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dlrosebyh's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? It's complicated
2.0
As a Filipino, I can understand why Filipinos praise this book. Yes, it’s relatable. Yes, it’s written beautifully. But for me, I don’t think it’s the perfect short story collection.
Short stories for me, personally, are a 50/50. I either love or hate it. In The Country consists of nine short stories about different Filipino dynamics such as families with members who are suffering from drug addiction, OFWs, etc. The thing about this collection is that if I don’t find the story relatable or interesting, I just simply don’t care. I have a natural instinct of wanting to move on because it’s ‘only short’. And I do admit that I am a red flag for that.
What I did love about this book, though, is the fact that the voices are so distinct from each other. You can feel the joy, the sorrow, the angst, of the characters you’re following. In short story collections, there’s a tendency that characters are too similar to each other because short story collections (normally) follow one theme. But that was not the case for Alvar. And I absolutely loved the way she wrote her characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child death, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, and Child abuse
Minor: Drug use, Eating disorder, and Infidelity
annuich's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, and Domestic abuse
whatannikareads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I really enjoyed this book! I'm not really one for short stories but I appreciated these lengthier ones that really developed the plot and while they didn't constitute a happy ending, they wrapped up at a spot that I could live with.
I also really appreciate the diversity in perspective from each of these stories and yet it maintained the shared thread—it isn't so in-your-face blatantly Filipino, but incorporates lots of Filipino cultural elements that are recognizable but can still be digested across a wide audience. It's really interesting insight even for me to what life might be like for OFW (overseas Filipino workers) in the Middle East, or if my family had immigrated to the East Coast, or if my family had stayed in the PH.
Like many have said before, the final story that takes on the book's title is the star of the show. It revolves around the period of martial law in the Philippines and the impending overthrow of it, following a nurse and her journalist husband. I loved the way it unfolded; it's a story that jumps time between the first years and the end years until the final climactic moment and just ends so poignantly. I really want my mom to read this book as she was around Milagros's (the main character) age at this time in the 70s/80s. It makes me happy to recommend her this book and have her life be represented in such a beautifully written way.
I marked it down a few points because two of the stories I liked less than others, but personal taste! Still a really solid group of stories that kept me hooked on reading.
I also really appreciate the diversity in perspective from each of these stories and yet it maintained the shared thread—it isn't so in-your-face blatantly Filipino, but incorporates lots of Filipino cultural elements that are recognizable but can still be digested across a wide audience. It's really interesting insight even for me to what life might be like for OFW (overseas Filipino workers) in the Middle East, or if my family had immigrated to the East Coast, or if my family had stayed in the PH.
Like many have said before, the final story that takes on the book's title is the star of the show. It revolves around the period of martial law in the Philippines and the impending overthrow of it, following a nurse and her journalist husband. I loved the way it unfolded; it's a story that jumps time between the first years and the end years until the final climactic moment and just ends so poignantly. I really want my mom to read this book as she was around Milagros's (the main character) age at this time in the 70s/80s. It makes me happy to recommend her this book and have her life be represented in such a beautifully written way.
I marked it down a few points because two of the stories I liked less than others, but personal taste! Still a really solid group of stories that kept me hooked on reading.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Violence, and Grief