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Monsoon Mansion: A Memoir
Told with a lyrical, almost-dreamlike voice as intoxicating as the moonflowers and orchids that inhabit this world, Monsoon Mansion is a harrowing yet triumphant coming-of-age memoir exploring the dark, troubled waters of a family’s rise and fall from grace in the Philippines. It would take a young warrior to survive it.
Cinelle Barnes was barely three years old when her family moved into Mansion Royale, a stately ten-bedroom home in the Philippines. Filled with her mother’s opulent social aspirations and the gloriously excessive evidence of her father’s self-made success, it was a girl’s storybook playland. But when a monsoon hits, her father leaves, and her mother’s terrible lover takes the reins, Cinelle’s fantastical childhood turns toward tyranny she could never have imagined. Formerly a home worthy of magazines and lavish parties, Mansion Royale becomes a dangerous shell of the splendid palace it had once been.
In this remarkable ode to survival, Cinelle creates something magical out of her truth—underscored by her complicated relationship with her mother. Through a tangle of tragedy and betrayal emerges a revelatory journey of perseverance and strength, of grit and beauty, and of coming to terms with the price of family—and what it takes to grow up.
Cinelle Barnes was barely three years old when her family moved into Mansion Royale, a stately ten-bedroom home in the Philippines. Filled with her mother’s opulent social aspirations and the gloriously excessive evidence of her father’s self-made success, it was a girl’s storybook playland. But when a monsoon hits, her father leaves, and her mother’s terrible lover takes the reins, Cinelle’s fantastical childhood turns toward tyranny she could never have imagined. Formerly a home worthy of magazines and lavish parties, Mansion Royale becomes a dangerous shell of the splendid palace it had once been.
In this remarkable ode to survival, Cinelle creates something magical out of her truth—underscored by her complicated relationship with her mother. Through a tangle of tragedy and betrayal emerges a revelatory journey of perseverance and strength, of grit and beauty, and of coming to terms with the price of family—and what it takes to grow up.
243 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2018
1743 people are currently reading
7199 people want to read
About the author
Cinelle Barnes
7 books230 followersBEAUTY in TRUTH
Cinelle Barnes is a creative non-fiction writer and educator from Manila, Philippines. She writes memoirs and personal essays on trauma, growing up in Southeast Asia, and on being a mother and immigrant in America. In 2014, she was nominated for the AWP Journal Intro Award for Creative Non-Fiction, and in 2015 received an MFA from Converse College. She was part of the inaugural Kundiman Creative Non-Fiction Intensive in New York City and will be attending the VONA/Voices workshop for political content writing at the University of Pennsylvania in summer 2017. Her writing has appeared or is forthcoming in Literary Hub, South85, Skirt!, West Of, Your Life Is A Trip, the Piccolo Spoleto Fiction Series, Itinerant Literate's StorySlam, and Hub City Press's online anthology, Multicultural Spartanburg.
Follow me on Instagram! @cinellebarnesbooks
Cinelle teaches writing workshops throughout the year, including Poses and Prose, a yoga + writing workshop.
Her debut memoir, Monsoon Mansion, will be available through Amazon.com and independent booksellers in Spring 2018 (Little A).
Cinelle Barnes is a creative non-fiction writer and educator from Manila, Philippines. She writes memoirs and personal essays on trauma, growing up in Southeast Asia, and on being a mother and immigrant in America. In 2014, she was nominated for the AWP Journal Intro Award for Creative Non-Fiction, and in 2015 received an MFA from Converse College. She was part of the inaugural Kundiman Creative Non-Fiction Intensive in New York City and will be attending the VONA/Voices workshop for political content writing at the University of Pennsylvania in summer 2017. Her writing has appeared or is forthcoming in Literary Hub, South85, Skirt!, West Of, Your Life Is A Trip, the Piccolo Spoleto Fiction Series, Itinerant Literate's StorySlam, and Hub City Press's online anthology, Multicultural Spartanburg.
Follow me on Instagram! @cinellebarnesbooks
Cinelle teaches writing workshops throughout the year, including Poses and Prose, a yoga + writing workshop.
Her debut memoir, Monsoon Mansion, will be available through Amazon.com and independent booksellers in Spring 2018 (Little A).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 495 reviews
April 3, 2018
Wow.
I normally shy away from memoirs. They make me feel like an ambulance chaser. Also, how do I trust them? Memories are so flexible, influenced by emotion and our own brain’s desire to protect itself. How do you fit an entire life in 230ish pages? And such a tumultuous one at that?
I don’t know. I have no desire to do it myself, and even if I did, I’m positive I couldn’t do it with even a single iota of the poignancy Barnes does. The boasts of lyrical writing are not overinflated. She has somehow managed to take a tortured and hellish childhood, and tell it in such a compelling and compassionate way that she made it sound almost magical. Like a Grimm fairytale.
The childhood in this book was so fantastically unlike my own, that there were times when I wondered how a life like this could even be possible. Growing up a as pseudo-princess in the gilded and opulent Mansion Royale? Living a lavish life funded by her fathers’s business in the Middle East, which is threatened by the Gulf War and finally toppled by a monsoon? Then for it to become home to thugs and cockfighting and prostitutes and decay?
I grew up generally happy, but definitely safe, in suburbia, so I don’t know. I’ve been fortunate enough to live in the land of normalcy that the author always craved, so this book was eye opening.
Born into an exorbitantly wealthy Filipino family in the 80s, Barnes grew up in Mansion Royale: a physical manifestation of her parent’s affluence. A crowning jewel that eventually turned into an albatross. It was a sign of the wealth and status that Barnes’ parents, but particularly her mother, were unwilling to let go of.
In fact, her mother refuses to let go of the unraveling, fraying strands of her status—what she considers a birthright—and she refuses to let go of the mansion. So much so, that as the mansion decays, she goes along with it.
Her father bails under the pretense of saving the world, her brother gets lost in drugs, and her mother finds Norman. Norman finds gratification in emotional manipulation, intimidation, abuse and neglect, and the unending pursuit of money. Her mother and Norman find each other in their desperate grabs at power, and Barnes finds herself resilient but stuck in their monsoon.
I highly recommend this book. I mean, look at that book cover! Gorgeous! Almost as pretty as the words inside it.
I normally shy away from memoirs. They make me feel like an ambulance chaser. Also, how do I trust them? Memories are so flexible, influenced by emotion and our own brain’s desire to protect itself. How do you fit an entire life in 230ish pages? And such a tumultuous one at that?
I don’t know. I have no desire to do it myself, and even if I did, I’m positive I couldn’t do it with even a single iota of the poignancy Barnes does. The boasts of lyrical writing are not overinflated. She has somehow managed to take a tortured and hellish childhood, and tell it in such a compelling and compassionate way that she made it sound almost magical. Like a Grimm fairytale.
The childhood in this book was so fantastically unlike my own, that there were times when I wondered how a life like this could even be possible. Growing up a as pseudo-princess in the gilded and opulent Mansion Royale? Living a lavish life funded by her fathers’s business in the Middle East, which is threatened by the Gulf War and finally toppled by a monsoon? Then for it to become home to thugs and cockfighting and prostitutes and decay?
I twiddled with my tassel while viewing the spectacular show that was Mansion Royale. The more I fidgeted with the golden tuft, the more it came undone. Braids untwisted, threads thinned out. Soon the tassel was merely a fray—a fringe no longer gilded, an unhemmed bunch of loose thread.
I grew up generally happy, but definitely safe, in suburbia, so I don’t know. I’ve been fortunate enough to live in the land of normalcy that the author always craved, so this book was eye opening.
Born into an exorbitantly wealthy Filipino family in the 80s, Barnes grew up in Mansion Royale: a physical manifestation of her parent’s affluence. A crowning jewel that eventually turned into an albatross. It was a sign of the wealth and status that Barnes’ parents, but particularly her mother, were unwilling to let go of.
We prayed before breakfast. Papa blessed our meal and thanked God for the bounty. He said, “Make us content with what we have and prepare us for whatever may lie ahead.”
Mama interrupted. “Lord, keep us where we belong. We do not know how to be anywhere else. Please bless us—in the best high-class possible way—for as long as the Republic lives.”
In fact, her mother refuses to let go of the unraveling, fraying strands of her status—what she considers a birthright—and she refuses to let go of the mansion. So much so, that as the mansion decays, she goes along with it.
She kept mumbling, until finally, she snapped. “Not the mansion, too! We don’t know how to be anywhere else! Puñeta!”
Her words and tone jolted me out of sadness and sympathy, and into fear. I let go of the curtain, which drifted for a moment in the air and landed on her back. The cloth confined her shakes, her mutters, her cries, and disguised her as part of the house. She was part of the house.
Her weeping was the mansion’s very voice.
Her father bails under the pretense of saving the world, her brother gets lost in drugs, and her mother finds Norman. Norman finds gratification in emotional manipulation, intimidation, abuse and neglect, and the unending pursuit of money. Her mother and Norman find each other in their desperate grabs at power, and Barnes finds herself resilient but stuck in their monsoon.
I highly recommend this book. I mean, look at that book cover! Gorgeous! Almost as pretty as the words inside it.
November 29, 2019
Memoir of the author’s childhood growing up in Manila in a turbulent home environment. Her family was wealthy and lived in a mansion; however, the Gulf War drastically impacted her parents’ business and they descended into poverty. She subsequently experienced many traumatic episodes and was forsaken by those who were supposed to protect her. As a warning, this book includes child neglect, animal cruelty, and domestic abuse.
I enjoyed learning more about the culture and history of the Philippines, but the author’s personal story is very painful to read. A child should never be subjected to such trauma and isolation. I think the author’s story may provide inspiration to a person struggling to overcome an oppressive situation. I hope it was cathartic for her and am glad she has found her way to a better life.
I enjoyed learning more about the culture and history of the Philippines, but the author’s personal story is very painful to read. A child should never be subjected to such trauma and isolation. I think the author’s story may provide inspiration to a person struggling to overcome an oppressive situation. I hope it was cathartic for her and am glad she has found her way to a better life.
April 1, 2019
I started reading this at the beginning of the month when I was recording a memoir episode. It didn't make the cut for that episode (which won't be posted until May) but I feel like I came back to it with a fresh chance and a little more filipino history under my belt. Early on some of the writing was really bothering me (I started marking all the uses of would've and should've, which felt overused and obnoxious at the beginning; when I came back to it I was just paying more attention to the story.) In between I read America Is Not the Heart, which contains a lot of detail about Filipino history and culture, which helped in understanding the time period of this memoir - mostly late 1990s. I still feel like I don't know quite enough about the historical context, but at least... more.
This is Cinelle's story and sometimes I had to remind myself this was real because some of it feels so unbelievable. Her family was rich until they weren't, and as her father's employment ventures collapsed, they were unable to buy food and electricity much less maintain the huge mansion the family lived in. There are vivid descriptions of a debilitating flood early on that certainly doesn't help anything, but then a period of a few years where her father is gone, her mother pairs up with a smooth-talking criminal and brings prostitutes and chickens into the bottom levels of the mansion. All the while, Cinelle is trying to go to school and pretend like everything is okay. She's able to do this for a while but it seems like when her brother leaves, everything becomes much harder.
Reading and writing have a role to play here in giving her something to focus on, but it is really difficult to read about the lack of parenting and care in her life. The stand-in man of the house steals from her and then uses as her as a pawn in a very violent scenario, and her mother has dropped all pretense of playing any role but his shenanigan partner. There is this one moment where Cinelle has to write an essay and she writes about how her mother is the mansion, the land, and the monsoon - almost as if the author had played with including those ideas in the book but decided not to. (I really connected with the imagery and wish she had!)
She does shy away from some details and some events are very vaguely alluded to, but I understand why she might do that. Knowing she was in that situation and then ended up as an MFA student in my state with other college in between is really startling, and I am very glad for her that she is settled into a more stable life.
