titalindaslibrary's Reviews (687)

Probably one of my favorite collection of short stories now! This is my first time reading from Batacan, but I love her writing style and the grit she infuses in her stories. Her background in journalism showed through in some of these stories, and I liked the twists that were revealed in most. 

At the heart of this collection is the grim resentment of corruption that infiltrates everyday Filipino lives and the choices many are forced to make. I also really liked how women-centered so many of these stories are! 

Genuinely just could not care less about these characters or this story 🙃

LETS GO LESBIANS!!!!!

First off, LOVE finding more Filipino fantasy books - specifically precolonial fantasies! Bansil crafts a rich world filled with uniquely Filipino details and it’s wonderful to explore. I love the matriarchy, the abundance of powerful women, and the fearlessness with which Bansil allows them to be imperfect. 

I just really struggled to connect with these characters. Duja and Imeria were the most interesting of the main POVs we got, but I wish I could’ve heard more from Eti and Bulan! Laya’s emotional mood swings were so intense and impractical at times I felt tired after reading so many chapters from her perspective 😅 And ultimately? Despite the emotional climax of so much happening at the end, I felt as if I was held at a distance from these characters. Where normally I would’ve felt such scenes more intensely, it didn’t impact me like intended. 

That cliffhanger though? You can bet I’ll be keeping an eye out for the sequel! 

Well, I was certainly entertained 

Hang on, I’m all in my feels right now 😭

This book really made me pause and think about how little I consider where and how everyday plants and produce I enjoy came to be. Lee weaves together a beautiful collection of essays about plants, ranging from soy to moss, and combines not only the history of the plant but its ties to language, imperialism, and their paths of migration. I really enjoyed her sentimentality and it comes through in her writing - because who knew I’d be feeling emotional over an essay about mangoes??? Not me! 

I’ll definitely be thinking of this book for a while and it’s one I’d love to revisit. 

One of the most enjoyable 3 star reads I’ve had tbh! 

Not much happens, but I do enjoy this reflection on what kind of difference you can make on a small, everyday scale. The MC in this is also quite relatable and has a wry, humorous tone throughout that had me chuckling more than once.