readivine's review
3.0
I think I have to reread this when I'm in the proper headspace to fully appreciate it, otherwise, I'm just too dumb for poetry.
villainsonfire's review
4.0
Had to read this as a school requirement and wow??? (Also I just love how my major really urges me to discover and read works written by local authors!)
Cruz’s writing is so so good! If you’re going to read this, don’t expect a casual read for two reasons:
1) It tackles topics that are a little too serious to grasp in one reading; and
2) The writing was heavily literary (proses and poems) that it requires analysis.
Anyway, I loved this so much, but the thing that holds me back from giving this complete 5-stars is because it’s not something you’ll take for casual reading. It was a little challenging to read (but very satisfactory once you understand it!)
Cruz’s writing is so so good! If you’re going to read this, don’t expect a casual read for two reasons:
1) It tackles topics that are a little too serious to grasp in one reading; and
2) The writing was heavily literary (proses and poems) that it requires analysis.
Anyway, I loved this so much, but the thing that holds me back from giving this complete 5-stars is because it’s not something you’ll take for casual reading. It was a little challenging to read (but very satisfactory once you understand it!)
afternoonlight's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
4.0
cant explain but kinda like crush (richard siken) & after dark (murakami) had a baby in manila
gae's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
I picked this book blindly as I was drawn by the cover. Dark Hours is a collection of prose and footnote poetry by Conchitina Cruz. This book shows the mundanity of living in the city as well as the charm and emptiness it brings. This collection resonated with me because majority of my career life is in Metro Manila with which I, once a young college graduate from the province, considered this city as the land of milk and honey. Little did I know that the city was all about thriving with bits of fun here and there.
My favorite poems from this collection are:
🌃 Move your hand over your body
🌃 Smile
🌃 Tremble
🌃 Geography Lesson (second)
🌃 Now and at the hour
🌃 Insomnia
🌃 You there,
🌃 It has come to this (second)
🌃 Notes on the recurring dream
Wow! It looks like I have listed them all.
The collection has some poems with the same title such as Geography Lesson, and It has come to this (which the second poem of each given title are both my favorite) but have different content. My interpretation is that a fraction of the population in the city live the same lives, treading the same path, but marked with nuances.
My favorite poems from this collection are:
🌃 Move your hand over your body
🌃 Smile
🌃 Tremble
🌃 Geography Lesson (second)
🌃 Now and at the hour
🌃 Insomnia
🌃 You there,
🌃 It has come to this (second)
🌃 Notes on the recurring dream
Wow! It looks like I have listed them all.
The collection has some poems with the same title such as Geography Lesson, and It has come to this (which the second poem of each given title are both my favorite) but have different content. My interpretation is that a fraction of the population in the city live the same lives, treading the same path, but marked with nuances.
lostcanticles's review
“I cannot forgive you. That day, if you had not refused, I would have given you a present. I would have carved my love in stone.”