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fantasynovel's review
Read for school, but really good, poignant, and entertaining. I was interested the entire time, and I kind of wish that the book were longer so I could still be inside the story.
melodys_library's review
3.0
“I am not really here.”
Lysley Tenorio tells us the story of an undocumented teenager, Excel, living in California with his mother, Maxima. Born on an airplane traveling from the Philippines to the United States, Excel isn’t really “from here” or “from there.” He and his mother are TNT, Tago Ng Tago: a Tagalog phrase meaning “hiding and hiding.”
This novel is character-driven and captures the daily reality and anxiety of what I imagine it would feel like being TNT. Few job prospects, constantly living in fear of being found out, trying to find your identity while simultaneously trying to remain invisible.
The chapters alternate between Excel’s recent past with his girlfriend in a community called Hello City and the present in Colma with Maxima. In my opinion, Excel’s life is much more interesting when Maxima is around. I found Maxima to be a much more compelling character than Excel. Maxima is a proud former Manila B-list movie-star and martial arts pro that now works every odd job in America by day and cons rich men seeking Filipino women into wiring her money via her online dating profiles by night.
There’s nothing stronger than a Filipino mother’s love and duty to protect her child and the friends and family she loves, no matter what the cost. Can there be a part 2 written highlighting Maxima’s life, please?
Lysley Tenorio tells us the story of an undocumented teenager, Excel, living in California with his mother, Maxima. Born on an airplane traveling from the Philippines to the United States, Excel isn’t really “from here” or “from there.” He and his mother are TNT, Tago Ng Tago: a Tagalog phrase meaning “hiding and hiding.”
This novel is character-driven and captures the daily reality and anxiety of what I imagine it would feel like being TNT. Few job prospects, constantly living in fear of being found out, trying to find your identity while simultaneously trying to remain invisible.
The chapters alternate between Excel’s recent past with his girlfriend in a community called Hello City and the present in Colma with Maxima. In my opinion, Excel’s life is much more interesting when Maxima is around. I found Maxima to be a much more compelling character than Excel. Maxima is a proud former Manila B-list movie-star and martial arts pro that now works every odd job in America by day and cons rich men seeking Filipino women into wiring her money via her online dating profiles by night.
There’s nothing stronger than a Filipino mother’s love and duty to protect her child and the friends and family she loves, no matter what the cost. Can there be a part 2 written highlighting Maxima’s life, please?
inthebooknook's review
4.0
The Son of Good Fortune is the story of an undocumented Filipina and once popular b-movie action star, Maxima, and her teenage son Excel, as they navigate their struggles and relationship in small town California.
The characters in this book! If you like a character driven novel, this is for you! Maxima and Excel do not always come off as likable on paper, and yet they were two of the most real and engaging characters I’ve read all year. I couldn’t help but be drawn to their story. This has a lot to do with Tenorio’s writing and I’m interested in reading more from this author.
I would compare the “vibe” of this book to Tell the Wolves I’m Home. Completely different type of story, but I couldn’t get the connection out of my head the entire time I was reading. Flawed but lovable characters abound.
Thank you NetGalley and Ecco for the free review copy.
The characters in this book! If you like a character driven novel, this is for you! Maxima and Excel do not always come off as likable on paper, and yet they were two of the most real and engaging characters I’ve read all year. I couldn’t help but be drawn to their story. This has a lot to do with Tenorio’s writing and I’m interested in reading more from this author.
I would compare the “vibe” of this book to Tell the Wolves I’m Home. Completely different type of story, but I couldn’t get the connection out of my head the entire time I was reading. Flawed but lovable characters abound.
Thank you NetGalley and Ecco for the free review copy.
onestep524's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ambysha's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
4.0
whaliensong's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
Reading More Pilipino!
This is a book that moved me, as it is prevalent in my life and the lives of those I love in many ways, regarding the trials of citizenship in this country and the trials of being young and figuring out what you're made of.
Excel reads as someone lost and exhausted, just going about the motions and doing as much as he can while remaining hidden in plain sight as someone undocumented. Between the two timelines that this story primarily leaps between - the 9 months he spends in desert town Hello City and back at his mother's place in Colma, California - I really enjoyed witnessing how both experiences provide Excel with a newfound wisdom that allows him to examine his relationship with his mother, his unprocessed grief, and his own identity under a different, more matured lens.
Excel reads as someone lost and exhausted, just going about the motions and doing as much as he can while remaining hidden in plain sight as someone undocumented. Between the two timelines that this story primarily leaps between - the 9 months he spends in desert town Hello City and back at his mother's place in Colma, California - I really enjoyed witnessing how both experiences provide Excel with a newfound wisdom that allows him to examine his relationship with his mother, his unprocessed grief, and his own identity under a different, more matured lens.
complexlyleslie's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
mg_in_md_'s review
4.0
I enjoyed this book so much! I don't know what I expected going into it, but this debut novel was a delight from start to finish. The premise sounded like it might be a heavier read, focusing on an undocumented Filipino son (Excel) and his mother (Maxima). However, the story is infused with heart and humor as it explores their relationship and life in the United States.
A former Filipina B-movie action star, Maxima is now making her living scamming men online. She has some great lines and I loved her feistiness; she practically jumps off the page and fills the room in every scene. Maxima revealed to Excel on his 10th birthday that they are "TNT -- tago ng tago, hiding and hiding." From that point on, he realizes that one accidental slip could uproot his life. Never having stepped foot in the Philippines (Maxima came to the U.S. when she was pregnant with him), this seems unfathomable to him. Excel does his best to stay out of the spotlight, but after an unfortunate accident in Hello City, a ramshackle desert town where he and his girlfriend Sab are living, his secret may finally be exposed.
I hesitate to reveal more about the plot because it was so much fun getting to know Maxima and Excel, and getting a glimpse into what it is like to be "TNT." They felt three dimensional from the start and I enjoyed spending time with both of them. The author sprinkled in Tagalog dialog throughout the novel, which I liked even though I don't speak that language. I felt that there was even context to get a sense of what was being communicated in those spots. It added a layer of authenticity to the characters for me.
If you enjoy books about family relationships, this would be a great pick. I also think it would be a great book club choice as it explores many themes and issues, such as being undocumented in America.
This review was based on an advanced digital copy that I received courtesy of Ecco/Harper Collins via NetGalley. Many thanks for the sneak peek of this fantastic novel! I plan to keep this author on my must read list in the future based on this terrific debut novel.
A former Filipina B-movie action star, Maxima is now making her living scamming men online. She has some great lines and I loved her feistiness; she practically jumps off the page and fills the room in every scene. Maxima revealed to Excel on his 10th birthday that they are "TNT -- tago ng tago, hiding and hiding." From that point on, he realizes that one accidental slip could uproot his life. Never having stepped foot in the Philippines (Maxima came to the U.S. when she was pregnant with him), this seems unfathomable to him. Excel does his best to stay out of the spotlight, but after an unfortunate accident in Hello City, a ramshackle desert town where he and his girlfriend Sab are living, his secret may finally be exposed.
I hesitate to reveal more about the plot because it was so much fun getting to know Maxima and Excel, and getting a glimpse into what it is like to be "TNT." They felt three dimensional from the start and I enjoyed spending time with both of them. The author sprinkled in Tagalog dialog throughout the novel, which I liked even though I don't speak that language. I felt that there was even context to get a sense of what was being communicated in those spots. It added a layer of authenticity to the characters for me.
If you enjoy books about family relationships, this would be a great pick. I also think it would be a great book club choice as it explores many themes and issues, such as being undocumented in America.
This review was based on an advanced digital copy that I received courtesy of Ecco/Harper Collins via NetGalley. Many thanks for the sneak peek of this fantastic novel! I plan to keep this author on my must read list in the future based on this terrific debut novel.
lisawhelpley's review against another edition
5.0
I received an advance copy of this book. It's really well told with believable yet tragic characters.