This is Cinelle's story and sometimes I had to remind myself this was real because some of it feels so unbelievable. Her family was rich until they weren't, and as her father's employment ventures collapsed, they were unable to buy food and electricity much less maintain the huge mansion the family lived in. There are vivid descriptions of a debilitating flood early on that certainly doesn't help anything, but then a period of a few years where her father is gone, her mother pairs up with a smooth-talking criminal and brings prostitutes and chickens into the bottom levels of the mansion. All the while, Cinelle is trying to go to school and pretend like everything is okay. She's able to do this for a while but it seems like when her brother leaves, everything becomes much harder.
Reading and writing have a role to play here in giving her something to focus on, but it is really difficult to read about the lack of parenting and care in her life. The stand-in man of the house steals from her and then uses as her as a pawn in a very violent scenario, and her mother has dropped all pretense of playing any role but his shenanigan partner. There is this one moment where Cinelle has to write an essay and she writes about how her mother is the mansion, the land, and the monsoon - almost as if the author had played with including those ideas in the book but decided not to. (I really connected with the imagery and wish she had!)
She does shy away from some details and some events are very vaguely alluded to, but I understand why she might do that. Knowing she was in that situation and then ended up as an MFA student in my state with other college in between is really startling, and I am very glad for her that she is settled into a more stable life.
July 8, 2017
A beautiful book!
November 22, 2019
This memoir by Cinelle Barnes about her childhood and coming of age in late 80s and 90s Manila is what Crazy Rich Asians should have been—a more socially conscious (especially about class and ethnicity) look at the lives of the affluent.
It took me a while to get into this memoir, partly because it started off pretty slow, and partly because my mind was distracted by work stuff. The writing is confident and consistently good, but about halfway through the book, the narrative started taking better shape and direction. In just the first about 12 years of her life, Cinelle went from living in a grand mansion cared for by servants, to total poverty. Her father’s self-made business crumbled due to the Gulf War, and he and her brother took off trying to build a better life, promising to come back for her and take her to that future. But in the meantime, Cinelle is stuck with her unstable mother and her mother’s abusive and just horrible new boyfriend. Her drive to find beauty in life and just /live/ moved me a lot, especially towards the end.
I also admired how socially aware she grew to be, so young and so fast, about class prejudices and colourism (her mother constantly berated her about her darker skin). It’s an interesting read about negotiating the self and one’s values in the “in between” spaces, between affluence and poverty, between the mestiza (mixed race) and the indigenous.
It took me a while to get into this memoir, partly because it started off pretty slow, and partly because my mind was distracted by work stuff. The writing is confident and consistently good, but about halfway through the book, the narrative started taking better shape and direction. In just the first about 12 years of her life, Cinelle went from living in a grand mansion cared for by servants, to total poverty. Her father’s self-made business crumbled due to the Gulf War, and he and her brother took off trying to build a better life, promising to come back for her and take her to that future. But in the meantime, Cinelle is stuck with her unstable mother and her mother’s abusive and just horrible new boyfriend. Her drive to find beauty in life and just /live/ moved me a lot, especially towards the end.
I also admired how socially aware she grew to be, so young and so fast, about class prejudices and colourism (her mother constantly berated her about her darker skin). It’s an interesting read about negotiating the self and one’s values in the “in between” spaces, between affluence and poverty, between the mestiza (mixed race) and the indigenous.
April 5, 2018
This was somehow an easygoing read, yet harrowing. It’s truly is lyrical, almost poetic, oddly. Considering Barnes has had so much time to think about her past, to carry such a heavy weight, she is able to detail the chronology from riches to rags, physical (and metaphorical) deterioration of her Mansion Royale, to her present day. This book comes in as a light and steady rain, but as it goes on, you get thrown into the storm.
June 24, 2018
This novel was very hard for me to read. While my childhood wasn't nearly as traumatic as Barnes's, I could relate in many ways.
This novel is poetic. Beautiful prose clashes with the ugly reality Barnes lived through. What starts out as a fairy tale becomes twisted and dark.
What I enjoyed about this memoir is that Barnes got out, and much like The Glass Castle there is a sense of hope. Barnes doesn't choose to be bitter, instead accepting this happened, but she doesn't have to be like her mother.
For anyone who has a rocky childhood, neglectful parents, narcissistic parents, this could be triggering. Barnes is a miracle to have escaped that life and to be healthy and loving.
While this book was great, I think I'm taking a break from memoirs for a bit. They are so emotional and heart breaking, though usually they end well and have hope. It's just so hard to read true stories and know this actually happened to someone, that people can do such horrid things to each other. On a positive note people can be amazing and there is always a light in the dark.
This novel is poetic. Beautiful prose clashes with the ugly reality Barnes lived through. What starts out as a fairy tale becomes twisted and dark.
What I enjoyed about this memoir is that Barnes got out, and much like The Glass Castle there is a sense of hope. Barnes doesn't choose to be bitter, instead accepting this happened, but she doesn't have to be like her mother.
For anyone who has a rocky childhood, neglectful parents, narcissistic parents, this could be triggering. Barnes is a miracle to have escaped that life and to be healthy and loving.
While this book was great, I think I'm taking a break from memoirs for a bit. They are so emotional and heart breaking, though usually they end well and have hope. It's just so hard to read true stories and know this actually happened to someone, that people can do such horrid things to each other. On a positive note people can be amazing and there is always a light in the dark.
August 23, 2018
Kudos to authors brave enough to tell the world their truth. This memoir of a young phillipino girl (ages 3-12) is filled with privilege and trauma and I don’t wish to take away from her experience. However, I did not warm to its telling. The lyricism and never ending descriptions drove me nuts. Memories from my very early years are like clouds, reach out and they disappear but that could just be me.
September 11, 2018
Overall Rating: 5 stars
I finished this book about 3 days ago, and it's taken me a while to gather all my thoughts cohesively enough to write a review that was everything this book deserves. I have a lot of thoughts on this one, and I was recovering from the realest book hangover.
Before I even opened the book, I felt a connection with the author (Cinelle Barnes) and her story because she is Filipina. I am Filipina-American. And although my time in the Philippines is limited to 2 vacations: 1 for my 3rd birthday, and 1 from nearly 15 years ago, my inner tug and yearning to hear stories about my motherland is what ultimately led me to starting this book sooner than I had originally planned.
