Broken Islands

by Criselda Yabes

Set in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, Broken Islands is about two women—Luna and Alba—whose lives become entangled through their occupation of a house and their relationships with each other and with the Cimafranca paterfamilias Manoy, who is uncle to one and amo to the other.

In this beautifully written and realized novel, the characters are as vividly rendered as the Borbon (Cebu ca. 2015) they inhabit, and as complex. The novel, particularly the sections on Typhoon Yolanda and the bungled rescue and reconstruction efforts in its wake, is notable for marrying literary sensibility and expression with journalism's fidelity to facts and on-the-ground observation. Exploring issues of class and gender hierarchy and inequality, the novel refuses easy (re)solutions, offering instead a subtle, dark-tinged vision of our broken islands.

- CAROLINE S. HAU

312 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2019

About the author

Criselda Yabes is an acclaimed Filipino writer and journalist known for her insightful reportage and literature focused on Philippine politics, military affairs, and the conflict in Southern Mindanao. Drawing from years of experience as a correspondent, she blends investigative journalism with fiction to create powerful narratives. Yabes is also a recipient of the University of the Philippines Centennial Literary Prize. She is currently based in France.

Reviews

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

First time to read her and I liked what I read! It was brilliant to create fiction against the backdrop of the Yolanda tragedy — it’s something that Filipinos can relate to. The two main characters — Luna and Alba — were well-fleshed out, I even appreciated how their tones were distinguished by the manner their chapters were written. My only beef was that there were too many story arcs, it was jarring sometimes. Still, it was all good. Liked it.

[Vanya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started reading this book in mid-July, during a strong typhoon that hit the city where I live. Lately, I've been a slow reader, so I only finished it when the Philippines was actively confronting growing corruption related to flood control programs.

Living in an archipelago presents both gifts and challenges. It is a gift because we enjoy a unique and diverse environment, filled with various species and cultures. However, it can also be a curse, as the many small and large islands often separate us, making it challenging to come together, especially in the face of natural disasters.

"Broken Islands" is an engaging read. At first, I was intrigued by the differing perspectives of two women living in the same household. However, my disappointment stemmed from the lack of a tipping point in the story, and the ending felt rather flat. Nonetheless, it serves as a poignant reminder of how Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) profoundly affected Filipinos, particularly those from Leyte.

[Miguel Imperial · Rating 2 out of 5]

+ I guess I really, really like descriptions of small towns in the Philippines.
+ The (short) library scene was too interesting that I thought this was going to be like National Treasure.
+ And the bird hunting scenes felt like this was going to be a crime thriller.

- From now on, I'll be more cautions of any book that says the city/town is also a character.
- This was just too boring. I know that authors want to "develop" the characters, establish sceneries, etc. but please let something happen.
- I recently learned about "sad girl music" and this felt like a whole album of it. In the end, I felt like her. https://youtu.be/OA4jquZqIeM?t=35

[Sasha Dalabajan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whether fiction or nonfiction, Criselda Yabes has proved to take on the temporal and spatial landscapes, to which she sets her stories, brilliantly. I enjoyed the subtle themes of neoimperialism, climate justice, and traditional politics throughout the book which she delicately juxtaposed with the lived experiences of the Filipino (esp. Bisaya) people.

It took me some time to finish the book because I found the first hundred pages dry. But I couldn't put it down when I picked it up again.

[Dennis Mercado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written. One of the few books I’ve read written by a Filipino author and it didn’t disappoint.

[LC · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the characters and how fleshed out Alba's character is. But the plot, not so much.

[Ashleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting insight into the family structure of generations toiling with the affects of Yolanda. After reading a few Filipino books, it was nice to hear some female voices come to the forefront. Worth a read.

[Alex Gamos · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was beautifully told. Capturing the feelings and struggles of the survivors of the super typhoon that shook the whole world. It also deals other topics about family, what relationships between masters and servants, dealing withthe death, self-discovery. It was my first time reading this type of book. I got it from the 40th MIBF and will read more books under this category.