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The Yellow Bar
If war came home and pounded on your front door, what would you do to survive?
Meet the Reynaldos, a simple country family living on their farm in 1940s American Philippines. Good luck has bounced their way and the family is climbing out of rural poverty to become successful entrepreneurs.
Meet Eric Lawson, the gay manager of the only five star hotel in town. With all the luxury and celebrity that comes with the job, what's not to love about Manila?
Meet the beautiful Pinky del Rosario, and her husband, Romeo; they're the hottest Big Band act in southeast Asia. With her voice and his talent, the sky seems to be the only limit to their ambitions.
But sweet luck turns sour when World War II blows up explosively in their faces in December 1941. The victorious Japanese Army arrives, bringing with them a new set of rules and other unpleasant surprises. For the Reynaldos, this means becoming servants in their own house. For Eric Lawson, it's fear, brutality, and the specter of starvation in a prisoner-of-war camp. And as for Pinky and Romeo, singing for the enemy puts them on a dangerous tight-wire between collaboration and sedition.
As seen through the eyes of the Reynaldo's youngest son, Pepot, The Yellow Bar delivers a close up view of the almost forgotten history of the Japanese occupation of the Philippines and the horrors of the battle of Manila, telling the story of a remarkable family that struggles to survive it all through quick thinking, faith, and a pinch of dark humor.
Based on a true story.
Meet the Reynaldos, a simple country family living on their farm in 1940s American Philippines. Good luck has bounced their way and the family is climbing out of rural poverty to become successful entrepreneurs.
Meet Eric Lawson, the gay manager of the only five star hotel in town. With all the luxury and celebrity that comes with the job, what's not to love about Manila?
Meet the beautiful Pinky del Rosario, and her husband, Romeo; they're the hottest Big Band act in southeast Asia. With her voice and his talent, the sky seems to be the only limit to their ambitions.
But sweet luck turns sour when World War II blows up explosively in their faces in December 1941. The victorious Japanese Army arrives, bringing with them a new set of rules and other unpleasant surprises. For the Reynaldos, this means becoming servants in their own house. For Eric Lawson, it's fear, brutality, and the specter of starvation in a prisoner-of-war camp. And as for Pinky and Romeo, singing for the enemy puts them on a dangerous tight-wire between collaboration and sedition.
As seen through the eyes of the Reynaldo's youngest son, Pepot, The Yellow Bar delivers a close up view of the almost forgotten history of the Japanese occupation of the Philippines and the horrors of the battle of Manila, telling the story of a remarkable family that struggles to survive it all through quick thinking, faith, and a pinch of dark humor.
Based on a true story.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2012
24 people are currently reading
224 people want to read
About the author
John Falch
3 books6 followersI am a gypsy. I have lived all over the world, mostly in Asia. I pay the rent by teaching English and ranting on local radio. People say I have a nice voice.
The Yellow Bar is my first novel. It is a labor of love, inspired by the stories my late father-in-law told me about World War Two in Manila and how his family survived it. I enjoyed writing it. The book turned out better than I expected.
The Yellow Bar is my first novel. It is a labor of love, inspired by the stories my late father-in-law told me about World War Two in Manila and how his family survived it. I enjoyed writing it. The book turned out better than I expected.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 22, 2018
Overall, my impression of The Yellow Bar has been very positive. It’s not perfect, but it’s a very well written text of historical fiction. It describes events and settings many people might be unfamiliar with, which is what literature should be about. The plot moves along naturally, and the reader feels engaged to the characters at all points. Its flaws are few and not glaring. Perhaps a sharper focus on some of the interesting characters would have offered added value, but the novel doesn’t suffer from its lack.
I would’ve also liked to see somewhat more abstract thinking. This is war, after all. Some few precious scenes here and there are gripping in such descriptions, but they are very few and far apart. The chapter describing a kamikaze pilot’s thought process on the morning of his final flight is simply brilliant – including the words ending the chapter – and should’ve functioned as a blueprint for the entire novel: less direct narrative exposition (and dialogue), and more descriptions of affect: emotions, thoughts, and feelings.