Monsoon Mansion tells the story of a girl's journey from riches- to (and through) - rags. Cinelle and her family (mom, dad, kuya (big brother)) moved into Mansion Royale when she was 2. Her mom came from wealth - a politician's daughter. Her dad worked his way up the ranks by serving as a recruiter - bringing Filipino workers to places in the Middle East to work. Life for them was full of parties, they were catered to by house-help and nannies ("yaya"). Then the Gulf War happened - and that changed everything. Money started to slowly trickle away and the family had to get creative in order to find a way to make ends meet and maintain the Louboutin-Chanel-Vuitton lifestyle that mama had been so accustomed to.
Regardless of whether or not you are Filipino, your heart will ache for Cinelle and her family. You will be opened up to the dynamics of a family and what it takes to survive - how it feels to go from everything to nothing. You will want to reach out across the virtual world to hold this baby girl in your arms and tell her that everything will be okay (- but will it?). You will see just how much money can change people, how much we let money (or the lack thereof) control our lives. You will cringe, you will be angry, you will want to scream.
If you are Filipino, you will relate SO HARD to this book - prepare yourself. As she tells you about her mom, you can imagine which tita in your family she's talking about. You'll get a sense of familiarity as you read the Tagalog - I could practically hear the words being spoken with the heavy-accented Taglish that I know all to well from my own house. You will understand Cinelle's bond with each of her family members (especially mama), and you will have a personal connection with her stories because you will get it. Because certain parts of our culture are ingrained in our blood - never something we are taught - just something we are.
Cinelle perseveres through what seems to be never-ending turmoil, struggle and pain. The story of hope and resilience will inspire and encourage you in the face of any circumstance. I was happy to see where the story turned around and I definitely felt a sense of pride to read about where Cinelle is today and how well she is doing - I'm so PROUD of her. SO PROUD.
I'm not a big memoir fan. When given the choice between a fiction novel and a memoir, 9 times out of 10, I'm going for the novel. But please, do yourself a favor and read Monsoon Mansion - I'm so glad I did. One of my top reads for 2018, for sure.
Reading Pace: 5 of 5; Finished this in 3 days - which is fast for me, trust me.
Engagement Factor: 5 of 5; This is a memoir that reads like a novel and hooks you like a thriller.
Characters: 5 of 5; You'll have your favorites. ;)
Ending: 5 of 5; MABUHAY!
..
peace. love. and books!
(IG: @readerby_night)
I finished this book about 3 days ago, and it's taken me a while to gather all my thoughts cohesively enough to write a review that was everything this book deserves. I have a lot of thoughts on this one, and I was recovering from the realest book hangover.
Before I even opened the book, I felt a connection with the author (Cinelle Barnes) and her story because she is Filipina. I am Filipina-American. And although my time in the Philippines is limited to 2 vacations: 1 for my 3rd birthday, and 1 from nearly 15 years ago, my inner tug and yearning to hear stories about my motherland is what ultimately led me to starting this book sooner than I had originally planned.
Monsoon Mansion tells the story of a girl's journey from riches- to (and through) - rags. Cinelle and her family (mom, dad, kuya (big brother)) moved into Mansion Royale when she was 2. Her mom came from wealth - a politician's daughter. Her dad worked his way up the ranks by serving as a recruiter - bringing Filipino workers to places in the Middle East to work. Life for them was full of parties, they were catered to by house-help and nannies ("yaya"). Then the Gulf War happened - and that changed everything. Money started to slowly trickle away and the family had to get creative in order to find a way to make ends meet and maintain the Louboutin-Chanel-Vuitton lifestyle that mama had been so accustomed to.
Regardless of whether or not you are Filipino, your heart will ache for Cinelle and her family. You will be opened up to the dynamics of a family and what it takes to survive - how it feels to go from everything to nothing. You will want to reach out across the virtual world to hold this baby girl in your arms and tell her that everything will be okay (- but will it?). You will see just how much money can change people, how much we let money (or the lack thereof) control our lives. You will cringe, you will be angry, you will want to scream.
If you are Filipino, you will relate SO HARD to this book - prepare yourself. As she tells you about her mom, you can imagine which tita in your family she's talking about. You'll get a sense of familiarity as you read the Tagalog - I could practically hear the words being spoken with the heavy-accented Taglish that I know all to well from my own house. You will understand Cinelle's bond with each of her family members (especially mama), and you will have a personal connection with her stories because you will get it. Because certain parts of our culture are ingrained in our blood - never something we are taught - just something we are.
Cinelle perseveres through what seems to be never-ending turmoil, struggle and pain. The story of hope and resilience will inspire and encourage you in the face of any circumstance. I was happy to see where the story turned around and I definitely felt a sense of pride to read about where Cinelle is today and how well she is doing - I'm so PROUD of her. SO PROUD.
I'm not a big memoir fan. When given the choice between a fiction novel and a memoir, 9 times out of 10, I'm going for the novel. But please, do yourself a favor and read Monsoon Mansion - I'm so glad I did. One of my top reads for 2018, for sure.
Reading Pace: 5 of 5; Finished this in 3 days - which is fast for me, trust me.
Engagement Factor: 5 of 5; This is a memoir that reads like a novel and hooks you like a thriller.
Characters: 5 of 5; You'll have your favorites. ;)
Ending: 5 of 5; MABUHAY!
..
peace. love. and books!
(IG: @readerby_night)
April 6, 2018
The most beautiful book I have read this year. It is a gift. It gives one hope that all will be right on the morrow. It is a gem. It is very very precious. Taste it in the narrow of your bones and savor it.
I hope this sista keeps on writing. The world is blessed to hear her voice. I read it in one day and could not stop until it ended.
I hope this sista keeps on writing. The world is blessed to hear her voice. I read it in one day and could not stop until it ended.
August 27, 2018
"My mother is a mansion [...] My mother is the land [...] My mother is the monsoon [...] Breaking into a million pieces. I was drowning in a monsoon of her."
