BOOK REVIEW: LUALHATI BAUTISTA's BOOKS

 

Book 1: Dekada 70'
Book 2: Bata, Bata...Pa'no ka ginawa?
Book 3: Gapo 
Book 4: Desaparesidos 

Author: Lualhati Bautista 
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Awards: Palanca Award for her novels "Gapo" (1980), "Dekada '70" (1983), and "Bata, Bata... Pa'no Ka Ginawa?" (1984). 
Format: Paperback 
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Lualhati Bautista (Born: 1945~ Died: 2023) was a Filipina writer, novelist, and activist. Her popular works include: Dekada ‘70; Bata, Bata, Pa’no Ka Ginawa?; ‘GAPÔ, and Desaparesidos. Her books frequently feature a strong female protagonist, with plots centered on social injustice, activism, and women's emancipation. 

Book 1: Dekada 70' 

    Dekada 70' is written in Amanda's POV, a mother of five kids and the wife of Julian, a traditional and patriarchal husband. They belong to a middle-class family that also experienced and witnessed the wrath of dictatorship under the Marcos regime. This book presents a perfect illustration of the situation in the Philippines during the 70's in terms of social, political, and economic aspects. 

    This book is really good, but at the same time, it is heartbreaking. One thing that is very prominent in this book is the issue of gender inequality which I think somehow still exists until today. Honestly, this should be a reading requirement for the students because this will help them know the importance of freedom and the fight for freedom. 

Book 2: Bata, Bata...Pa'no ka ginawa?

    This book is a very scandalous one. The title itself may extract snickers from the young, or eye-rolling from the old, the title's meaning actually goes deeper than that. 

    Lea's Story follows the lives of Lea, a women's rights activist who tries to raise her children as a single mother with two husbands (ex-husband and live-in partner) while working at a women's crisis center.

    I honestly do not think this should be required reading for high school students, or even in school.  Perhaps this could be recommended in college, but it is not a book that individuals who have not yet been exposed to such truths will appreciate or comprehend.  To connect with and comprehend Lea's actions, I believe the reader must be very honest with themselves.

Book 3: Gapo 

    The book Gapo emphasizes socially important challenges between Filipino and American residents. It showed how the Americans took advantage of the Filipino people in the past. The book described how Filipinos were treated unfairly, misjudged, and abused by so-called "friendly nations". 

    We were swept up by a strange civilization.  Whether we admit it or not, practically every Filipino is impressed by things from other countries.  Sometimes we have to keep up with their modernism.

    The author was also not scared to reveal the government's corrupt activities in the past. Discrimination was discovered!  Is there really equal treatment for Whites, Browns, and Blacks?  Questions that can be answered by thoroughly examining or sifting through the details of this book.

 Book 4: Desaparesidos 

    I read the book without understanding what the title meant. I looked it up on Google and discovered that it meant 'those inside a movement, young people who lived through the horrors of militarization during the martial law time'.

    The story revolves around Anna, also known as Ka-Leila, whose husband died due to torture by soldiers during Martial Law. Their daughter Malaya had to be left with Karla, the wife of another NPA member, Jinky. They lived with the family of Roy, the leader of this organization. When they heard about the attack on the town where Karla, Malaya, and Roy's family lived, Anna and Jinky immediately made their way to find Malaya and Karla.

    This book didn't disappoint me at all. First chapter palang ang bigat na ng mga nangyayari. It gives a fair perspective, yet after you finish it, the irony lingers in your mind.

Overall, these are great books, and you should definitely read them! Let me know what your thoughts are by commenting below. Also, if you have any book recommendations, I would really appreciate reading them and will add them to my TBR. Keep reading and stay safe! 

- Bookophile31

BOOK REVIEW: THE LEWIS TRILOGY BY PETER MAY

Peter May, a Scottish television
screenwriter, novelist, and crime writer.

The Lewis Trilogy 
 Book 1: The Blackhouse.
 Book 2: The Lewis Man, 
 Book 3: The Chessmen 
 Author: Peter May 
 Genre: Crime Fiction/Mystery Thriller
 Awards: Theakston's Old Peculier Crime
 Novel of the Year and the Sydney Theatre Awards.
 Format: Paperback 
 Point of View: Multiple Points of View
 My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

          The Lewis trilogy is written by an author from Scotland, namely Peter May.  He is a Scottish television screenwriter, novelist, and crime writer. He is the recipient of writing awards in Europe and America. Given that, the characters and setting of these books are all set in Scotland.  One thing I absolutely loved about these books is that they provide you with Gaelic pronunciations that will serve as your guide on how you are going to pronounce the words or names that you'll encounter upon reading the books. Aside from that, it will also help you picture the setting of the story as they share with you an illustration of the Map of Scotland. Although it is a mystery thriller kind of genre, the author makes sure that these books are so rich that his storytelling also includes another form of plot, as it introduces different cultures, we're able to know different nuances between islanders and mainlanders, and more. 