Still, despite the aforementioned observations, The Yellow Bar remains an excellent choice for anyone interested in historical fiction, the Philippines, or just a good story about family, survival, and hope.
A more extensive analysis can be found on my blog
I would’ve also liked to see somewhat more abstract thinking. This is war, after all. Some few precious scenes here and there are gripping in such descriptions, but they are very few and far apart. The chapter describing a kamikaze pilot’s thought process on the morning of his final flight is simply brilliant – including the words ending the chapter – and should’ve functioned as a blueprint for the entire novel: less direct narrative exposition (and dialogue), and more descriptions of affect: emotions, thoughts, and feelings.
Still, despite the aforementioned observations, The Yellow Bar remains an excellent choice for anyone interested in historical fiction, the Philippines, or just a good story about family, survival, and hope.
A more extensive analysis can be found on my blog
March 2, 2018
I loved it, I laughed, I cried, would love to read more!
Was a real surprise, I love the way Pepot tells his families story so detailed you can nearly see and hear the people and events, all through the book I kept wondering why is this called the yellow bar? So pretty much a surprise there at the end, I thoroughly enjoyed the book
Was a real surprise, I love the way Pepot tells his families story so detailed you can nearly see and hear the people and events, all through the book I kept wondering why is this called the yellow bar? So pretty much a surprise there at the end, I thoroughly enjoyed the book
March 30, 2018
Fascinating and worth the read
This intriguing story of WW11 in the Philippines will capture you till the bitter end. Told through the eyes of a young boy, he relays the horror and brutality of war, and the resurgence of the human spirit. I highly recommend.
This intriguing story of WW11 in the Philippines will capture you till the bitter end. Told through the eyes of a young boy, he relays the horror and brutality of war, and the resurgence of the human spirit. I highly recommend.
September 2, 2019
A Surprisingly Good Read
Japanese cruelty, invasion of the Philippines, A family’s grit to persist and thrive. This was a gripping tale. Makes me want to research Philippine involvement during WWll.
Japanese cruelty, invasion of the Philippines, A family’s grit to persist and thrive. This was a gripping tale. Makes me want to research Philippine involvement during WWll.
February 28, 2019
Interesting
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Uigviu ygihui ubui hbiubi bi ubbi uy g iytfty duytvu ugb iubij bibbiu hb 8uhhb iu hbi jhbi jhbojh b
October 19, 2013
(4.5)
For the several hours it took me to read this book, I was back home to my native country. Except it wasn't in the Manila that I grew up in back in the 1970s but the Manila that suffered the brutality of World War II in the 1940s. It wasn't pretty but the people were. Specifically, the Reynaldo family and a few of their special friends. Through their experiences during the heart of this Japanese occupation of the Philippines, I got to see courage, ingenuity, and resilience of the people from the country I call my first home. It warmed my heart and made me proud to be a Filipino.
Fear not, this historical fiction wasn't all depressing because it didn't concentrate on the angle of textbook history of the war but centered its story from an intimate perspective, narrated by a ten year boy who lived through (and his family) the three critical war years. That intimacy was the key that brought this book to life for me. Oh, how I saw the characters in this book as my compadres. I feared, I cried, I suffered, and I laughed along as their stories unfolded. Typical Filipino mannerism rang true in the read. Namely, close knit family bond, wit under stress, and old fashion humor.
Another beauty in the book was the writing. Multiple main stories were going on simultaneously. Examples include and not limited to: the happenings of the Reynaldo family at their Culi-Culi home under duress by Japanese army men; Aunt Pinky and husband, Romeo, doing their entertainment show in Manila; Eric and company (including U.S. General MacArthur) in the Manila Hotel; Imelda and her life with her new Japanese husband, and Chinese woman in her dealings in the parachute factory. That was a lot to juggle but the read went smoothly and by book's end, they all tied in. It was amazing! A reader's dream ..all the characters were well developed, interesting, and purposeful. I cared about them. I tell ya, Mr. Falch is a gifted writer. Simply well done.
With impeccable character development and great incorporation of historical facts, this novel is a fine candidate for a bestseller.