This memoir describes Cinelle Barnes' mesmerizing and painful childhood in the Philippines, driven to a large extent by the unstable personality of her mother and dysfunctional relationships within the home when an economic downturn and a monsoon flooding of their mansion leads to financial and social decline of the family. The flowery and overly poetic language that other readers have loved was quite difficult for me. I feel there were a pages and pages of descriptions for one rather unremarkable incident, whereas other dynamic and eventful periods of time were covered with a few sentences. That imbalance disrupted the reading rhythm for me and I had to put the book away for a few days before picking it back up and finishing it. The author herself says of the memoir that "You might feel like you're drowning a bit, but you'll breathe in the end" and although that is true, it didn't quite redeem the mental exhaustion I felt while reading it. However, the hardships Barnes had to overcome are multifold and humbling and I would recommend this for lovers of embellished prose and fiction-lovers who would like to venture more into non-fiction.
This memoir describes Cinelle Barnes' mesmerizing and painful childhood in the Philippines, driven to a large extent by the unstable personality of her mother and dysfunctional relationships within the home when an economic downturn and a monsoon flooding of their mansion leads to financial and social decline of the family. The flowery and overly poetic language that other readers have loved was quite difficult for me. I feel there were a pages and pages of descriptions for one rather unremarkable incident, whereas other dynamic and eventful periods of time were covered with a few sentences. That imbalance disrupted the reading rhythm for me and I had to put the book away for a few days before picking it back up and finishing it. The author herself says of the memoir that "You might feel like you're drowning a bit, but you'll breathe in the end" and although that is true, it didn't quite redeem the mental exhaustion I felt while reading it. However, the hardships Barnes had to overcome are multifold and humbling and I would recommend this for lovers of embellished prose and fiction-lovers who would like to venture more into non-fiction.
May 10, 2018
(I am going to be slightly guarded here because I believe the authoress will be reading my perspective.)
It is true story written by a creative writer who grew up in the Philippines and currently lives in South Carolina/New York.
I have always been fascinated by this country although I have never visited it.
This proximate memoir opened a world I knew little about.
She is a tough one, stronger than most, as are many Filipinos that I have met.
The strong feminine bent in her telling is also something I was unfamiliar with, in writing, heretofore.
Kudos to her for accomplishing so much against odds that were not in her favor.
An accomplished person indeed.
It is true story written by a creative writer who grew up in the Philippines and currently lives in South Carolina/New York.
I have always been fascinated by this country although I have never visited it.
This proximate memoir opened a world I knew little about.
She is a tough one, stronger than most, as are many Filipinos that I have met.
The strong feminine bent in her telling is also something I was unfamiliar with, in writing, heretofore.
Kudos to her for accomplishing so much against odds that were not in her favor.
An accomplished person indeed.
April 20, 2018
This book is okay. I got it for free through Kindle First instead of my usual choice of thriller, to diversify a bit. The author definitely has weathered many storms (and monsoons, literally) and there’s a great story here, but the writing was too overwrought and flowery for me. She paints evocative landscapes and ties the physical and political destruction of the Philippines to the personal damage she experienced growing up, but I couldn’t really get into it.
September 6, 2022
True to its title, Monsoon Mansion is an overpowering memoir that left a deluge of high emotions in its wake. Told in lyrical, dream-like prose and wrapped in opulence, it delivers a hauntingly vivid and incredibly visceral story about childhood trauma, loss, and resilience. Perfect for readers who enjoyed Jennette McCurdy's celebrity memoir, I'm Glad My Mom Died.
_
I went into this memoir with some trepidation. As a Filipino who's lived in the Philippines throughout my whole life, I can say that more often than not, extravagant wealth in this country is usually tied to corruption, exploitation, and cronyism in some way. With that, I was skeptical of reading a story that suggests I should feel sympathy for a ridiculously rich family losing their (probably ill-gotten) wealth.
However, while Monsoon Mansion does tell a riches-to-rags narrative, it's focused on the author's dysfunctional, tumultuous relationship with her mother - which plays a hand into the larger traumatic experiences of her childhood (from age 3 to 12). In the author's own words: I was drowning in the monsoon of her.
Structurally, the book can be divided into two halves: the first is dedicated to their family's affluent lifestyle of ornate mansions and lavish parties, while the second shows the terrible aftermath of a monsoon flooding their home - the final nail to the coffin of the comfortable life that Cinelle has only ever known. From thriving in an expansive mansion surrounded by sheer opulence to barely surviving in a dilapidated home with no electricity and water, the stark contrast between these two sides is deeply felt and largely aided by its descriptive, flowery prose.
Unfortunately, however, in bolstering the extravagance of her family's wealth, the first half of the book was beautifully written but was a slog to get through. It felt like wading through the flood in jeans and sneakers: heavy, slow-moving, and tiresome. And on top of that, while there were beautiful moments of connection within Cinelle's family, her mother's constant snobbery and misguided entitlement was very, very exhausting.
Moreover, I was disappointed by the author's limited introspection in dissecting her upper-class, socialite lifestyle. Especially when her family - including herself - showed poor treatment towards their household staff! There was a particularly grating scene wherein And yeah, okay, kids are kids or whatever. But as an adult looking back and reflecting on her younger years, I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for some self-awareness.
In contrast, the second half was a whirlwind! The pacing became more dynamic, and the writing flowed more smoothly. Honestly, I had to keep reminding myself that I was reading a memoir, especially because the events that unfolded are truly wild and unhinged. Aside from that, I got to see more of the dysfunctionalities between Cinelle and her mother - and how this affected her past and shaped the future she wanted for herself. It was such a surreal and intensely evocative experience. And I particularly appreciated how the author chose to still find beauty in the harsh, if not ugly, reality.
Overall, this memoir is so beautifully, thoughtfully written. And beyond that, Monsoon Mansion is a literary celebration of triumphant resilience and a testimony of survival. (With a really pretty cover to boot!)
Final verdict? Recommended!
[ trigger / content warnings: ]
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“Promise me, you’ll always remember, none of this is normal. But we were not made for normal, and for that, I am sorry, my warrior girl,” Papa said. “Be brave, be smart, be kind, and have faith. Remember you are made of light.”
