A review by jayisreading
Feast by Ina Cariño

emotional reflective medium-paced

4.25

First and foremost, be prepared to feel hungry as you read each poem, because Cariño delivered some of the most mouth-watering descriptions of Filipino food throughout their collection. Cariño created an exceptionally sensorial experience for the reader, perhaps to the point that it might be a bit too vivid at times (I’m thinking particularly of instances when they write about eating meat that might not sit well for some readers), but I found it effective.

What I particularly enjoyed about this collection was how food was at the center to explore the culture, language, and history of the Philippines. Cariño seamlessly weaved Tagalog into their poems to reveal a particular intimacy of their relationship with their motherland and Filipino identity. I don’t understand Tagalog, so I know I missed quite a lot of details throughout this collection, but I still found myself utterly entranced by Cariño’s words. On that note, I think these poems will especially resonate with Filipino readers, considering the incredible love that the poet expressed in their writing.
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