Scan barcode
mariaellabetos's reviews
648 reviews
America Is Not the Heart by Elaine Castillo
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
After a long and seemingly-lost chapters of eczema and <i>kulam</i>, queer love, small community, <i>questionable</i> harassment, <i>sapakan sa school</i>, salon-and-make-up, barbeque and <i>lutong ulam</i>, multitude of mother tongues and NPA history with chummy-ing Marcos, it gave me an ending that I deserve: open-ended and hopeful.
The family, having dinner together, eating pancit is gold. It may seem mundane to other cultures, <i>boring even</i>, but having a dinner together is an original portrayal of a Family time. And for every Filipino, it matters.
I was supposed to give this book a 2-star rating, but the redeeming point is this final chapter, where everything weaves together. I almost gave up on getting the reading done, after Lynai mentioned that she did not finish the book, haha!
The family, having dinner together, eating pancit is gold. It may seem mundane to other cultures, <i>boring even</i>, but having a dinner together is an original portrayal of a Family time. And for every Filipino, it matters.