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ps_stillreading's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
5.0
The El Bimbo Variations is a collection of poetry variations of the line “Kamukha mo si Paraluman nung tayo ay bata pa” using the creative constraints from The Oulipo Compendium. Filipinos will be familiar with the song “Ang Huling El Bimbo” and this line in particular, which made reading The El Bimbo Variations so fun to read. Dude I read the entire collection in one sitting. Then I read it all again the next day. That’s how much I loved it.
zarvindale's review against another edition
5.0
I was introduced to this book by one of my editors at the campus paper I was a staff of back in college. My editor uploaded a copy of it to our group on Facebook out of sincerity, to help us fend off any sense of trepidation that we might have been facing at the time as writers. Suffice to say: I bore witness to the various editions of this book. I bore witness to the changes, to the additions that have appeared up to this new edition under Paper Trail Projects.
I consider this as Adam David’s ambitious literary exercise. He was eager in interepreting a single yet popular line from an equally popular song by the Filipino band Eraserheads, and that eagerness translated fruitfully. He uses, manipulates both the printed text and images to spew more than a hundred variations of “Kamukha mo si Paraluman noong tayo ay bata pa.” Through this undertaking, he showcases his talent, his knowledge of established yet unfamiliar concepts that govern writing, and his wit. The El Bimbo Variations is a challenging book to finish, but he was clearly up to the challenge to stretch his creativity and imagination, and to entertain as well as inspire writers to rise above the literary and structural restraints in order to emphasize the “creative” in creative writing.
I consider this as Adam David’s ambitious literary exercise. He was eager in interepreting a single yet popular line from an equally popular song by the Filipino band Eraserheads, and that eagerness translated fruitfully. He uses, manipulates both the printed text and images to spew more than a hundred variations of “Kamukha mo si Paraluman noong tayo ay bata pa.” Through this undertaking, he showcases his talent, his knowledge of established yet unfamiliar concepts that govern writing, and his wit. The El Bimbo Variations is a challenging book to finish, but he was clearly up to the challenge to stretch his creativity and imagination, and to entertain as well as inspire writers to rise above the literary and structural restraints in order to emphasize the “creative” in creative writing.
warloujoyce's review against another edition
3.75
The El Bimbo Variations is a response to a challenge: write 99 versions of a single line, in this case, the lyrics of a famous Eraserheads song, “kamukha mo si Paraluman nung tayo ay bata pa.” What the author gives us is a collection made up of funny lines, lyrical verses, and even obscure references that had me reaching for my phone.
There were parts that made me laugh out loud. No question on how clever this book is. However, I personally thought that some portions felt contrived or less effective that’s why I didn’t give it the full 5 stars.
Mad props to the author, though. Daring attempt, impressive execution. I can only imagine the creative demand involved in this writing exercise.
Also, I love the cover of the new edition. My shelves are happy with the addition.
There were parts that made me laugh out loud. No question on how clever this book is. However, I personally thought that some portions felt contrived or less effective that’s why I didn’t give it the full 5 stars.
Mad props to the author, though. Daring attempt, impressive execution. I can only imagine the creative demand involved in this writing exercise.
Also, I love the cover of the new edition. My shelves are happy with the addition.
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