In Case You Come Back: Poems, Confessions, Apologies, and Promises

by Marla Miniano, Reese Lansangan, Jamie Catt (Illustrator)

This book of poetry contains musings on: adventure, anniversaries, the beach, breakfast, childhood, clouds, constellations, courage, delayed gratifications, dragonflies, eating alone, falling in love, first dates, frenemies, goodbyes, growing up, half-truths, heartbreak, holding hands, homecomings, insecurities that follow you around, the internet, jealousy, kisses, marshmallows, memory, mornings, mortality, newsletters, opposites, paper cuts, pixie dust, plane crashes, popularity, queues, rain, report cards, room service, science, a sea of coffee, shipwrecks, sick days, souvenirs, space, tattoos, tense lunches with mom, trains, travel, waiting, weekends, white dresses, yoga

Genres: Poetry, Self Help

125 pages, Paperback

First published February 14, 2016

About the author

Since she was a third-grader, Marla Miniano already knew she wanted to write. But it wasn't until she was in the sixth grade when she unofficially began her career as a writer. Marla was assigned to write the script for a play in their school program and her English teacher praised her writing, saying that she should keep doing it. She never stopped since then.

When she was studying AB Interdisciplinary Studies at the Ateneo de Manila University, Marla became a part of Candy Magazine 's Council of Cool. Former Candy editor-in-chief Ines Bautista-Yao read Marla's undergraduate thesis, which was a collection of short stories. Ines remembered her thesis years later when she was already working for Candy Magazine and tapped her to write a book for Summit Media.

So in 2008, two years after she graduated from college, Marla's dream came true when her first book Every Girl's Guide to Heartache was launched to the public by Summit Media. Every Girl's Guide to Heartache was the first of the Every Girl's Guide trilogy which was received well by Filipino readers.

Since then Marla has written five books for the publishing house, including her very own short stories collection Table for Two. Marla is also editor-in-chief of Summit Books at present.

Source:
Marla Miniano: From Childhood Playwright to Summit Books Author by Belle Yambao

Reviews

[Ｆｒａｎｋｈ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shelved next to copies of Otaku, Candy and Reader's Digest, In Case You Come Back is this medium-sized book of poems with assorted themes which wouldn't even be as noticeable at first glance. Its spine is plain white with a small and barely discernible font, prompting most of us not to give it a second look unless we feel the need to keep browsing the shelf. The only way you could select it among the pile was either by purposely looking for it, or by simply having the strangest luck. My stumbling upon it was admittedly through pure chance, and I may even deem such event as 'serendipitous' because it found me while I was in a delicate cusp of heartbreak and discord where I could certainly use a balm that would appease my troubles.

This poetry collection was a collaborative effort between writers Marla Miniano and Reese Lansangan as well as with the illustrator Jamie Catt. The latter's sketches were pretty and metaphorical enough in execution, providing readers the imagery that often supports the content of the writings themselves. The results of which become a varied palette of some of the most intuitive, well-woven and eloquent compositions that denote sentiments and grievances delivered with more clarity than ever before. There is an unmistakable self-indulgence in how these entries were written and yet the excess ultimately works for their favor.

Miniano's verses can stretch and bend in agonizing intervals, uninhibited by any measure or rhyme. Her stylistic choices are more elaborative than your basic poem structure, often relying on descriptive prose as opposed to the economy of words to deliver her message of all manners of love; from the desperately romantic to the heartbreakingly nostalgic-- all while she would alternate in tone from the the liberated quixotic to the stifled cynic.

I most certainly would argue on her behalf that Miniano's most punishingly detailed and articulate entries were those that invoke not only unforgettable imagery but also strong feelings of the forlorn and lonely which we can readily associate them with. They're the ones that are crowded enough to leave readers breathless.

Here are samples of her prose poetry:

These poems wondrously chew the scenery. They also convey an inescapable deluge of details. Such poems might call to mind the most mundane trivialities of every day sufferings mixed then with the tragically extraordinary in order to produce a concoction of emotions. They can define and demystify ambiguities for people who have at one point lost it all before gaining back something else in the end. Such tales were woven together into a singular tapestry next.

Miniano's poems in this collection (as well as Lansangan) have that constant effect all throughout; these writers break down said experiences first into fundamental aches--like a salvage from all the debris in the aftermath of destruction--before arranging them back to make them whole again through pointed if not searing words.

My best advice to enjoy this collection is to consume it slowly; with steady breaks in between each page so one can fully savor and digest each meal served. Not a single poem was ever lifeless, but some do require more patience to get through because Miniano also possesses a tendency to spin her tale far too carelessly that the ink she had metaphorically used spilled rather messily in some pages, leaving dark spots on the edge.

That being said, these flaws--if one would be so inclined to overlook or forgive--can enhance her entries. They can be deemed flawed mechanisms of creative expression for even in their failures the poems still hold a certain allure.

In Case You Come Back is somewhat of a titular reassurance to its readers; a self-aware apology that aims to win over the most harshest of critic; and an open invitation to explore its lonely territories once more and experience the tidal waves of grand highs and lows without necessarily forsaking one for the other.

