Reviews

When the Hibiscus Falls by M. Evelina Galang

helen35's review

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.0

Immersive stories of all sorts of differen, relatable women, giving real insight to Filapino and Fil Am culture. I liked the use of tagalong and having to use the tone to decide what was meant. The first book I've read which mentions covid which was quite striking. Beautiful and sad.

melodys_library's review

4.0

Parts I and II had me especially pondering what it means to be Filipino and Fil Am. Part III lost me a bit.

fionak's review

emotional slow-paced

4.0

Like most short story collections, this was a mixed bag. Overall, the writing is solid but only two of these stories really impressed me. The blurb says it features characters from the author’s other works and not having read them, I guess I’m not the optimal reader. 

I have requested the author’s nonfiction book from the library because I am curious to learn more Filipino history.

lebeignetrose's review

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

jovi98's review

challenging emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense slow-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? It's complicated

3.5

serendipitysbooks's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

 My 2024 reading year started strong with this stunning short story collection exploring the lives of Filipino and Filipino-American women. Each story was distinct and the settings included past, present and future in America and the Phillipines, but there were certainly common themes including culture, identity, memory, belonging, ancestors, and complicated family relationships. Many featured women striving for agency in their lives. The writing was superb and I loved the inclusion of untranslated Tagalog. For me there wasn’t a dud in the collection but the stories touching on anti-Asian violence during the pandemic and former “comfort women” finally telling their stories really hit home. Foodie in the Phillipines and its tale of cultural dissociation, of a woman refusing to interact with her culture despite being haunted by it, also stood out.
 

mbenavi's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

inamerata's review

4.0

A beautiful collection with some really striking imagery. I particularly enjoyed the ways Galang depicts different kinds of familial relationships, all the ways they push and pull. There were a few pieces that didn't really connect and I didn't understand, but overall, a very strong read.

rubyseemorebooks's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

4.5

Diverse stories that are compelling 

dremmavendetta's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25