So Heaven

by Isagani R. Cruz

Danny Livingstone is dead but doesn’t know it–until he’s face to face with his first and only love–Emily Dickinson. The e-publishing magnate is offered the manuscript of his dreams–Dickinson’s poems as she originally wrote them, but first, the Lord has a task for him. Danny must save Annie, a gifted Filipino doctor destined to find a cure for cancer, from committing suicide after the love of her life is tempted into marrying a billionaire. In his race to save the life of the doctor destined to discover a cure for cancer, Danny is assisted by other famous writers: Rizal, who contributes deep insights on human nature–and the occasional prank–and Shakespeare, who draws from the writings attributed to him to warn Danny of all possible consequences.

Set in the future, So Heaven gives us a glimpse of a hi-tech Philippines where the worst slum areas have been transformed into luxury developments. With all that is weird, wacky, and woke, it wittily observes the obsessions of our times.

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2025

About the author

Former Philippine Undersecretary of Education ISAGANI R. CRUZ (Ph.D. English, University of Maryland) is currently a Professor Emeritus, a University Fellow, and the Academic Publications Executive Publisher of De La Salle University, the Director of the Teachers Academy of Far Eastern University, and a Visiting Lecturer at the Ateneo de Manila University and the University of Santo Tomas. He writes plays, essays, biographies, and short stories in Filipino and English, for which he has won numerous national and international awards, including the Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards in Literature Hall of Fame and the Southeast Asian Writers (SEAWRITE) Award. He has written or edited more than thirty books. He has been a professor or a visiting fellow at various universities in the Philippines, the United States, Iran, Japan, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom, including the University of Oxford. He heads the Philippine Fulbright Scholars Association, Wika ng Kultura at Agham (WIKA), Books for Philippine Schools Foundation, the Active E-Learning Technologies Foundation, and Libro Amigo Publishers. He co-founded the Manila Critics Circle, the Philippine Association of Scholarly and Academic Publishers (PASAP) and the Philippine Journals Online project. He is the former President of the Philippine Studies Association (PSA). He is a retired Senior Bibliographer of the Modern Language Association of America (MLA). He has been decorated by the Government of France as a Chevalier dans l’Ordre National du Mérite and by the Ramain family as Honorary Sultan of Iligan City. He is a Project Director of the Foundation for Upgrading the Standard of Education (FUSE) and is the Program Director of the Philippine Cultural Education Program (PCEP) of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). He is a member of the English Speaking Union (ESU) Philippines, the Technical Advisory Council of the Congressional Commission on Science, Technology, and Engineering (COMSTE), Filipinas Licensing Copyright Society (FILCOLS), and Former Senior Government Officials (FSGO). He writes for Philippine Star and BizNews Asia.

Reviews

[Sai theengineerisreading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finalizing my thoughts (though I enjoyed the writing style, the story is overall lacking imho)

[Kat Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.25

I don’t know what I was expecting when I started this book, but this was definitely not it. It was steamy and sensual—maybe a little too much at some points—but it was also funny and had plenty of classic literary references, which I thought I didn’t get most of the time (definitely a me-problem).

Video Review:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFerHz...

[Tess Blanch · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took me like forever to read this one, mainly because I struggle to finish it, it’s a messy kind of book.

Danny Livingstone is dead and found himself talking to his one and only love, Emily Dickinson. Little did he know he is in heaven. But the Lord needs to send him back to earth, with only one mission, Danny has to save Annie from committing suicide. Annie is a gifted doctor and about to discover a cure for cancer. Together with famous writers also in heaven, Jose Rizal and William Shakespeare, they guide him back to earth.


It actually started strong with a potential of a good read. The Philippines is set as a future hi-tech, progressive country, where one of the slum areas has been totally transformed. Interesting, right? The first five chapters were captivating, quick and easy read. Then the next five chapters are still okay with a little bit of reservation. Then I got lost in the next few chapters after that and never recovered. I don’t know what it’s trying to achieve because I totally didn’t get it and didn’t like it, not one bit, especially the literary references. Not sure what are the point of the other characters and the side stories. The sexual references (in every chapter, seriously it is necessary?) is too much and bordering on being gross. It is chaotic and too messy for my liking. And just when I’m about to see the ah moment on the last chapter, it just never fail to get my jaw drop and my eyes roll.

[Diane RB (booksandthensome) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story reimagines the Philippines as a highly developed nation. In here, the main character, publishing zillionaire Danny Livingstone drove to his death. Now supposedly in heaven, he is to return to earth for a specific mission.

When it comes to the writing, I found the book readable. The first third focuses on character introductions, and kept me turning the pages. There’s plenty of humor and satire as the story explores humanity’s conditions, motivations, and flaws.

I also thought the world-building was creatively executed. For me, it doesn’t fit neatly into traditional speculative fiction. More of a combination of fantasy, contemporary elements, and magical realism. The depiction of heaven, its inhabitants, the omniscient Lord, and the familiar names who come to life with their antics and advice for Danny—these are mostly entertaining. The distinct points of view, including those of a female poet, a novelist/national hero and a world-famous playwright, made the voices varied and entertaining, with their antics and biases based on their respective historical contexts.

I must also say two major things that affected my impressions of this book. First is with regard to the mature themes. There was excessive reference to sex and sexual thoughts- with one insufferable character getting to my nerves all the time. If this is satire, well it doesn’t sound satirical enough and I didn’t see the point of including that much. Such excess overshadows the substance of the characters, which at the end seemed somewhat shallow.

I wish that the attention given to such repetitive themes was instead poured into the plot- to deliver a clear message about where the book stands amidst the more important themes of societal development, technological advancement, culture and art, gender, life purpose, among others.

Reading this was quite an experience. It’s not everyday that I read a book as chaotic as this and it is part of my resolve to read diverse books. Literary readers and students could have a field day analyzing its themes, style, and structure. Anyone can even dive deeper into the poems and information presented in the interchapters.

So Heaven serves as an ode to books and reading. Book lovers will appreciate the many references to the significance of literature in our lives.

I am looking forward to dissect this book more through our #AkdangPinoy buddy read. I find it refreshing to read from a literary critic and a professor emeritus of literature, no less.

[Shiandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a peculiar, honest, and absurd book. It was going well then it went downhill. It was probably not for me but I can tell a reader looking for a heavy sexual book that packs a humorous punch will really enjoy it.

[t · Rating 2 out of 5]

close enough, welcome back dante's inferno

[Raissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Dickinson, the series, you'll probably like this book where Emily Dickinson moves through a similar world in the next life, along with Shakespeare who keeps wondering who wrote the wonderful works attributed to him, passionate Sapphic lovers, and the guy who would be an everyman if he weren't a zillionaire who has to somehow make sense of it all. Shades of Jasper Fforde.