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sammiesshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Wow. This book was stunning. I found it by chance in a bargain bin at a used bookstore and I am sure glad that I picked it up.
This story follows Jay, a half Filipino teen who was born in the Philippines but raised in America. He finds out that his cousin, Jun, who he used to be pen pals with, has died at the age of seventeen under mysterious circumstances that the family doesn't want to talk about, and so he asks to spend his spring break in the Philippines to get to the bottom of what is going on.
Patron Saints of Nothing is a beautiful story that not only criticizes the drug war started by Rodrigo Duterte but also details what it is like to be an outsider in a country and a family that is supposedly your own. Jay is repeatedly criticized for his lack of knowledge of his birth country and Tagalog, and it is quite hard for him to reconnect with the family he hasn't seen in eight years. It is also hard for him to reconcile his Americanized reality with the reality in the Philippines. Seeing this already tense situation unfold on top of the fact of his family's refusal to acknowledge his cousin's death, the tension is palpable.
The writing in this book is also beautiful. There is an abundance of lyrical quotes that make you feel transported into the mind of Jay and depict his emotions in a way that no other words could.
Overall, this was a beautiful novel about what makes a person good and asks if there is any real justification for murder. With morally grey characters, it makes for a complex and riveting story.
This story follows Jay, a half Filipino teen who was born in the Philippines but raised in America. He finds out that his cousin, Jun, who he used to be pen pals with, has died at the age of seventeen under mysterious circumstances that the family doesn't want to talk about, and so he asks to spend his spring break in the Philippines to get to the bottom of what is going on.
Patron Saints of Nothing is a beautiful story that not only criticizes the drug war started by Rodrigo Duterte but also details what it is like to be an outsider in a country and a family that is supposedly your own. Jay is repeatedly criticized for his lack of knowledge of his birth country and Tagalog, and it is quite hard for him to reconnect with the family he hasn't seen in eight years. It is also hard for him to reconcile his Americanized reality with the reality in the Philippines. Seeing this already tense situation unfold on top of the fact of his family's refusal to acknowledge his cousin's death, the tension is palpable.
The writing in this book is also beautiful. There is an abundance of lyrical quotes that make you feel transported into the mind of Jay and depict his emotions in a way that no other words could.
Overall, this was a beautiful novel about what makes a person good and asks if there is any real justification for murder. With morally grey characters, it makes for a complex and riveting story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Police brutality, and Death
Moderate: Addiction, Blood, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Gun violence
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual assault, and Trafficking
azyef's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Murder, Colonisation, and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Classism, Drug use, Death, Trafficking, and Abandonment
Minor: Infidelity, Homophobia, and Sexual violence
isadreamsof's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality and Animal death
Moderate: Addiction and Trafficking
Minor: Sexism and Homophobia
The first scene starts with the death of a newborn puppy being described in detail. It was a non-violent death, but if it makes you uncomfortable, I don't think it would hurt to skip it.rynstagram's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
Wow I’ve been lucky with books lately. Randy Ribay is the king of beautiful metaphors and complicated characters. I loved that Jay would admit when he was wrong or didn’t understand something, even if it took someone else to call him out on it. He eventually would notice these things himself much of the time. I also love that Jay’s simple view of his cousin as only good is challenged in a way that doesn’t erase the good, only adds to the many-sidedness of humans.
The language is beautiful, as well.
I docked a star mainly because it felt like a lot of things were repeated and reversed several times. I do think this adds to the story in some ways but also took a little bit away for me.
This book is about hope and the many layers of grief and how we can become closer to others when a mutual loved one dies.
The language is beautiful, as well.
I docked a star mainly because it felt like a lot of things were repeated and reversed several times. I do think this adds to the story in some ways but also took a little bit away for me.
This book is about hope and the many layers of grief and how we can become closer to others when a mutual loved one dies.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Addiction, and Death
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Homophobia
lylacks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use and Police brutality
Moderate: Homophobia and Body horror
Minor: Rape and Trafficking
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