liminalnotes's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

It's certainly a unique experience to read something written about the state of our country decades ago and still find several parallels with our state today. This was an informative, chilling, and emotional read. I hope every Filipino gets a chance to read this, especially with the return of the same family who caused this and are intent in re-writing the history.

Ang mga namulat ay hindi na muling pipikit.

#NeverAgain #NeverForget

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anicatiu's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

Truly a Filipino classic. Lualhati Bautista's writing transports you to that time. This is a real depiction of a Filipino family living during such a dangerous and important time in history. Too many times has the history of Martial Law been rewritten in our country. All generations of Filipinos should know the ugly truth of what happened then. No more covering up. Dekada 70 provides, I believe, a story that some Filipinos could relate to, especially those that have the privilege to be blissfully ignorant but finally want to pull the blinkers off their eyes. This novel is a wake up call not only to our past but to the present. Lualhati Bautista also masterfully incorporates dives into other social and cultural issues and topics, like feminism and marriage, without coming off as a try-hard SJW novel as some writers tend to do. Definitely a book that all Filipinos need to read at least once in their lives. I say at least once because this is a book you will definitely come back to. 

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