I went into this memoir with some trepidation. As a Filipino who's lived in the Philippines throughout my whole life, I can say that more often than not, extravagant wealth in this country is usually tied to corruption, exploitation, and cronyism in some way. With that, I was skeptical of reading a story that suggests I should feel sympathy for a ridiculously rich family losing their (probably ill-gotten) wealth.
However, while Monsoon Mansion does tell a riches-to-rags narrative, it's focused on the author's dysfunctional, tumultuous relationship with her mother - which plays a hand into the larger traumatic experiences of her childhood (from age 3 to 12). In the author's own words: I was drowning in the monsoon of her.
Structurally, the book can be divided into two halves: the first is dedicated to their family's affluent lifestyle of ornate mansions and lavish parties, while the second shows the terrible aftermath of a monsoon flooding their home - the final nail to the coffin of the comfortable life that Cinelle has only ever known. From thriving in an expansive mansion surrounded by sheer opulence to barely surviving in a dilapidated home with no electricity and water, the stark contrast between these two sides is deeply felt and largely aided by its descriptive, flowery prose.
Unfortunately, however, in bolstering the extravagance of her family's wealth, the first half of the book was beautifully written but was a slog to get through. It felt like wading through the flood in jeans and sneakers: heavy, slow-moving, and tiresome. And on top of that, while there were beautiful moments of connection within Cinelle's family, her mother's constant snobbery and misguided entitlement was very, very exhausting.
Moreover, I was disappointed by the author's limited introspection in dissecting her upper-class, socialite lifestyle. Especially when her family - including herself - showed poor treatment towards their household staff! There was a particularly grating scene wherein And yeah, okay, kids are kids or whatever. But as an adult looking back and reflecting on her younger years, I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for some self-awareness.
In contrast, the second half was a whirlwind! The pacing became more dynamic, and the writing flowed more smoothly. Honestly, I had to keep reminding myself that I was reading a memoir, especially because the events that unfolded are truly wild and unhinged. Aside from that, I got to see more of the dysfunctionalities between Cinelle and her mother - and how this affected her past and shaped the future she wanted for herself. It was such a surreal and intensely evocative experience. And I particularly appreciated how the author chose to still find beauty in the harsh, if not ugly, reality.
Overall, this memoir is so beautifully, thoughtfully written. And beyond that, Monsoon Mansion is a literary celebration of triumphant resilience and a testimony of survival. (With a really pretty cover to boot!)
Final verdict? Recommended!
[ trigger / content warnings: ]
🌻🍃 More bookish content on Shut up, Shealea 🍃🌻
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April 12, 2018
A MUST READ
This moving and thought-provoking memoir by VONA alumn, Cinelle Barnes, was magical. Cinelle tells her story of moving into a mansion in the Philippines when she was three years old. A mansion purchased by her mother’s inherited wealth and her working father’s oil industry money. Stricken by a monsoon and financial struggles, Cinelle’s home literally and figuratively begins to fall apart. Eventually, she is left in a decaying mansion with only her mother and an abusive step-father. This is an inspiring story of resilience in the face of tragedy that left me in awe. The craft was flawless. Cinelle painted a cinematic film with her words and metaphors. This was, by far, my favorite read of this #25infive attempt. Five stars, hands down.
www.niaita.net
Instagram: @_niaita
Twitter: @_niaita
This moving and thought-provoking memoir by VONA alumn, Cinelle Barnes, was magical. Cinelle tells her story of moving into a mansion in the Philippines when she was three years old. A mansion purchased by her mother’s inherited wealth and her working father’s oil industry money. Stricken by a monsoon and financial struggles, Cinelle’s home literally and figuratively begins to fall apart. Eventually, she is left in a decaying mansion with only her mother and an abusive step-father. This is an inspiring story of resilience in the face of tragedy that left me in awe. The craft was flawless. Cinelle painted a cinematic film with her words and metaphors. This was, by far, my favorite read of this #25infive attempt. Five stars, hands down.
www.niaita.net
Instagram: @_niaita
Twitter: @_niaita
May 3, 2018
Absolutely stunning. This is by far the best book I’ve read to date this year, and it’s certainly going on my all-time Favorites shelf. Barnes’ memoir of her rollercoaster childhood in Manila and subsequent triumphant quest for solid ground left me stunned. This is a MUST READ!
January 24, 2019
What a beautifully written memoir. Cinelle Barnes gently peels back the layers of her life in the Philippines living in the lavish Mansion Royale. Her family basked in their opulent lifestyle, indulging in all of the finer things. But the Gulf War sends the family into poverty and her life becomes a living hell.
A monsoon floods the mansion, her father leaves and their home is taken over by her mother’s wicked lover. The mansion becomes a haven for criminals, gambling (cock fighting), prostitution and many other lewd activities. This is a powerful story about survival, love, heartbreak, resilience and redemption. What I loved the most is the delicate way the story unfolds as she details the most horrific events of her brutal childhood.
A monsoon floods the mansion, her father leaves and their home is taken over by her mother’s wicked lover. The mansion becomes a haven for criminals, gambling (cock fighting), prostitution and many other lewd activities. This is a powerful story about survival, love, heartbreak, resilience and redemption. What I loved the most is the delicate way the story unfolds as she details the most horrific events of her brutal childhood.
August 21, 2018
I could not put this book down! My discussion group wanted to talk about this book in two parts, so I had every intention of reading Part 1 and then stopping until I discussed with my friends. Needless to say that didn’t happen! Barnes is so genuine and sincere in her writing, that I immediately cared for her well being and wanted to know what would happen to her. The book is beautifully written, and illustrates the vast differences in her lifestyle over the span of many years. Lastly, I appreciated her vulnerability about her relationship with her mother. I could not imagine experiencing those situations as a child, and not having the support of my parents. I’m sure it took a lot of strength and courage to unveil that experience to the rest of the world, and I graciously applaud her for it. A must read!!
April 6, 2018
An inspirational memoir, made of light
I enjoy memoirs, exploring the world from the comfort of my couch, snuggled in under a warm blanket with a cup of hot tea. The cover art and brief synopsis intrigued me for this book, which was a compelling read.
