Scan barcode
devynreadsnovels's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Abandonment, Alcohol, Grief, and Homophobia
Minor: Transphobia
thisboricuareader's review
5.0
This was a great collection of short stories. I liked the different type of family dynamics while reading different shot stories. It was a quick read.
I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I got an e-arc of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
huunnybeee_'s review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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? No
4.0
pandaintheshelves's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
So, I recently dove into "Professional Lola" by E. P. Tuazon, and let me tell you, it was quite the ride. It's like it cracked open a window into Filipino-American culture and invited me in đ
I was pleasantly surprised at how deeply some of the stories resonated with me. Coming from a culture with similar (and, at the same time different) dynamics, they felt like some of my own family/friends stories.
But here's the kicker: it doesn't hold your hand through it all. There were moments when I had to hit up Google for some translations or cultural references, and yeah, a glossary at the end would've been nice. But you know what? I kinda liked it. It felt like the book was treating me like an adult, respecting my intelligence, and letting me figure things out on my own.
Now, let me tell you about the writing. It's beautiful, plain, and simple in a way that just pulls you in. Even if some of the plots didn't quite land for me, it made it worth the read.
I also gotta say some of the stories felt like they ended a bit abruptly, leaving me hanging like a cliffhanger in a Netflix series. But maybe that's on me. I haven't read short stories in a minute, so take this part with a grain of salt.
In the end, "Professional Lola" is a wild ride through the complexities of Filipino-American life. It's got heart, humor, and just a touch of magic sprinkled in. It touches on deep themes like being LGBTQIA+ in a society steeped in tradition, family dynamics, grief, and even internalized racism. So, if you're looking for a book that's gonna make you think, make you feel, and maybe even make you laugh a little, this one's for you. Trust me, you won't regret it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Red Hen Press for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was pleasantly surprised at how deeply some of the stories resonated with me. Coming from a culture with similar (and, at the same time different) dynamics, they felt like some of my own family/friends stories.
But here's the kicker: it doesn't hold your hand through it all. There were moments when I had to hit up Google for some translations or cultural references, and yeah, a glossary at the end would've been nice. But you know what? I kinda liked it. It felt like the book was treating me like an adult, respecting my intelligence, and letting me figure things out on my own.
Now, let me tell you about the writing. It's beautiful, plain, and simple in a way that just pulls you in. Even if some of the plots didn't quite land for me, it made it worth the read.
I also gotta say some of the stories felt like they ended a bit abruptly, leaving me hanging like a cliffhanger in a Netflix series. But maybe that's on me. I haven't read short stories in a minute, so take this part with a grain of salt.
In the end, "Professional Lola" is a wild ride through the complexities of Filipino-American life. It's got heart, humor, and just a touch of magic sprinkled in. It touches on deep themes like being LGBTQIA+ in a society steeped in tradition, family dynamics, grief, and even internalized racism. So, if you're looking for a book that's gonna make you think, make you feel, and maybe even make you laugh a little, this one's for you. Trust me, you won't regret it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Red Hen Press for providing me with a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
rachreadshella's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
supergirled's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
dhr's review
3.5
This was an enjoyable read. it's like a book you read in class and discuss it and I would really like to be in that classroom and hear how others interpret things in it.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
with_drea's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting myself into when I started this book, but once I started reading I couldn't stop. As a Filipina-American with a love for magical realism, these short stories were very much aligned with my interests, and it was so refreshing to see myself represented in a simultaneously contemporary and surreal setting.
Beyond the fact of representation, I really liked the topics covered in the short stories, as well. There is a beautiful exploration of grief, family, and navigating queerness in the titular Professional Lola tale; working through the complicated nature of half-sibling relationships in After Bigfoot, and understanding a loved one's transition in Carabao. My personal favorite was probably Handog, which was centered on the strained relationship between a father and son & the ways they're able to connect (& not.)
