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There are No Falling Stars in China
FROM REPORTING TO REFLECTING, FIELD NOTES FOR THE SOUL. In this collection of poignant and uplifting essays, seasoned international journalist Marga Ortigas shares what she’s learned from over two decades of covering conflict, humanitarian crises, and political turmoil. Each chapter explores a different assignment location, taking you up-close as the author reflects on what endures after life’s triumphs and tragedies. Ortigas’ engaging writing style and wealth of experience will transport you from the war-torn Iraqi desert to the snow-covered steppes of Mongolia, bustling Brazilian beaches, rugged Irish cliffs, and even a pop concert in South Korea, leaving you with a newfound understanding of the human condition. Heartfelt and humorous, "There Are No Falling Stars in China" is a must-read for anyone interested in storytelling, global affairs, or simply gaining a richer appreciation of the world we live in. It’s a true gem you won’t want to put down, filled with insight and inspiration that will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page.
- GenresJournalism
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 26, 2023
8 people are currently reading
158 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 25, 2024
Marga Ortigas's collection of essays There Are No Falling Stars in China, written like a series of letters to loved ones, is nothing less than a testament. I traveled all over the world through her eyes and got to visualize so many sights that I know I'll probably never see in real life. But more importantly, Ortigas's essays introduced me to people I never would have otherwise thought of or spoken to. It opened up entirely new realities to me, not just in places that I've never been before like Irag or Gaza or Micronesia or Mongolia, but even my own home of the Philippines.
There Are No Falling Stars in China is described as Marga Ortigas's learnings and reflections from two decades of working as a journalist, but I think it's so much more than that. Ortigas has managed to present to the reader an offering from the world itself, and that takes an unparalleled amount of talent.
There's a quote in this book that I think sums up what makes this collection of essays so vivid, vibrant, and poignant.
"You are here—and you are alive."
There Are No Falling Stars in China is described as Marga Ortigas's learnings and reflections from two decades of working as a journalist, but I think it's so much more than that. Ortigas has managed to present to the reader an offering from the world itself, and that takes an unparalleled amount of talent.
There's a quote in this book that I think sums up what makes this collection of essays so vivid, vibrant, and poignant.
"You are here—and you are alive."
January 31, 2024
I’ve been typing and deleting my review since finishing the book around midnight last night. At 3 pm today, I am still at it — typing then deleting.
My introduction to Marga Ortigas was through her novel, The House on Calle Sombra, which I purchased in 2022. The book has unfortunately been left unread and unopened to this day. Fast forward to last year’s @_fullybooked Annual Sale, I luckily scored the last in-store copy of There Are No Falling Stars in China in @_fullybooked CDO.
I bought it because I thought it was about China but I got a better package than just China.
Written like a series of letters sent to loved ones, There Are No Falling Stars in China is a collection of essays where @margaortigas talks about her trips from all over the globe as a CNN and Al Jazeera English correspondent. Grouped by geographical regions spanning from East to West, Marga wrote about how she felt while on the ground, for work or otherwise, be it about walking along the River Thames to interviewing survivors in tsunami-hit Japan to being sick in Ulanbataar with nothing but traditional tea to singing their hearts out for survival in a (sh*t)hole in Israel.
I have always found collection of essays a bit dragging. Most of the essay books I previously picked ended up on my DNF pile, not because they were terrible, but because I didn’t have the enthusiasm for them. But this one is different. I finished the whole thing in under two days. For mood readers like me, that’s something.
Life expects us to learn our lessons on our own, yet sometimes, it sends people our way to help us uncover new insights. At times, these “people” come in the form of authors.
IF YOU SEE THIS ☕☕☕☕☕ ON THE SHELVES — GET IT!
My introduction to Marga Ortigas was through her novel, The House on Calle Sombra, which I purchased in 2022. The book has unfortunately been left unread and unopened to this day. Fast forward to last year’s @_fullybooked Annual Sale, I luckily scored the last in-store copy of There Are No Falling Stars in China in @_fullybooked CDO.
I bought it because I thought it was about China but I got a better package than just China.