Thank you Mel u @The Reading Life for putting this book in my radar. And of course, thank you Mr. Falch for accepting my request to read and review this book. I appreciate the gift.
Jinky is Reading
For the several hours it took me to read this book, I was back home to my native country. Except it wasn't in the Manila that I grew up in back in the 1970s but the Manila that suffered the brutality of World War II in the 1940s. It wasn't pretty but the people were. Specifically, the Reynaldo family and a few of their special friends. Through their experiences during the heart of this Japanese occupation of the Philippines, I got to see courage, ingenuity, and resilience of the people from the country I call my first home. It warmed my heart and made me proud to be a Filipino.
Fear not, this historical fiction wasn't all depressing because it didn't concentrate on the angle of textbook history of the war but centered its story from an intimate perspective, narrated by a ten year boy who lived through (and his family) the three critical war years. That intimacy was the key that brought this book to life for me. Oh, how I saw the characters in this book as my compadres. I feared, I cried, I suffered, and I laughed along as their stories unfolded. Typical Filipino mannerism rang true in the read. Namely, close knit family bond, wit under stress, and old fashion humor.
Another beauty in the book was the writing. Multiple main stories were going on simultaneously. Examples include and not limited to: the happenings of the Reynaldo family at their Culi-Culi home under duress by Japanese army men; Aunt Pinky and husband, Romeo, doing their entertainment show in Manila; Eric and company (including U.S. General MacArthur) in the Manila Hotel; Imelda and her life with her new Japanese husband, and Chinese woman in her dealings in the parachute factory. That was a lot to juggle but the read went smoothly and by book's end, they all tied in. It was amazing! A reader's dream ..all the characters were well developed, interesting, and purposeful. I cared about them. I tell ya, Mr. Falch is a gifted writer. Simply well done.
With impeccable character development and great incorporation of historical facts, this novel is a fine candidate for a bestseller.
Thank you Mel u @The Reading Life for putting this book in my radar. And of course, thank you Mr. Falch for accepting my request to read and review this book. I appreciate the gift.
Jinky is Reading
June 10, 2014
The Yellow Bar is one of the most engaging novels I have ever read. The characters were vividly drawn and very much alive, and the story of the Reynaldo family and their contemporaries in war-torn Manila had me still flipping pages at 4am. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and most impressively, it made me stop reading and put it down for 24 hours at one point because I couldn't bear to read what I thought was coming next (Joey Tribbiani would definitely put this one in the freezer!). Only great novels have that effect on me, and this is one.
I feel blessed that I took a chance on this new author, and The Yellow Bar has instantly joined that small group of books that I will read over and over and never get tired of. Thank you Mr. Falch. Please write your next novel soon.
I feel blessed that I took a chance on this new author, and The Yellow Bar has instantly joined that small group of books that I will read over and over and never get tired of. Thank you Mr. Falch. Please write your next novel soon.
July 9, 2014
So, I actually won this book in a Goodreads giveaway - and let me tell you how happy I am that I did. In reading the back cover, I was uncertain if this was going to be a book that interested me and I hesitated to start reading it - But man, I could not have been more wrong! I absolutely loved the story of the Reynaldo family and their lives during WWII. The author has an unusual style of storytelling that really made me feel like I got to know all of the characters - and I fell in love with each and every one. I am sad that the story is over - but very happy that I was given the chance to share in their lives.
March 7, 2018
The book is an interesting read but not a good read. The characters are flat, and the constant change of voice is irritating. The book is supposedly told from the point of view of the child, but then every so often it jumps to another point of view in a different place with information that the child would not have had access to. The real protagonist of the story is the Filipino people and what they suffered due to MacArthur's pride. While he cared about the American soldiers the Filipino's never came into account. But again the brutality which they experienced is so horrific and told in a manner that becomes a list of atrocities, that it reduces the impact to a great extent. The one thing that I shall take from this novel is the fact that 100,000 Filipinos died, and that Manila was flattened worse than Hiroshima. Two terrible events that need to be known but the author did not succeed in conveying this well through fiction.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews