Under the Aratiles Tree

by Gem Deveras Mañosa

120 pages, Paperback

Reviews

[cha-mei]

final is 4.5 💝 but really this recollection of childhood memories feel so alive. innocence really do save them but then there are a lot of nuances in the background that isn't hard to like read into— there is so much power to what is unsaid between the paragraphs.

its so so simple yet impactful at the same time 🥲, would read again 💯🙂‍↕️

[irenii]

Sensory narrations about a dew-sweet childhood.💓 My rating might be slightly rigged, for I find myself biased to my feelings amid this read—nostalgic and innocent. It reminds me of images in my own neighborhood and childhood—like Lolos and their rides and viewing Lolas for their sophistication—thus a great representation of some Filipino upbringings. I do wonder about many characters though because only Yaya Alana and Jason seemed to stand out. It seems to be a glimpse over many people rather than a focus on specific relationships dynamics, making it lack a confessional ounce. Regardless, it’s a light sweet read of reminisce, and I respect its choices.

[Lady Bookaneer]

Under the Aratiles Tree: Stories from Childhood

This book is written in a straightforward manner to portray the innocence of the narrator and her friends without betraying the fact that children though they were, they were not stranger to grief, loss, and heartache.

Reading it is like nibbling aratiles fruits, short and quick but bursting with flavor and reminiscence.