A review by adambwriter
Ilustrado by Miguel Syjuco

4.0

Was certain I’d give this one a three because of what felt like tortured and convoluted (too precious?) stylistics, and the homophobia, but the last chapter and epilogue were redeeming and the rest of the book is definitely a raw and wide view of the Philippines, its history, politics, and people. The core theme turns out to be a question of art and life, and time, which made sense, in the end. Maybe I call it a 3.5?