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Fruitcake
148 pages
First published January 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 23, 2012
Just an okay book. It did put a slight smile on my face while reading the unexpected twist somewhere in the middle but that smile did not last long. I am also not an E-heads fan since I was already done with my school years with they became famous. I only fancied reading this book because I was looking for a Christmas-themed local book and my friend mentioned this. However, after a few days, like an afterthought, she added that this is a YA book. Too late I already bought this. So, I apologize for the E-heads fans for giving this just a 2-star rating. This book is just not meant for an old guy like me.
Eraserheads (E-heads for short) was a Filipino rock band of the 90s, formed by Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala and Marcus Adoro. The band is one of the most successful, most influential, critically acclaimed, and significant bands in the history of original Pilipino Music (OPM). Eraserheads are also credited for spearheading a second wave of Manila band invasions, paving the way for a host of influential Philippine alternative rock bands.
What surprised me though was the fact that Ely Buendia and his band members were able to author a decent YA book like this. The plot is not thin and the smile that I mentioned in my intro above was caused by their attempt to put some twists and surprises in the story. However, some of them felt contrived and the Lewis Carroll type of ending is by this time too gasgas for my taste. It even made me think that this book was not even a YA but a children's book.
Reading existing reviews of this book here in Goodreads made me realize that the lines that look like poems inserted in the narratives are actually songs in their album. One reviewer mentioned that she was surprised to find her favorite E-heads song in this book. Maybe that's the reason why she gave this a 4-star rating.
Overall, since there is no other available Christmas-themed Pinoy books around, this is not really a bad choice if you are in thematic reading (reading books apt for a certain day or season in a year). Considering that the E-heads was a pop music phenomenon in the 90's, I am sure that this book will continue to sell and be appreciated in the next number of years especially when the teenagers in the 90's attempt to introduce to their kids the kind of music that they grew up with.
Not really a bad book. It's just not for me.
Eraserheads (E-heads for short) was a Filipino rock band of the 90s, formed by Ely Buendia, Raimund Marasigan, Buddy Zabala and Marcus Adoro. The band is one of the most successful, most influential, critically acclaimed, and significant bands in the history of original Pilipino Music (OPM). Eraserheads are also credited for spearheading a second wave of Manila band invasions, paving the way for a host of influential Philippine alternative rock bands.What surprised me though was the fact that Ely Buendia and his band members were able to author a decent YA book like this. The plot is not thin and the smile that I mentioned in my intro above was caused by their attempt to put some twists and surprises in the story. However, some of them felt contrived and the Lewis Carroll type of ending is by this time too gasgas for my taste. It even made me think that this book was not even a YA but a children's book.
Reading existing reviews of this book here in Goodreads made me realize that the lines that look like poems inserted in the narratives are actually songs in their album. One reviewer mentioned that she was surprised to find her favorite E-heads song in this book. Maybe that's the reason why she gave this a 4-star rating.
Overall, since there is no other available Christmas-themed Pinoy books around, this is not really a bad choice if you are in thematic reading (reading books apt for a certain day or season in a year). Considering that the E-heads was a pop music phenomenon in the 90's, I am sure that this book will continue to sell and be appreciated in the next number of years especially when the teenagers in the 90's attempt to introduce to their kids the kind of music that they grew up with.
Not really a bad book. It's just not for me.
May 30, 2014
Fruitcake by the one and only, Eraserheads is a good try for a children's story. Ely Buendia has the knack to be a story writer but falls too short when compared with his genius in composing. I'm between the sentences "I have have to like Fruitcake because it's written by the Eraserheads!" on one side and "Why was this published in the first place?" on the other extreme.
The book starts great and full of youthful whim, as if I were reading a Dahl short story. The childhood curiosity kicks into your heart in the first few chapters, making you hooked to read a few more. As you read more, you will realize that like many Eraserheads songs, Fruitcake obviously has its political and sexual undertones.
Unfortunately, the story devolves to a mesh filled with monologues, a bit of plot inconsistencies, and too many convenient twists just to get the story going. Most of the characters are unidimensional. Even the Carol Kings' identities and dialogues (who are supposedly the Eheads themselves) are completely interchangeable.
A huge saving grace though is while reading, I once again listened to each of the songs in the Fruitcake album. Ooh elementary school feels!
The book starts great and full of youthful whim, as if I were reading a Dahl short story. The childhood curiosity kicks into your heart in the first few chapters, making you hooked to read a few more. As you read more, you will realize that like many Eraserheads songs, Fruitcake obviously has its political and sexual undertones.
Unfortunately, the story devolves to a mesh filled with monologues, a bit of plot inconsistencies, and too many convenient twists just to get the story going. Most of the characters are unidimensional. Even the Carol Kings' identities and dialogues (who are supposedly the Eheads themselves) are completely interchangeable.
A huge saving grace though is while reading, I once again listened to each of the songs in the Fruitcake album. Ooh elementary school feels!
May 3, 2011
Yay! a book from my favorite band! The drawings were nice, the songs were great, the story not so hahaha. At least Ely tried. I read this while listening to the album that goes by the same title. That made the lyrics in the song make more sense. Nagulat lang ako, yung favorite song ko from the album, Lightyears, para pala sa nawawalang dog haha! Oh well. May grad pictures sa likod at maganda naman yung cover. At si Jessica Zafra pa manager nila that time. So sige nalang :)
December 10, 2014
* Book added in April 2013, review written December 2014 *
When I created my GoodReads account, I added this book with a 4-star rating. I first read this book in 1998 and thought it was amazing - but when I lent my original copy to a classmate and didn't return it, I had this question in my head if I liked it then because I am a big Eraserheads fan or if I liked it because I wasn't an avid reader (meaning that it was one of the very few books I have read, therefore I didn't have anything to compare it with), or if it could be both. Buying a new copy - a downgrade from the beautiful original edition - was a happy day for me, for I can finally re-read it and see if my views have changed 16 years after I first read it.
To put it harshly, there was a corny tone in the book. Ely Buendia, the man who wrote the book (the story was collectively by Eraserheads, but the text was by Ely Buendia), loved to use puns - calling the carolers "Carol Kings," calling the ladies who packed the fruitcakes "motherpackers," three of which named Agnetha, Frida, and Bjorna. If you must know, Carol King (or Carole King) is the singer who sang hit songs like "You've Got a Friend" and "It's Too Late," while Agnetha and Frida are the ladies of the Swedish musical group ABBA, Bjorn being one of the men. These puns may be corny to the readers, but of course hilarious to those who understood it.
Though there is some kind of a corny vibe to it, it has some depth to it, and still offered valuable lessons. The gist of the story was simple - to try out new things and avoid being stagnant or monotonous. It also speaks of lessons about using our imagination and hone and develop our craft as best as we could, that it's alright to take a bite.
In his afterword, Ely Buendia said that "some people consider this (the book and the album) the flaw that ultimately caused the band's commercial downfall," but I am with him when he said that "some people (including him) consider this their strength." This might not be on the same level as what the guys are known for - really, a pop-rock band writing children's book? - but they were living proof of what the book stands for - breaking out of the box, trying something new, aim for the sun. As Bobo the Wiseman said on the book, "Wear your crown with pride," and I think the boys did just that - regardless of the outcome, they tried and believed in their ideas.
Still a solid 4 star book for me. It actually is interesting to grasp a hint of utopia/dystopia in this book - with a young character changing the course of the story. Different levels, same attack... it is awesome to think that a group of young men known for their musicality has written this kind of book long before it became a trend.
When I created my GoodReads account, I added this book with a 4-star rating. I first read this book in 1998 and thought it was amazing - but when I lent my original copy to a classmate and didn't return it, I had this question in my head if I liked it then because I am a big Eraserheads fan or if I liked it because I wasn't an avid reader (meaning that it was one of the very few books I have read, therefore I didn't have anything to compare it with), or if it could be both. Buying a new copy - a downgrade from the beautiful original edition - was a happy day for me, for I can finally re-read it and see if my views have changed 16 years after I first read it.
To put it harshly, there was a corny tone in the book. Ely Buendia, the man who wrote the book (the story was collectively by Eraserheads, but the text was by Ely Buendia), loved to use puns - calling the carolers "Carol Kings," calling the ladies who packed the fruitcakes "motherpackers," three of which named Agnetha, Frida, and Bjorna. If you must know, Carol King (or Carole King) is the singer who sang hit songs like "You've Got a Friend" and "It's Too Late," while Agnetha and Frida are the ladies of the Swedish musical group ABBA, Bjorn being one of the men. These puns may be corny to the readers, but of course hilarious to those who understood it.
Though there is some kind of a corny vibe to it, it has some depth to it, and still offered valuable lessons. The gist of the story was simple - to try out new things and avoid being stagnant or monotonous. It also speaks of lessons about using our imagination and hone and develop our craft as best as we could, that it's alright to take a bite.
In his afterword, Ely Buendia said that "some people consider this (the book and the album) the flaw that ultimately caused the band's commercial downfall," but I am with him when he said that "some people (including him) consider this their strength." This might not be on the same level as what the guys are known for - really, a pop-rock band writing children's book? - but they were living proof of what the book stands for - breaking out of the box, trying something new, aim for the sun. As Bobo the Wiseman said on the book, "Wear your crown with pride," and I think the boys did just that - regardless of the outcome, they tried and believed in their ideas.
Still a solid 4 star book for me. It actually is interesting to grasp a hint of utopia/dystopia in this book - with a young character changing the course of the story. Different levels, same attack... it is awesome to think that a group of young men known for their musicality has written this kind of book long before it became a trend.
March 24, 2010
a whimsical christmas tale from the minds of the eraserheads and edited by jessica zafra. frannie wei will always be dear to me.
July 27, 2013
im been searching for it since it was published for being a eheads fan. my high school bestfriend got his copy where he reserved for it (somewehere) price double. the book i got was a RE-EDITED. it has a red cover. images arent the same w/ the original. quality aint good. little disappointed.
March 25, 2016
I read it 16 years ago with only the lyrics to the songs in my head and dismissing the plot as a Christmas tale of sorts. Now I realized it is The Phantom Tollbooth-ish, throwing shade at many things that happened at the heyday of Eraserheads. Thumbs up.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews