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alyssaclark's review
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
outthereadingslump's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
danibee33's review
4.0
Gina Apostol's mind is mesmerizing. Sometimes, while reading this book, I wondered whether or not I ACTUALLY know how to read. Her sentence structures and wordplay baffled me. A self-proclaimed unreliable narrator had me eating every word off a dirty plate.
Marcos-era historical fiction from the perspective of an aristocratic daughter of an international arms dealer, who becomes tangled in a plot against the people within her family's own circle.
A useful fool.
I have read no other literary fiction like this. A glimpse into the life of someone living under martial rule.
Marcos-era historical fiction from the perspective of an aristocratic daughter of an international arms dealer, who becomes tangled in a plot against the people within her family's own circle.
A useful fool.
I have read no other literary fiction like this. A glimpse into the life of someone living under martial rule.
paulineerika's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Here is where I admit my ignorance: despite being Filipina, I know too little about the history of the Philippines. I was born and raised in CA and didn't learn about this history, nor did my family talk much about it.
It is hard for me to rate this book. It starts off slowly, establishing the foundations and the unreliability of the narrator. That unreliability is quickly seen in how Sol remembers/doesn't remember/thinks she doesn't remember things, the way she jumps around, and the almost hazy writing style. It's confusing and it's supposed to be.
Things pick up in part 2 of the book and you start to see the different elements coming together. You start to understand Sol's situation and what happened to her, even though you're only getting bits and pieces. Apostol does a masterful job telling the story without telling the story, if that makes sense.
Ultimately, I felt like Sol was a tragic character, caught between worlds and in something she didn't fully understand (or maybe understood too well?) for the wrong reasons. All this leads to her being stuck, even as she's trying to recount what happened.At the end of the book, you realize this isn't being told right after she left Manila, but rather years and years later. She has never moved on and you wonder if she ever will.
It is hard for me to rate this book. It starts off slowly, establishing the foundations and the unreliability of the narrator. That unreliability is quickly seen in how Sol remembers/doesn't remember/thinks she doesn't remember things, the way she jumps around, and the almost hazy writing style. It's confusing and it's supposed to be.
Things pick up in part 2 of the book and you start to see the different elements coming together. You start to understand Sol's situation and what happened to her, even though you're only getting bits and pieces. Apostol does a masterful job telling the story without telling the story, if that makes sense.
Ultimately, I felt like Sol was a tragic character, caught between worlds and in something she didn't fully understand (or maybe understood too well?) for the wrong reasons. All this leads to her being stuck, even as she's trying to recount what happened.
mostardentlyyana's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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? Yes
5.0
annyeongnica's review against another edition
5.0
This book gave me nightmares. I shouldn't have slept right after reading it.
illicitrature's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
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
2.5
eegah's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A difficult but beautiful read. There is a certain poetry to Apostol's prose that scratches that itch in my brain for pretty phrases.
Explores a different perspective on the Martial Law era through the eponymous character, a girl who benefits from the dictatorship and dabbles in revolution. Great character study and execution.
Explores a different perspective on the Martial Law era through the eponymous character, a girl who benefits from the dictatorship and dabbles in revolution. Great character study and execution.
bsuarez's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Torture, Murder, and Self harm
parisakamali's review against another edition
2.0
my first Apostol work! it's not bad, but i can't say i enjoyed it either. i only kept reading because the prose was good and the themes were interesting, but the plot and characters did not make the story engaging. it's an OK book, one i would still recommend to people!