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Title: Umbrella Country by Bino Realuyo ISBN: 0-613-17572-7 Publisher: Bt Bound Pub. Date: October, 1999 Format: Library Binding List Price(USD): $22.20 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.79 (39 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: A powerful new American voice
Comment: American immigration began for so many as a dream of an imagined reality, and this is what "The Umbrella Country" captures magnificently. In poetic and extremely direct language, Realuyo has brought alive that imagined world from the eyes of a child in Manila. The Tagalog words help me hear the language and all its richness, whether or not I understand them all. The "Miss Unibers" scenes are sadly beautiful, politically cathartic on so many many levels, forcing me to confront the ugliness and beauty of that dream of another world beyond young Gringo's experience. I love Gringo, and his strangely adult reserve for one so young, who assimilates quietly and remembers with such power. His mother is a great character, and her act at the end makes me cheer and cry simultaneously.
But most important, I believe this book adds to the richness of contemporary American literature, holding up a funhouse mirror to the U.S. and the dream of immigration, which at times resolves to a real mirror with all its stark honesty.
This book transcends stereotypical Asian-American literature in what it dares to do through language, structure and content.
Read it.
Rating: 5
Summary: CLASSIC!
Comment: Just like DOGEATERS, another the Fil-Am novel that preceeded it, THE UMBRELLA COUNTRY is a classic Fil-Am novel. It possesses all the ingredients of a novel that will be read again and again over the generations: a moving story, an imaginative setting (Manila in the 70s), unforgettable characters (two brothers going through very hard times like Crispin and Basilio in Rizal's NOLI ME TANGERE), and a platform of issues never before presented in Filipino literature (sexual violence, homosexuality, abuse). A good friend introduced me to THE UMBRELLA COUNTRY, and told me it is one of the most read Filipino novels to date. One does not have to be of Filipino background to appreciate the poetry and the poignant narrative of this novel, one simply has to love good writing, lyrical prose that sounds more like a symphony of words, well-orchestrated and crafted. If there is such a thing as sculpture in literature, THE UMBRELLA COUNTRY will be the one. When there is not much to be proud of as a Filipino these days, I am particularly proud of being one, after reading this novel. This is my holiday gift for my friends. I highly recommend it. (I usually don't write reviews on-line, but I have to do it for this novel. I hope people who read this will be convinced to buy it.)
Rating: 1
Summary: Discouraging and over-rated
Comment: Going back to the Philippines I was amazed how much books exist written by Filipino writers. Wanting to strengthen my nationalism, I bought this book. I tried very hard to read and be in the book but it is not interesting at all. Being bored, I flipped through the pages and reveals at the end an interview with the author. Surprisingly, the author doesn't even want to go back home to his own country again. How could one be credible if one doesnt have the real experience of it apart from those memories that lingers around. My german husband directly suggested to throw it away.
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Title: When the Elephants Dance by Tess Uriza Holthe ISBN: 0142002887 Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: 24 June, 2003 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Ginseng and Other Tales from Manila by Marianne Villanueva ISBN: 0934971196 Publisher: Calyx Books Pub. Date: December, 1991 List Price(USD): $9.95 |
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Title: Dogeaters (Contemporary American Fiction) by Jessica Tarahata Hagedorn ISBN: 014014904X Publisher: Penguin USA (Paper) Pub. Date: July, 1991 List Price(USD): $12.95 |
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Title: Growing Up Filipino: Stories for Young Adults by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard ISBN: 0971945802 Publisher: Philippine American Literary House Pub. Date: 03 March, 2003 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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Title: When the Rainbow Goddess Wept by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard ISBN: 0472086375 Publisher: UMP Pub. Date: 15 October, 1999 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
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