RECOMMENDED: 8/10


READ MY REVIEWS AT:

[fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was actually really nice! i really liked marla miniano's work and jamie catt's illustrations were really beautiful. i'm a big fan of reese lansangan's music, but i'm not so sure with regards to her poetry in this one. overall i really enjoyed it!

[Jang · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MUST HAVE BOOK!

its a 3-in-1 book. You have long-pierced to the heart stories of Marla + Beautiful haikus/poems of Reese + Gorgeous illustrations of Jamie = huhuhuhuhu <3

[elsewhere · Rating 4 out of 5]

I promised myself that I would start reading books written by Filipino authors this year. This was my first, and it was amazing.

[Reign · Rating 4 out of 5]

To Ms. Marla, Reese, and Jamie, I wish I could write with the two of you and have my first poetry book collection published, too. I wish there could be a time set forth to happen in the nearest possible future that we could reach one another. I wonder.

Made a haiku for it:

I have read a book
Of a thousand-page access
Felt right for the world
—R

All the love in this world is imperfect. And even if you find it so, I wish you the purest intention that you'll ever get from love.

[janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've owned this book for two years and I finally finished it!! Even if it took me this long, I can say that I cherish this book a whole lot because it was there for me every time I needed a stroke of inspiration. As a writer, it can be easy to forget how it feels to have words flowing out of me, but by reading the pieces in this collection, I re-familiarize myself with my voice and soon enough, the gears in my mind start turning.

[Areli Joy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The only things that I liked in this are the prose. I didn't care about the poems because they didn't seem like real poetry. A lot of the poems didn't make any sense to me. But the proses are really good. I think Marla described the millennial life perfectly through her prose entries and I really appreciate them as a millennial myself.

[Alexandra Beatriz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching, melancholic.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this book 3.5/5 stars! Finally got to finish it.

[Aida Mae Perez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marla Miniano’s poems are interesting!

[Chia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Eunice]

K

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

My 2023 in poems.

[Joyee Borz · Rating 5 out of 5]

How do I start? Oh yes I love the book so much!
Apart from the catchy title and the simple yet beautiful book cover illustration, the words written inside ultimately hit right in the feels.
I've been writing since but after reading this, I was inspired even more to scribble down my own poems and hopefully be a publish poet. *Keep dreaming. haha
Anyway, my technical and creative writing class challenged us to read Filipino made stories and poetry, so getting this one hit my goal. Plus, I enjoyed it so much.
I recommend this book to anyone out there who wishes to recount the pain and sweetness of love and loss, memories and mundane events that shape up one's life through free verse poems and haikus accompanied by beautiful evocative illustrations.
I didn't regret buying this on a whim.

[ace · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not really an expert when it comes to poetry, so I can't really judge the book if the "poems" are actually poems or not. Some "poems," didn't feel like real poems, but I still had my favorites -- may it be a poem, or not. But, even if some of them wouldn't be considered poems, the words were still perfectly stitched together. I felt as if they're supposed to be together. The illustrations by Jamie Catt were also beautiful! They worked well with the entries, which I was happy about. Hopefully, I get to see more of Jamie Catt's illustrations because I just adore her style!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

I think it was a really smart choice to put these 3 creators together, with Reese's lighter poems and Jamie Catt's illustrations giving Marla's denser, more involved poems space to draw breath.

I remember reading the whole thing on a Sunday afternoon, and having to put the book down when I got to "...layers. Like an onion / or a wedding cake."

I really wish they hadn't tried to be fancy by debossing the illustration in the cover, though.

[A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book of poems is exactly the book my heart has been looking for for a few months, now-- if not longer. In this book I see echoes of myself in so many different ways, with so many different hurts and so many different joys. I haven't been able to write, lately, but I just might be able to do it again after reading this.

[E Reyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of poems about our souvenirs from the people we have met, have welcomed into our worlds, and have loved, like a key card, poached eggs, gingerbreads, lipstick stains, unmade beds and all those faded promises.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love this book! I like the illustrations and the poetry and just about everything else! I recommend this to everyone who has ever fallen in love, or lost someone, or got her heart broke. A must-read!

[Warlou Joyce Antonio · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were a few gems here and there and the illustrations were great.
I think the best pieces in the collection were found in the latter sections, so you have to plod through the first half before you get there.

[Anne Reyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stirs up feels. Beautifully woven words.

[CC · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was like reading blogs back in 2000, sprinkled with tweets from perhaps yesterday's feed. Haha. 4 stars means I enjoyed most of it. :)

[Kumiko Mae LovingSunshine · Rating 3 out of 5]

some lines hit the right spot, while some are lost in a psyche I will never familiarize myself with.

[Angeli · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a truly beautiful collection of poetry.

[Ennuh Tiu · Rating 4 out of 5]

My heart beats a little faster reading Marla & Reese's stories. <3

[Potato · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really pleasant read. Full of images, very relatable, and simply adorable. I liked the change of tones, and how everything still tied up together despite of this.

[Arriane · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Zen Tuala · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[March De Asis]

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