Written like a series of letters sent to loved ones, There Are No Falling Stars in China is a collection of essays where @margaortigas talks about her trips from all over the globe as a CNN and Al Jazeera English correspondent. Grouped by geographical regions spanning from East to West, Marga wrote about how she felt while on the ground, for work or otherwise, be it about walking along the River Thames to interviewing survivors in tsunami-hit Japan to being sick in Ulanbataar with nothing but traditional tea to singing their hearts out for survival in a (sh*t)hole in Israel.
I have always found collection of essays a bit dragging. Most of the essay books I previously picked ended up on my DNF pile, not because they were terrible, but because I didn’t have the enthusiasm for them. But this one is different. I finished the whole thing in under two days. For mood readers like me, that’s something.
Life expects us to learn our lessons on our own, yet sometimes, it sends people our way to help us uncover new insights. At times, these “people” come in the form of authors.
IF YOU SEE THIS ☕☕☕☕☕ ON THE SHELVES — GET IT!
April 21, 2024
✨️ Sometimes, a book works its way inside your heart, and it doesn’t really leave. Well, Marga Ortigas ‘s There Are No Falling Stars in China is that book.
A collection of sentimental, funny, uplifting, and ocassionally heartbreaking essays, it captures the challenges and fulfilment of a Filipino working as an international journalist. The book's title might give the impression that it's solely about China, but that's not the case. It actually covers a wide range of countries and places.
Marga Ortigas takes us on a journey through her personal and professional adventures, from the conflict-ridden streets of Baghdad to the vast expanses of Ulaanbaatar, from the colorful yet tumultuous political landscape of Brazil to the flowing waters of the Mekong River and Tonle Sap in Phnom Penh, and even to the unimaginable devastation of Japan's earthquakes, and more.
These essays move with effortless charm through a fascinating array of personalities and events. Ms. Ortigas is prolific. Her words are not just written; they are crafted with precision and passion, and I am in awe. But more than beautiful writing, these stories are about finding the strength to do what's right, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges, even when hope feels distant. Because at the core of it all, these essays remind us that our humanity is unshakable. No matter the circumstances, no one can take that away from us. 👊✨️
A collection of sentimental, funny, uplifting, and ocassionally heartbreaking essays, it captures the challenges and fulfilment of a Filipino working as an international journalist. The book's title might give the impression that it's solely about China, but that's not the case. It actually covers a wide range of countries and places.
Marga Ortigas takes us on a journey through her personal and professional adventures, from the conflict-ridden streets of Baghdad to the vast expanses of Ulaanbaatar, from the colorful yet tumultuous political landscape of Brazil to the flowing waters of the Mekong River and Tonle Sap in Phnom Penh, and even to the unimaginable devastation of Japan's earthquakes, and more.
These essays move with effortless charm through a fascinating array of personalities and events. Ms. Ortigas is prolific. Her words are not just written; they are crafted with precision and passion, and I am in awe. But more than beautiful writing, these stories are about finding the strength to do what's right, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges, even when hope feels distant. Because at the core of it all, these essays remind us that our humanity is unshakable. No matter the circumstances, no one can take that away from us. 👊✨️
April 1, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up
This book is a memoir and collection of essays on the author’s experience as a journalist for CNN and Al Jazeera. Ortigas has been assigned in many different countries and the book is divided more or less by country. She gives a firsthand account of the harrowing experiences she’s had while covering intense news from these countries and shares her own reflections of the lesson she has learned from each one.
I thought that this was beautifully written. Personally, I like it when I encounter new-to-me words that I have to look up, though maybe for some it would be a turn off. As a memoir, it was eye-opening to experience the world through someone who has a unique position and has access to these places and events that few people will experience. Though there were around two essays in the collection that I felt were not as impactful as the others, overall, I really liked reading this. My main takeaway from the book is that humans are not so different after all. From Baghdad to London, Vietnam to California, people may have different types of struggles, but we struggle–and find hope–all the same.
This book wasn’t on my radar at all until I joined and won a giveaway by Penguin Random House Southeast Asia. This was one of the books I won and I’m so glad to learn about this author.
Who should read this: people who like memoirs, essay collections, news, world news, or just beautiful writing.
Other quotes I like:
“I learned to breathe in every second and not yearn for escape.”
“After all this progress, what have we done to ourselves that everyone has a price, instead of seeing human life as priceless?” – This was so chilling to read. This was when their driver told the author and her colleague how much they are worth if they’re kidnapped and ransomed.
“My parents taught us to treat everyone the same, no one was better or lesser than you.” – This lesson her parents taught her not only made her a really great journalist, but a great human in general. I wish my parents instilled this in me, too.
...you can’t run away from your roots or what is within. There is only adjusting your vision and discovering that even in chaos there is poetry.
This book is a memoir and collection of essays on the author’s experience as a journalist for CNN and Al Jazeera. Ortigas has been assigned in many different countries and the book is divided more or less by country. She gives a firsthand account of the harrowing experiences she’s had while covering intense news from these countries and shares her own reflections of the lesson she has learned from each one.
I thought that this was beautifully written. Personally, I like it when I encounter new-to-me words that I have to look up, though maybe for some it would be a turn off. As a memoir, it was eye-opening to experience the world through someone who has a unique position and has access to these places and events that few people will experience. Though there were around two essays in the collection that I felt were not as impactful as the others, overall, I really liked reading this. My main takeaway from the book is that humans are not so different after all. From Baghdad to London, Vietnam to California, people may have different types of struggles, but we struggle–and find hope–all the same.
This book wasn’t on my radar at all until I joined and won a giveaway by Penguin Random House Southeast Asia. This was one of the books I won and I’m so glad to learn about this author.
Who should read this: people who like memoirs, essay collections, news, world news, or just beautiful writing.
Other quotes I like:
“I learned to breathe in every second and not yearn for escape.”
“After all this progress, what have we done to ourselves that everyone has a price, instead of seeing human life as priceless?” – This was so chilling to read. This was when their driver told the author and her colleague how much they are worth if they’re kidnapped and ransomed.
“My parents taught us to treat everyone the same, no one was better or lesser than you.” – This lesson her parents taught her not only made her a really great journalist, but a great human in general. I wish my parents instilled this in me, too.
June 15, 2025
I first encountered Marga’s book when she attended Ubud Writes and Readers Festival as one of the speakers. I was mesmerized by her story as a journalist on the frontline covering wars, catastrophy, conflict and other issues as a news reporter. And so there i was fan girling, and moments later having her book in my arm. As i finished my 4 days of the festival, i continued my journey to travel SEA for some months, and her book is the one I chose to accompany me wherever i go.
There Are No Falling Stars In China, comprised of essays Marga wrote during her time as an active journalist. More on the side of things she can’t write as reporter, or rather things she felt but has to pressed away in pursuit of professionalism and neutrality. Some of the essays were heavy and difficult to read like her reminiscences of time in Iraq when she lost one of her friend in an ambush. Or stories of young widows in tent in Rafah begging Marga to take her child away from the war zone. But also stories that uplift and bring a sense of hope, like how The Jappanese help each other during the 2011 tsunami, or a story of a mother who take shelter of 39 children who are unwanted by their families due to birth defects in China.
Marga has a way of telling a story, like an older sister telling her journey through life and its obstacles yet still find a beuty in every corner she came across.
There Are No Falling Stars In China, comprised of essays Marga wrote during her time as an active journalist. More on the side of things she can’t write as reporter, or rather things she felt but has to pressed away in pursuit of professionalism and neutrality. Some of the essays were heavy and difficult to read like her reminiscences of time in Iraq when she lost one of her friend in an ambush. Or stories of young widows in tent in Rafah begging Marga to take her child away from the war zone. But also stories that uplift and bring a sense of hope, like how The Jappanese help each other during the 2011 tsunami, or a story of a mother who take shelter of 39 children who are unwanted by their families due to birth defects in China.
Marga has a way of telling a story, like an older sister telling her journey through life and its obstacles yet still find a beuty in every corner she came across.
March 1, 2024
A book that doesn't know what it wants to be. Part-travel diary with descriptions that are vivid to a fault and often resort to weak metaphors. (I remember something being compared to the stench of baked beans at a barbecue. Okay...) Part-collection of narratives cherry-picked from different assignments, where we only gloss over the subjects' lived experience before Ortigas cuts their chapter short with a Hallmark card-type reflection.
This would have been strongest as a straight-up, no-nonsense memoir, or an instructional manual for anyone who wants to enter investigative journalism or field reporting. The author has the skill and credibility for it so it would have been a great opportunity to learn from her while also spotlighting her wealth of experiences. Instead, I'm left annoyed by the number of points she didn't make and the number of periods that punctuate even the shortest sentence fragments.
This would have been strongest as a straight-up, no-nonsense memoir, or an instructional manual for anyone who wants to enter investigative journalism or field reporting. The author has the skill and credibility for it so it would have been a great opportunity to learn from her while also spotlighting her wealth of experiences. Instead, I'm left annoyed by the number of points she didn't make and the number of periods that punctuate even the shortest sentence fragments.
February 25, 2024
A passenger seat ride to events across continents in the eyes of a journalist. An insightful account in understanding humanity and the realities around the globe. But it is the vulnerability in her introspection that leaves an imprint in the minds of the readers, taking to heart her nuggets of wisdom. This book is something one will pick up and read again for inspiration, a good dose of laughs or balm for the soul.
May 26, 2024
This is an easy yet wonderful read, in which Ortigas gave us a glimpse into the encounters that resonated with her most during her time as a journalist, and these were often encounters of perseverance in the midst of apparent desolation. In the process, Ortigas accurately captured the "fluvial" mix of absurdities, privilege, and impulsivity that necessarily accompanies the journalist.
This is really a collection of individuals trying to hold onto hope, and I really, really appreciated that Ortigas did not try to romanticise (UGH!) the perseverance and struggles of the people she met/interviewed. The larger context and unnecessary sacrifices ("[o]f forgotten martyrs to a cause they didn't choose. A battle they didn't create") were acknowledged as far as possible, and the unwavering of the various individuals was indeed nothing short of "magical". The title represents the principle of the book (and Ortigas herself): it is a reference to a conversation between Ortigas and a fellow journalist during her time reporting in China. That utterance reflects a fatalistic attitude and borderline cynicism (but if you read the actual chapter, the encounter had a hopeful end to it).
Many of her descriptions and metaphors were beautifully crafted and I can't possibly list them all. I felt as if I was on the Cliffs of Moher or the central souk in Gaza myself. I could picture how the "Soviet blocks and Gothic corners slow-danced a tired triple metre in muted mustard and the cobbled grey of broken hearts". I mulled over the poetic allusion of corruption to the weather: "affecting everyone no matter how much you might think you are protected".
There was also ample room for those who otherwise had no/little voice: the grief of mourning women in Gaza was too much to bear, even through the literal; the spirit of the Japanese as they worked together to pick themselves up after the 2011 disaster; the serendipitous meeting with a Mexican who snuck into the US multiple times because he believed there were always opportunities on the West Coast.
I just wish Ortigas had more faith in the reader and left more room for us to come to our conclusions, instead of having concluding lines that were really too obvious. Some of the conclusions also felt rather reductionist/overly-romantised (e.g., Mayon, Micronesia). But the fact that I finished this book quickly with the feeling of wanting to read more of certain encounters that she only briefly touched on is a sign that this is a book that I found worth reading.
This is really a collection of individuals trying to hold onto hope, and I really, really appreciated that Ortigas did not try to romanticise (UGH!) the perseverance and struggles of the people she met/interviewed. The larger context and unnecessary sacrifices ("[o]f forgotten martyrs to a cause they didn't choose. A battle they didn't create") were acknowledged as far as possible, and the unwavering of the various individuals was indeed nothing short of "magical". The title represents the principle of the book (and Ortigas herself): it is a reference to a conversation between Ortigas and a fellow journalist during her time reporting in China. That utterance reflects a fatalistic attitude and borderline cynicism (but if you read the actual chapter, the encounter had a hopeful end to it).
Many of her descriptions and metaphors were beautifully crafted and I can't possibly list them all. I felt as if I was on the Cliffs of Moher or the central souk in Gaza myself. I could picture how the "Soviet blocks and Gothic corners slow-danced a tired triple metre in muted mustard and the cobbled grey of broken hearts". I mulled over the poetic allusion of corruption to the weather: "affecting everyone no matter how much you might think you are protected".
There was also ample room for those who otherwise had no/little voice: the grief of mourning women in Gaza was too much to bear, even through the literal; the spirit of the Japanese as they worked together to pick themselves up after the 2011 disaster; the serendipitous meeting with a Mexican who snuck into the US multiple times because he believed there were always opportunities on the West Coast.
I just wish Ortigas had more faith in the reader and left more room for us to come to our conclusions, instead of having concluding lines that were really too obvious. Some of the conclusions also felt rather reductionist/overly-romantised (e.g., Mayon, Micronesia). But the fact that I finished this book quickly with the feeling of wanting to read more of certain encounters that she only briefly touched on is a sign that this is a book that I found worth reading.
November 13, 2024
Marga Ortigas, former international journalist, penned her collection of essays on what she learned from being a journalist for two decades covering conflicts, humanitarian crisis and political turmoil. Her stories bring us to her assignments in war-torn Iraq, snow-covered steppes in Mangolia, to Brazilian beaches, earthquake ravaged Japan, warzone Gaza, the not-so-glitzy Hollywood and more. We journey with her from how she started with equal amount of triumphs and tragedies until she decided to put down her notebook, pen and microphone to rest.
I was so glad I got this book during the MIBF. I was able to meet the author as well and had my copy signed. The first chapter got me hooked and I knew this is going to be a good one. I love her writing and her story telling, both captivating and engaging. She presents the story like a journal, diary type, that let readers see and read her thoughts during her time as a journalist.
The book was told in a non-linear way and divided by continent/region. It’s so interesting to look at the world through her eyes. I keep on researching the situations, the events, the places and the people mentioned in the book. It made me realized again that the world is so vast and diverse, making me so small in the midst of everything, and yet somehow connected in one way or another.
I also like how at the end of each chapter in the book, there are learnings and words of wisdom. It is not something new but it is a good reminder to ponder upon life in general, getting some insights and inspirations that we can apply in our life.
At the end of the book, I was thinking that surely the author has more memories and experiences than this. I want more chapters, more stories and maybe some photos side by side to the places and events she described. I wish she was able to document all of it but I’m glad just the same that she was able to write this book, giving us a glimpse of how the world is on the other side.
I was so glad I got this book during the MIBF. I was able to meet the author as well and had my copy signed. The first chapter got me hooked and I knew this is going to be a good one. I love her writing and her story telling, both captivating and engaging. She presents the story like a journal, diary type, that let readers see and read her thoughts during her time as a journalist.
The book was told in a non-linear way and divided by continent/region. It’s so interesting to look at the world through her eyes. I keep on researching the situations, the events, the places and the people mentioned in the book. It made me realized again that the world is so vast and diverse, making me so small in the midst of everything, and yet somehow connected in one way or another.
I also like how at the end of each chapter in the book, there are learnings and words of wisdom. It is not something new but it is a good reminder to ponder upon life in general, getting some insights and inspirations that we can apply in our life.
At the end of the book, I was thinking that surely the author has more memories and experiences than this. I want more chapters, more stories and maybe some photos side by side to the places and events she described. I wish she was able to document all of it but I’m glad just the same that she was able to write this book, giving us a glimpse of how the world is on the other side.
October 12, 2023
In There Are No Falling Stars In China, Ortigas, a Philippine natives reflect on her correspondence on some of the most volatile places and crisis; she was even stationed in Gaza & and Iraq amidst bombing and kidnapping. Her anecdotes on experiences were another level; it was told vividly on how being a woman, a journalist and listening from first hand all the cries from public could change the chemistry in the brain.
The ranges are wide; from the bombs felt like shooting stars, to the diss on Psy's Gangnam Style (LOL), to the personal names of people she met (i teared up at the Palestinian mom). The whole book felt like a heartfelt stories, a diary that told us the journey. Recommended read if you love memoirs and global events.
The ranges are wide; from the bombs felt like shooting stars, to the diss on Psy's Gangnam Style (LOL), to the personal names of people she met (i teared up at the Palestinian mom). The whole book felt like a heartfelt stories, a diary that told us the journey. Recommended read if you love memoirs and global events.
November 3, 2023
A series of essays spanning years of the author's work as a journalist scattered in different countries all over the world, Marga Ortigas' "There Are No Falling Stars in China" offers readers her personal experience from picturesque locations to warzones. The writing style makes the essays easy to read, but these are the kind of stories you want to take your time reading to let things sink in. I particularly dwelled on the chapters focused on the Middle East - Baghdad because of the author's experience, and Jerusalem and Gaza because of current events. Her stories also make you want to learn more about where she's been or the situations she found herself in -- highly recommended and looking forward to more of her work!
August 13, 2024
I gushed about this book to my husband from start to finish, and to this day, I can't for the life of me understand how such short snippets of an isolated experience could make me cry so much. Marga is a master wordsmith through and through - it comes off so naturally with the way she tells her story, and she wears her heart on her sleeve throughout this whole book. It's one thing to be brave enough to even do the things she's done in her assignments - it's another to muster enough courage to recount it all over again, and on paper for all the world to see, at that. Thank you, Marga, for sharing your experiences - I know I'm definitely all the better for it.
April 13, 2025
A moving journey through the eyes of a journalist, this book offers a stunning portrayal of the world she encounters. I was deeply struck by the emotional depth—both joy and sorrow—as seen in many of the passages, as the author brings her experiences to life amid intense socio-political conflicts.
As someone who travels frequently, Ortigas has managed to bring me along her trips—each page felt like sharing in her moments of joy as she embraced life through her work, while also feeling the weight of her grief over the loss of a friend.
There Are No Falling Stars in China is a powerful reminder that life is rich and multifaceted, and to truly live it, we must embrace both its beauty and its sorrow. Def a must read!! ✨
As someone who travels frequently, Ortigas has managed to bring me along her trips—each page felt like sharing in her moments of joy as she embraced life through her work, while also feeling the weight of her grief over the loss of a friend.
There Are No Falling Stars in China is a powerful reminder that life is rich and multifaceted, and to truly live it, we must embrace both its beauty and its sorrow. Def a must read!! ✨
August 29, 2025
to be fair, the author was very upfront about what this book was going to be. it was an expectation mismatch on my end. the author's life seems very full and interesting, and definitely makes for a good read. i just wasn't particularly fond of how each essay ends in a very hallmark-y way. but that's on me- i am a cynic to the core, so perhaps that optimism just naturally chafes at my being. would still recommend.
3.5
3.5
April 4, 2024
A lovely read following the author's travels over the world in her journey as a journo. She evokes many heartwarming and emotional essays in her book. Dips into subjects such as politics, corruption, poverty, racism, etc and as quickly dips out. An enjoyable and thoroughly enjoyable.
May 16, 2024
This book will grab you by the collar and show you the harsh reality that other people have lived through. It is a story of grief, tragedy, and hope. From a recovering journalist who I now admire for her utmost bravery through quite possibly the harshest circumstances.
June 21, 2024
4.5 🌟 This reads like a diary, personal and rambling (in a good way). I really liked the writing and I tried to read slower. It had stories from everywhere, serious but not too heavy. I felt grounded reading it. Just made me feel really human.
October 27, 2024
Excellent read - similar to Clarissa ward's on all front where Marga details her own raw experiences convering news events all over the world. Less focussed on war and politics and more on just the general journalistic expeirneces.
February 17, 2025
some of the chapter conclusions felt a tiny bit generic and wishy-washy but all is forgiven; i loved this a lot and was deeply moved by ortigas’ tender storytelling <3 gave me a whole new set of feelings and realizations about my own dreams :,) will definitely revisit this book over and over
May 15, 2024
I recommend this to everybody. More thoughts to come ❤️
October 25, 2023
For the author, being in Iraq and Gaza are the two assignments “that became part of her DNA”. Among her essays, her stories on the Middle East struck a chord with this reader the most. Many of her stories are heartbreaking – armed conflict, human cruelty, economic downturn, etc. – but she ends each with lessons she learned in the field as a journalist and while traversing through life. Such as:
• Take the time to look beneath the surface
• Find strength in something you can be grateful for
• Holding on to what matters despite the waves
This book is interesting because the author’s writing style is engaging an the stories are compelling. It gives a glimpse of what a journalist must be ‘feeling’ when reporting in most difficult and extraordinary circumstances, in many cases, without proper sleep. It is also filled with meaningful conversations with people she met off-camera. Among them is Rogelio, who crossed the border from Mexico into the US and calls the streets of LA home. He reminds us that no matter the challenges or the state of one’s reality, it doesn’t cost to be kind.
