Mango seasons

by Michelle Cruz Skinner

In the afternoon, while I am sitting on the porch, the rains begin. This first rain is only a sprinkle and the ground quickly drinks it up. My children, who are playing in the yard, look to the sky, wanting more. Their hair glistens...A breeze, cooled by the rain, passes across the house. I hold my hands to my face and smell on them the mango flowers I sliced. I must have a little sweetness in my life, I think, not damp hands and indifferent kisses. - Michelle Cruz Skinner

Genres: Fiction

196 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this during this year's mango season. Last week when baskets and boxes of mangoes from our trees were pushed against our kitchen walls, we feasted on sour-sweet mangoes my father called "manibalang" in Kapampangan. We paired them with bagoong until their ripeness didn't need the saltiness anymore.

I feel that there's a much significant metaphor here that eludes my ability to think or express in writing, but I will attempt to record my experience.

There is something familiar with reading fiction set in the Philippines. I have been exposed to and made a fair amount of memories in Olongapo, Manila, and Baguio enough to feel like I was in the bus rides with the characters. The familiarity is sweet and satisfying.

Mango Seasons, like manibalang, had a sour-sweet aftertaste to me. There were decisions by the characters that I disagreed with. The sourness did not linger though, because they helped develop the characters. The story was heavily character-driven and influenced by the national setting. Readers are eased to adjust with the different character views until context flows naturally in the next chapters. Usually, I don't prefer time jumps but I appreciate the retroactive way that the conclusions of scenes were revealed.

Much like making smoke rise to the fruits of a mango tree, there was a consistent heaviness that shrouded the family even to the end. One can assume that the smoke clears, the tree sprouts an abundance of flowers, and the fruits kindly ripen beyond the book. Or not.

I liked this a lot :)

[R.C. Gonzales · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 for me. intriguing but fell short in the end.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very character-driven. Love how it has multiple perspectives. Love how we get to see the characters grow and age in front of our very eyes.