As the story starts, the narrator is young, in the Philippines, a privileged girl in a mansion with servants. Her mother enjoys fine things, name brand clothing, while her father works hard to provide for them and her brother. The text is rich, lush, describing her world well enough that it's jarring to look up and realize you're not actually with her.
That compelling narrative continues as the family's fortunes turn gradually, as the cracks in the mortar of a perfect life are exposed. Her mother goes from singing out words to teach a love of language to running away, fine items around them sold off to survive, and the mansion falling into disrepair. Yet the author still searches for whatever she can cling to for happiness, loving her pets as her father and brother leave, thriving on books as her mother turns to an abusive new lover.
Without going into any spoilers further than the above, the perseverance and strength shown are both inspiring and sad. Reading this is a mix of sorrow for what this young girl experiences, and cheering her on to thrive. I'm glad for the epilogue of her current life, showing how she has retained the good from her youth while shredding the bad.
One of my favorite quotes from the book:
"Promise me, you’ll always remember, none of this is normal. But we were not made for normal, and for that, I am sorry, my warrior girl,” Papa said. “Be brave, be smart, be kind, and have faith. Remember that you are made of light.”
I enjoy memoirs, exploring the world from the comfort of my couch, snuggled in under a warm blanket with a cup of hot tea. The cover art and brief synopsis intrigued me for this book, which was a compelling read.
As the story starts, the narrator is young, in the Philippines, a privileged girl in a mansion with servants. Her mother enjoys fine things, name brand clothing, while her father works hard to provide for them and her brother. The text is rich, lush, describing her world well enough that it's jarring to look up and realize you're not actually with her.
That compelling narrative continues as the family's fortunes turn gradually, as the cracks in the mortar of a perfect life are exposed. Her mother goes from singing out words to teach a love of language to running away, fine items around them sold off to survive, and the mansion falling into disrepair. Yet the author still searches for whatever she can cling to for happiness, loving her pets as her father and brother leave, thriving on books as her mother turns to an abusive new lover.
Without going into any spoilers further than the above, the perseverance and strength shown are both inspiring and sad. Reading this is a mix of sorrow for what this young girl experiences, and cheering her on to thrive. I'm glad for the epilogue of her current life, showing how she has retained the good from her youth while shredding the bad.
One of my favorite quotes from the book:
"Promise me, you’ll always remember, none of this is normal. But we were not made for normal, and for that, I am sorry, my warrior girl,” Papa said. “Be brave, be smart, be kind, and have faith. Remember that you are made of light.”
October 12, 2018
I’m still in awe of how beautifully the author penned this heartbreaking memoir. The craft is so amazing that at times I had to remind myself that I was not reading fiction..and those were the moments that rocked me to my core. I had the pleasure of meeting this author in an intimate author event setting and connected with her briefly afterwards for a short conversation. I hung on to her every word..amazing how resilient she is after all she has endured in her early life ...I see so much more coming our way..a brave new voice! I can’t wait for her next book! This one is definitely a must read!
January 16, 2019
Monsoon Mansion by Cinelle Barnes is a memoir about her experiences growing up in the Philippines before she immigrated to America. I read this as part of an Instagram buddy read for the Fierce Females Book Club that I am a part of where we read a book each month written by a female author.
Cinelle's father worked hard and made millions early on and they settled into a large mansion named "Mansion Royale". She grew up accustomed to a home with endless bedrooms and a staff to accommodate her every need. Slowly the money starts to run out and her mother is forced to give up some of her prized designer clothes, jewelry, tailors, maids and services. With the decline in money also comes an increase in her mother's anger and irrationality driving a further wedge between her parents.
When a 40 day monsoon hits and floods the house, money becomes even more scarce. Her father leaves her and her brother with their mother at the mansion in an attempt to find ways to make money. Her mother soon finds a lover in Norman, an American monster who has his own ideas of how to make money and he turns Mansion Royale into a true house of horrors.
This book sounded so good from the premise but was so hard for me to get into. The wording is incredibly lyrical, which I struggle with following as a reader sometimes. Cinelle's story is powerful and she experienced an incredibly traumatic childhood that no one should ever have had to live through. For lovers of incredibly descriptive prose you will probably really enjoy living in this world and experiencing her story.
Cinelle's father worked hard and made millions early on and they settled into a large mansion named "Mansion Royale". She grew up accustomed to a home with endless bedrooms and a staff to accommodate her every need. Slowly the money starts to run out and her mother is forced to give up some of her prized designer clothes, jewelry, tailors, maids and services. With the decline in money also comes an increase in her mother's anger and irrationality driving a further wedge between her parents.
When a 40 day monsoon hits and floods the house, money becomes even more scarce. Her father leaves her and her brother with their mother at the mansion in an attempt to find ways to make money. Her mother soon finds a lover in Norman, an American monster who has his own ideas of how to make money and he turns Mansion Royale into a true house of horrors.
This book sounded so good from the premise but was so hard for me to get into. The wording is incredibly lyrical, which I struggle with following as a reader sometimes. Cinelle's story is powerful and she experienced an incredibly traumatic childhood that no one should ever have had to live through. For lovers of incredibly descriptive prose you will probably really enjoy living in this world and experiencing her story.
May 23, 2024
Slow at the beginning but a story of real resilience and triumph.
April 4, 2018
Monsoon Mansion is a powerful memoir of the author's experiences growing up in Manila. Parts of it read like poetry, parts like fairy tales, and some of it is imbued with great sadness. Cinelle's parents lived the high life in the Mansion in the 1980s.There were grand parties, dozens of maids, and the finest of everything. When all the money was spent, the mansion continued on, trapping Cinelle in a nightmare existence with her mother, her mother's lover, and a variety of motley characters.
The history of Cinelle's father, before she was born, is fascinating. The depiction of Cinelle's mother is larger than life. You may not like her, but you will experience her as powerfully as Cinelle did.
Monsoon Mansion reminded me of books written in the great style of magical realism. I loved it. It is a lullaby to her family's past and to her own strong warrior self as a little girl. No one could take away her light, no matter what. Who she is now comes from what she had to go through when she lived in Monsoon Mansion.
