to be – someone with a purpose. She would always have this internal debate of wanting to know more and learn about the world around her yet she wants to fulfill the role she was raised to have.
This story is a testament to the fact that privilege may and should be used to not just amplify the oppressor’s voices but also to help them, that bursting the bubble of the privileged is necessary to fully emphatize with the people and cause around you. Just because you are not directly affected by atrocities does not mean that it did not happen. Just because you did not experience oppression does not mean that it does not exist.
Lualhati’s words are crafted with a level of genuineness and smartness, you can feel the emotions in every sentence she wrote. You can feel the passion to not just illustrate but to also educate.
It has been an immense pleasure to read her work. I am looking forward to dive more into her works.
uruseibaka's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nnise's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Ito ang nagpasimula sa pagmamahal ko sa mga libro Ms. Lualhati Bautista. Maraming bagay at pangyayari sa libro na ito ang repleksyon pa rin ng kasalukuyang lagay ng Pilipinas— politikal at pagtanaw sa kababaihan.
sagashroo_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
libroandthings's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
quaintquill's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
felicities's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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? No
5.0
this should be required reading in every filipino classroom. amanda bartolome's journey to liberation, both personal and against the backdrop of the nation, is something one can't help but root for. the book, written in 1983, three years shy of the people power revolution, is not only eye-opening and informative, but honest, real, and dare i even say inspiring.
i will be reading it again, this time in its original published language.
i will be reading it again, this time in its original published language.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Police brutality, and Murder
Moderate: Sexual assault and Colonisation
literary_hazelnut's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
withlovejea's review against another edition
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Chilling how the events from this era mirrors the present. All the more reason for this book to be read by Filipinos today, especially the youth.