The only thing that I didn't enjoy about some of the stories was the way some of them felt like they came to a bit more of an abrupt ending while reading them. However, I think that's more a fault of my constant desire to get more out of a short story than is in the nature of the genre, rather than a fault of this particular book itself. Reflecting on these stories a couple days after reading them (as well as revisiting them again after the first pass) allows them to settle much more satisfactorily to my mind.
Overall, I definitely recommend this for folks who are a fan of magical realism & even more so to those who are looking to read some emotional/exploratory stories, largely about family, that are deeply rooted in the Filipino-American experience. It was so delightful to see my own family/relationships reflected in these texts & I'm very grateful to E.P. Tuazon for sharing these with the world!
I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting myself into when I started this book, but once I started reading I couldn't stop. As a Filipina-American with a love for magical realism, these short stories were very much aligned with my interests, and it was so refreshing to see myself represented in a simultaneously contemporary and surreal setting.
Beyond the fact of representation, I really liked the topics covered in the short stories, as well. There is a beautiful exploration of grief, family, and navigating queerness in the titular Professional Lola tale; working through the complicated nature of half-sibling relationships in After Bigfoot, and understanding a loved one's transition in Carabao. My personal favorite was probably Handog, which was centered on the strained relationship between a father and son & the ways they're able to connect (& not.)
The only thing that I didn't enjoy about some of the stories was the way some of them felt like they came to a bit more of an abrupt ending while reading them. However, I think that's more a fault of my constant desire to get more out of a short story than is in the nature of the genre, rather than a fault of this particular book itself. Reflecting on these stories a couple days after reading them (as well as revisiting them again after the first pass) allows them to settle much more satisfactorily to my mind.
Overall, I definitely recommend this for folks who are a fan of magical realism & even more so to those who are looking to read some emotional/exploratory stories, largely about family, that are deeply rooted in the Filipino-American experience. It was so delightful to see my own family/relationships reflected in these texts & I'm very grateful to E.P. Tuazon for sharing these with the world!
marieandthebooks's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
I absolutely love Filipino representation in literature. Filipino culture, traditions, superstitions, mannerisms, humor and love is so different from any other cultural group. In some way, you can categorize these stories as magical realism, but if you know Filipinos, you know that magic is part of their reality. We believe in the magical, otherworldly and supernatural and it is part of our everyday lives. These stories really manage to highlight that with a great sense of humor and a lot of heart.
At the same time, these stories live in between the Filipino and the American culture somewhere, it has the foreigners eye on the curiosities and explains it with the knowledge of the natives which makes them suitable and accessible to anyone.
The stories stay so lighthearted and tender even through heavy topics. Like in the last story âCarabaoâ, where a young child is trying to understand his grandfather's transitioning to a woman. And then the parallels that are drawn between his understanding of this and the Discovery rocket launch.The journey that needs to be made before it can land, just like the journey the relationship needs to take before there can be acceptance. Itâs absolutely beautiful and itâs so well done.
Several stories pick up parallels like that so you get to see things from different angles and the message really comes across, but leaves us open ended still and doesnât force anything on us. I loved spending time with professional lola, and I savored every last bite, every story.
At the same time, these stories live in between the Filipino and the American culture somewhere, it has the foreigners eye on the curiosities and explains it with the knowledge of the natives which makes them suitable and accessible to anyone.
The stories stay so lighthearted and tender even through heavy topics. Like in the last story âCarabaoâ, where a young child is trying to understand his grandfather's transitioning to a woman. And then the parallels that are drawn between his understanding of this and the Discovery rocket launch.The journey that needs to be made before it can land, just like the journey the relationship needs to take before there can be acceptance. Itâs absolutely beautiful and itâs so well done.
Several stories pick up parallels like that so you get to see things from different angles and the message really comes across, but leaves us open ended still and doesnât force anything on us. I loved spending time with professional lola, and I savored every last bite, every story.
More...