• Take the time to look beneath the surface
• Find strength in something you can be grateful for
• Holding on to what matters despite the waves
This book is interesting because the author’s writing style is engaging an the stories are compelling. It gives a glimpse of what a journalist must be ‘feeling’ when reporting in most difficult and extraordinary circumstances, in many cases, without proper sleep. It is also filled with meaningful conversations with people she met off-camera. Among them is Rogelio, who crossed the border from Mexico into the US and calls the streets of LA home. He reminds us that no matter the challenges or the state of one’s reality, it doesn’t cost to be kind.
January 25, 2024
“as journalists, we shld never forget our humanity” is essentially the inspiration of this book.
Something abt books with essays always ground me. They are eye-opening with the amount of detail infused into the pages,brimming with emotion, and still bring you down a haunting trail. This book is chequered with themes of war, rebuilding communities, lost loves, lost goals, and life’s best mistakes. Ortegas’ writing is a literary marvel & would invoke so much emotion in you. The particular stories this one (book) picked though….was haunting and very heartbreaking. the recent intensification of the israeli-palestinian conflict is now brought up close when u read about the emotion and questions plaguing palestinians on the ground. it only takes another thought, for you to be able to imagine what kind of heartbreak they go through everyday. and also a lot more shades of human heartbreak are written into this 290 page book so hang tight & grab some tissues. oh, did i mention it’s funny at some parts as well xd
some favourite quotes: despite how corny some of these might sound, the complexity of the stories through which they were told made these quotes hit right when you (didn’t know) you need them to.
“the pain was so great i couldn’t feel it. you know when something is so hot that it feels cold, and vice versa?”
“and maybe it was the need to carry on that kept us from falling apart.”
“a collection of soulful, instrumental music…i found it soothing to not have to deal with words.”
“which wasn’t hard to do in a land that inspired reverence”
“we worked round the clock and were exhausted, but nothing felt wearier than my soul”
“stay open & trust the flow..”
“their mother believed the trauma would ultimately make them stronger”
“an unnecessary reminder dared we think life was in our control”
“there is no such thing as an empty space” “left a piece of my grief under the mongolian sky”
“there is no running away from pain when it surrounds you”
beautiful, poetic, moving…literally all the things i need for a book to become a favourite.
my favourite chapters: baghdad😢, gaza💔, french alps🤭, mongolia🥺
Something abt books with essays always ground me. They are eye-opening with the amount of detail infused into the pages,brimming with emotion, and still bring you down a haunting trail. This book is chequered with themes of war, rebuilding communities, lost loves, lost goals, and life’s best mistakes. Ortegas’ writing is a literary marvel & would invoke so much emotion in you. The particular stories this one (book) picked though….was haunting and very heartbreaking. the recent intensification of the israeli-palestinian conflict is now brought up close when u read about the emotion and questions plaguing palestinians on the ground. it only takes another thought, for you to be able to imagine what kind of heartbreak they go through everyday. and also a lot more shades of human heartbreak are written into this 290 page book so hang tight & grab some tissues. oh, did i mention it’s funny at some parts as well xd
some favourite quotes: despite how corny some of these might sound, the complexity of the stories through which they were told made these quotes hit right when you (didn’t know) you need them to.
“the pain was so great i couldn’t feel it. you know when something is so hot that it feels cold, and vice versa?”
“and maybe it was the need to carry on that kept us from falling apart.”
“a collection of soulful, instrumental music…i found it soothing to not have to deal with words.”
“which wasn’t hard to do in a land that inspired reverence”
“we worked round the clock and were exhausted, but nothing felt wearier than my soul”
“stay open & trust the flow..”
“their mother believed the trauma would ultimately make them stronger”
“an unnecessary reminder dared we think life was in our control”
“there is no such thing as an empty space” “left a piece of my grief under the mongolian sky”
“there is no running away from pain when it surrounds you”
beautiful, poetic, moving…literally all the things i need for a book to become a favourite.
my favourite chapters: baghdad😢, gaza💔, french alps🤭, mongolia🥺
June 4, 2025
One of my favorite reads this year, There Are No Falling Stars in China left a deep impression on me. When I become an essay writer, I hope to write like Marga Ortigas—each of her essays pulled me into the places she’s been and the experiences she’s had, both heartbreaking and awe-inspiring, as a journalist.
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