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francisgregdc's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
levi_masuli's review
One review described Diaz's prose as "plain and muscular". These may be on account of its sass and virtuosic wit.
Another review claimed that the novel "pulverized banality". What was once a blur of routine and minor accidents was scrutinized, unveiled and perhaps, "pulverized" with the sheer weight of Diaz's details, dramatic moments, and lively dialogue.
Nonetheless there are some uneven portions within the novel which may be accounted by the writer's stylistic strategy. The novel, after all, paints a multi-faceted picture of the middle-class subject dealing with capital in its various permutations - as fantasy of "ginhawa" (Alvin), as the inevitable intertwining of contrasting subjectivities in a hopelessly globalized world (Carolina and Rey, Karen and Brock), as dealing with one's cultural distance to 'masa' culture (the anthropologist analyzing the Pacquiao phenomenon and Filipinos like specimen), and others. In short, there is not so much a narrative but an intricate weave of characters, circumstances, and their respective decisions.
Another review claimed that the novel "pulverized banality". What was once a blur of routine and minor accidents was scrutinized, unveiled and perhaps, "pulverized" with the sheer weight of Diaz's details, dramatic moments, and lively dialogue.
Nonetheless there are some uneven portions within the novel which may be accounted by the writer's stylistic strategy. The novel, after all, paints a multi-faceted picture of the middle-class subject dealing with capital in its various permutations - as fantasy of "ginhawa" (Alvin), as the inevitable intertwining of contrasting subjectivities in a hopelessly globalized world (Carolina and Rey, Karen and Brock), as dealing with one's cultural distance to 'masa' culture (the anthropologist analyzing the Pacquiao phenomenon and Filipinos like specimen), and others. In short, there is not so much a narrative but an intricate weave of characters, circumstances, and their respective decisions.
patriciadm's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
qwteb's review
2.0
I wanted to like this novel upon reading the cover, but the author's aesthetic vision and politics is insufferably middle-class and his stories as boring as a colleague you don't really want to make small talks with. I can't help imagining that this is likely a brainchild of an archetypal conyo from Ateneo, and I'm sure as hell it's not for me.
I'm jaded with life enough for people to fool me with their dubious political positions. Diaz is a poet with nothing substantial to convey but his flowery yet empty lines.
And I am not that impressionable anymore.
I'm jaded with life enough for people to fool me with their dubious political positions. Diaz is a poet with nothing substantial to convey but his flowery yet empty lines.
And I am not that impressionable anymore.
kent_alvarus's review
4.0
Superb writing by the wordsmith Glenn Diaz! The critical acclaim attests on this. Post-colonial fiction novel it is what it is. Also a hint of counter-capitalism.
The narrative from the first Escape is what I was expecting from the entire novel to sustain til its end. Part 1 came and I think I am in the right path. Then came Part 2 and it felt like I was reading another novel. The story is good but God knows my unintelligent ass did not comprehend on why Part 2 is placed like that. Then came Part 3, felt like another take on office life from the perspective of one of the BPO employees. (BTW, Chapter 30 is the best. Also, the Jasmine Trias fiasco, good Lord.) Then came Part 4, the weirdest part. Who in his sane mind would travel half the size of Luzon island for how many hours just to visit the wake of your namesake for the sake of you being namesake with the dead? I don't know but this felt so unrealistic. Then second Escape came and right then and there I understood why the author placed each part as it is. The windup implied that this novel gives a critical and constructive argument on human relations, emotions, existence, and the Philippine modernistic culture. With that, I am well impressed.
Some small cents: in some parts, it felt like he is so much invested in selling the image of the Philippines from the perspective of locals versus from the foreign tourists who lived in the Philippines despite the atrocities and urban rubbish. You know, the typical depiction of the exceptional beauty of the Philippine seaside, unhealthy Filipino hospitality, the annoying Filipino pride, the normalized dog-eat-dog life in the metro, the glorification of Manny Pacquiao's global success, and the likes. These make it seem perfect for those Pinoys (aka pee-noise) who are really obsessed in gaining global attention just for being Filipinos. Gosh, I imagine them getting intense orgasmic pleasures by reading this.
Lastly, I just think the author meant this novel to be consumed internationally. It felt off in a way, as a Filipino reader, by explaining what a mere banana cue is. That part was kinda awkwardly cringeworthy. Hahaha.
Edit: 1 Dec 2020. Hindi sana ito mapansin ni Glenn Diaz at ng @H8rsOfGoodreads sa Twitter jusko kinakabahan ako
The narrative from the first Escape is what I was expecting from the entire novel to sustain til its end. Part 1 came and I think I am in the right path. Then came Part 2 and it felt like I was reading another novel. The story is good but God knows my unintelligent ass did not comprehend on why Part 2 is placed like that. Then came Part 3, felt like another take on office life from the perspective of one of the BPO employees. (BTW, Chapter 30 is the best. Also, the Jasmine Trias fiasco, good Lord.) Then came Part 4, the weirdest part. Who in his sane mind would travel half the size of Luzon island for how many hours just to visit the wake of your namesake for the sake of you being namesake with the dead? I don't know but this felt so unrealistic. Then second Escape came and right then and there I understood why the author placed each part as it is. The windup implied that this novel gives a critical and constructive argument on human relations, emotions, existence, and the Philippine modernistic culture. With that, I am well impressed.
Some small cents: in some parts, it felt like he is so much invested in selling the image of the Philippines from the perspective of locals versus from the foreign tourists who lived in the Philippines despite the atrocities and urban rubbish. You know, the typical depiction of the exceptional beauty of the Philippine seaside, unhealthy Filipino hospitality, the annoying Filipino pride, the normalized dog-eat-dog life in the metro, the glorification of Manny Pacquiao's global success, and the likes. These make it seem perfect for those Pinoys (aka pee-noise) who are really obsessed in gaining global attention just for being Filipinos. Gosh, I imagine them getting intense orgasmic pleasures by reading this.
Lastly, I just think the author meant this novel to be consumed internationally. It felt off in a way, as a Filipino reader, by explaining what a mere banana cue is. That part was kinda awkwardly cringeworthy. Hahaha.
Edit: 1 Dec 2020. Hindi sana ito mapansin ni Glenn Diaz at ng @H8rsOfGoodreads sa Twitter jusko kinakabahan ako
mersh's review
dark
emotional
informative
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
clarxvizconde13's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
ropey's review
3.0
Where to put my finger on this one? I wanted to love this book so badly. Got me in the first half, where it succeeded in slapping the manila dream right in the face. Went downhill from there as it turned out to be more of a social commentary and less of a crime thriller. It was gunning for something, whatever it was, but it missed the mark for me, at least.
maevefly's review
3.0
Where to put my finger on this one? I wanted to love this book so badly. Got me in the first half, where it succeeded in slapping the manila dream right in the face. Went downhill from there as it turned out to be more of a social commentary and less of a crime thriller. It was gunning for something, whatever it was, but it missed the mark for me, at least.