December 16, 2019
Had I never lived in the Philippines, I think I would have found the story to be sensationalized and trying too hard to be dramatic. But after living there for 28 years, I found the story compelling. Her self-centered, spoiled-rotten mother who believes herself to be above holding an honest job or working for herself is far too real. The desperate need to maintain an image of wealth and status when the mansion is crumbling around them can be seen again and again in the city of Manila. The unquestioned lines between social classes are painfully accurate. The corruption and cronyism are far too familiar. And having lived through the same typhoons and floods that she describes made it both cathartic and painful to read. I'm not sure whether I loved or hated this book, but I certainly have been challenged to look beyond what I see on the surface and care for people around me who are hurting!
April 8, 2018
Mesmerizing and amazing!
As an American born Chinese woman, this book touched upon so many facets of my own life, especially since I too have a
mother who has been broken and made into a narcissist because of her family’s loss of prosperity due to her native country’s political unrest and turmoil. The author’s colorful and poetic description of the Philippines even reminded me of my upbringing in Malaysia. I too am living in the Carolinas after meeting my husband (an NC native) and feel a pull to the ocean due to symbols of my past. I wish I could meet the author since she and I seem to have so many parallels in life right down to having a daughter born in 2011!
As an American born Chinese woman, this book touched upon so many facets of my own life, especially since I too have a
mother who has been broken and made into a narcissist because of her family’s loss of prosperity due to her native country’s political unrest and turmoil. The author’s colorful and poetic description of the Philippines even reminded me of my upbringing in Malaysia. I too am living in the Carolinas after meeting my husband (an NC native) and feel a pull to the ocean due to symbols of my past. I wish I could meet the author since she and I seem to have so many parallels in life right down to having a daughter born in 2011!
May 18, 2018
The bravest memoir I’ve ever read, MONSOON MANSION tells the story of Barnes’ finding her way through a labyrinth of hunger, pain, and cruelty during her childhood in the Philippines and yet still managing to find joy and kindness in those she came across, never losing herself along the way. The writing is gorgeous, luminous and self-assured, a first book from a writer who is sure to become a major new talent. Cinelle Barnes is made of light, a gentle warrior and a survivor, and it was an honor to read her story.
December 1, 2018
A powerful memoir of neglect and abuse set in the Philippines. The daughter of a cruel, narcissistic mother and a kind, driven, and ultimately absent father, Cinelle Barnes grew up in a mansion in Manila. Her mother was the epitome of snobbery and entitlement, based upon the belief in her own birthright of class and inherited social standing. In her unstable mind, she deserved a life of luxury and the deference of her many servants. A stunning beauty, her vanity knew no bounds, with much of her day devoted to her makeup and fashion regimen. When the first Gulf War destroyed Papa's successful business, his wife no longer had any use for him and the marriage began to unravel. Monsoon Mansion is the story of the decline of the mansion itself and of the life of the family within. It starts out slow, but little-by-little, the madness and criminality of her mother and stepfather eat away at every bit of normalcy in Cinelle's life. The incredible strength and resilience of this young girl elevates her harrowing memoir, making it story of not just survival but of astonishing triumph.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book as my Amazon First Reads pick.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book as my Amazon First Reads pick.
October 20, 2023
Barnes writes the hell out of this account of her childhood in a crumbling mansion and family amid post-Marcos Phillippines, tracing a descent from a lavish lifestyle to living without running water, power or functional parents. The tale anchors around a house that seems to float with monsoon debris as Barnes' life becomes increasingly unmoored. The sense of water, drenching, sometimes empowering and sometimes disempowering permeates the book, and Barnes' sheer hatred for the extravagant but dysfunctional house acts as a way of processing her emotions about her betrayals by those who should be caring for her.
Much of the story can feel incredible to those of us living in societies with functional if pressured, welfare systems. Barnes leans into surrealism, and tells us her story as she experienced it. It works outstanding as evocation, as well as allowing this to be very much the story as she experienced it. Barnes allows her characters and situations to appear as they did to her as a child - and still balances compassion into what is a gripping memoir of trauma.
Much of the story can feel incredible to those of us living in societies with functional if pressured, welfare systems. Barnes leans into surrealism, and tells us her story as she experienced it. It works outstanding as evocation, as well as allowing this to be very much the story as she experienced it. Barnes allows her characters and situations to appear as they did to her as a child - and still balances compassion into what is a gripping memoir of trauma.
March 13, 2019
Cinelle Barnes lived a very dysfunctional childhood in Manila. Yet through this book and the love of her husband and mother-in-law she was able to rise above.
Even though her mother was unstable (at best) Cinelle still is able to say:
I owe my creativity, resilience, resourcefulness, and passion to them both—the very traits that make me a writer. My mother was brilliant and my father was ambitious, and I channeled much of their personas through the completion of this book.
The book covers the time period between the early 80's til 2016. Cinelle is 3 when this memoir starts. This book does describe well what was happening in the Phillipines during these years.
4 stars
Even though her mother was unstable (at best) Cinelle still is able to say:
I owe my creativity, resilience, resourcefulness, and passion to them both—the very traits that make me a writer. My mother was brilliant and my father was ambitious, and I channeled much of their personas through the completion of this book.
The book covers the time period between the early 80's til 2016. Cinelle is 3 when this memoir starts. This book does describe well what was happening in the Phillipines during these years.
4 stars
May 11, 2020
This memoir is full of beautiful, poetic prose, which is really jarring considering that the author is writing about the horrific abuse and neglect that she experienced during her childhood. Sometimes this distanced me from the trauma that I was reading about, and I had less of an emotional reaction to many of her experiences than I usually would.
I have very rarely disliked someone as much as I did the author's mother, and I love that Cinelle Barnes tells her daughter, "It is better to miss her than to spend time with her". I have a few relatives like that myself.
I loved the ending, and the fact that she now has a loving, supportive family.
I have very rarely disliked someone as much as I did the author's mother, and I love that Cinelle Barnes tells her daughter, "It is better to miss her than to spend time with her". I have a few relatives like that myself.
I loved the ending, and the fact that she now has a loving, supportive family.
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