 BOOK 1: THE BLACK HOUSE
    
    In the first book, it introduced the main character by the name of Fin Macleod, who lives on a small island called the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Fin left the island he grew up on to work in Edinburgh (mainland), where he became an affluent detective inspector.  He suffered from a serious personal tragedy wherein his son, Robbie, who was 8 years old at the time, died due to an accident. While his relationship with his wife, Mona, was not quite good, which leads their marriage to an end. Later on in the story, he has to return to the island to investigate a gruesome murder that has the same MO (Modus Operandi) as the case he already has in Edinburgh. Upon his return, he was able to revisit the community and meet those people he had known in his younger years. Also, it uncovers the murder occurred on the island. 

BOOK 2: THE LEWIS MAN

        
         I'm not going to further spoil the story because I also want you to read these books. In this book, we will see our characters move on and make different choices in life, and things have changed for sure. In this particular case, we have a perfectly preserved body of a young man that has been found at the peatbog of Shader, near Ness. Peatbog is a wetland characterized by the accumulation of peat. This accumulation occurs due to waterlogged and acidic conditions that slow down decomposition, causing plant material to build up over time. Finn will be involved once again in this investigation, and through this, just like in the first book, we're going to learn the history of what led up to this murder, as well as continuously learning about the different lives of the people in this community. 

      

BOOK 3: THE CHESSMEN

        In this book, it starts on a slightly different note from the previous books. Finn is now going to take a new job as the head of security on a private estate on the Isle of Lewis. He controls the illegal poachers to ensure that they do not threaten the species, both on land and in water. Poaching is an illegal hunt or catch (game or fish) on land that is not one's own or in contravention of official protection. In the course of investigating this poaching that's going on in the estate, there will be another murder but, since Fin Macleod is no longer a police officer or detective inspector this will be much more challenging in how he will be going to uncover the relationship of this victim to the people around the community. 

        Each novel is related while also feeling self-contained to some level, but you'd have to read them all to grasp the relationships between particular characters. 

 The only thing that let it down for me was parts of the third book and the ending.

 Certain loose ends were abruptly wrapped up in a rush, which I believe could have been filled out better. Overall, this was a good series, and you should definitely read it! Let me know what your thoughts are by commenting below. Also, if you have any book recommendations, I would really appreciate reading them and will add them to my TBR. Keep reading and stay safe! 

- Bookophile31 

BOOK REVIEW: IT ENDS WITH US BY COLLEEN HOOVER

BOOK REVIEW: IT ENDS WITH US BY COLLEEN HOOVER 
Written By:Bookophile31

Title : It Ends With Us

Author : Colleen Hoover 

Genre : Contemporary Romance

Awards: Goodreads Choice Awards Best Romance 

Format : Paperback 

Point of View: First Person/Single 

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover is probably one of those books that will keep you in turning pages even deep into the night. The story follows Lily Bloom, a young woman who has recently moved in Boston and is about to begin her life after college. Then, Lily meets Ryle Kincaid, a gorgeous neurosurgeon, maybe even a little arrogant and develops feelings for him. Atlas Corrigan, her first love, reappears and complicates Lily's relationship with Ryle as she begins to feel something for him. 

WARNING : This book contains graphic scenes and very sensitive subject matter.‼️

    It's my first time to read Colleen Hoover's novel. Well, I'm not really a fan of romance novels but this book captivates me as it becomes popular around the world and various people said that It's a great story , it made them cry etc. I got curious if I would feel the same way as they did. So, I decided to buy this book and read it. 

    Colleen Hoover wrote this book in a simple way and easy to understand combining the lines between a traditional love narrative and contemporary realism, highlighting that unique intersection where fiction and reality meet. It's heart-wrenchingly beautiful and It proceeds at the ideal pace, never spending more time than is required concentrating on unimportant details. While reading this, you'll experience a wide range of emotions.

    I hesitate to categorize this novel as purely romantic, despite the fact that it displays clichéd signs of love in all its clichéd forms, including when our protagonists first meet, converse, flirt, wink at one other, sleep together, quarrel, and, of course, vow undying love. It simply won't be done right by it. Amidst the flurry of feelings, there is a strong message that is subtly woven throughout the entire book. It has such incredible depth that it grips you just as deeply as any passionate piece, leaving you with that lasting impression long after you have put the book down.

    I mean, at the end of the day, it is great the way in which a book hauls you into a romantic tale with characters you can resound with however doesn't extra you the singular stuff they might have, covered in their storage rooms. You'll hold tight the edge of your seat, bed, rooftop… whatever, to uncover each piece the characters' extraordinary stories. 

    I really adored how the book showed Lily's character. Lily exhibits a great deal of resilience throughout the novel, which is quite encouraging.

    It Ends with Us is a heart-breaking novel that will make you grin, laugh, and cry indeed because it allows you to truly experience and feel what Lily goes through. This novel demonstrated how intricate and nuanced the characters and the story were. The narrative delves into the murky middle ground, demonstrating that there are shades of grey throughout life. I was always surprised by the book, and I never wanted to put it down.

    Overall, It Ends with Us is a five-star book for me because it avoided falling into the same repeating trap that other romance novels frequently do. It is definitely the book that needs not just to be read but to be felt by everyone. I really enjoyed reading it and I would recommend it a hundredfold. I’m sure you will give it 5 stars too.