Concepcion: An Immigrant Family's Fortunes

by Albert Samaha

“Absolutely extraordinary...A landmark in the contemporary literature of the diaspora.” —Jia Tolentino, author of Trick Mirror“If Concepcion were only about Samaha’s mother, it would already be wholly worthwhile. But she was one of eight children in the Concepcion family, whose ancestry Samaha traces in this. . . powerful book.” –The New York TimesA journalist's powerful and incisive account of the forces steering the fate of his sprawling Filipino American family reframes how we comprehend the immigrant experienceNearing the age at which his mother had migrated to the US, part of the wave of non-Europeans who arrived after immigration quotas were relaxed in 1965, Albert Samaha began to question the ironclad belief in a better future that had inspired her family to uproot themselves from their birthplace. As she, her brother Spanky—a rising pop star back in Manila, now working as a luggage handler at San Francisco airport—and others of their generation struggled with setbacks amid mounting instability that seemed to keep prosperity ever out of reach, he wondered whether their decision to abandon a middle-class existence in the Philippines had been worth the cost.Tracing his family’s history through the region’s unique geopolitical roots in Spanish colonialism, American intervention, and Japanese occupation, Samaha fits their arc into the wider story of global migration as determined by chess moves among superpowers. Ambitious, intimate, and incisive, Concepcion explores what it might mean to reckon with the unjust legacy of imperialism, to live with contradiction and hope, to fight for the unrealized ideals of an inherited homeland.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, History, Biography Memoir, Biography, Aapi, Asian American

396 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 12, 2021

Reviews

[Umar Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can really separate this book into three parts.

Part one

The story about Samaha's Filipino family and their triumphs and struggles in the Bay Area and Sacramento. In America they've given up a privileged existence in the Phillipines for a shot at something greater like millions of others from around the globe since the immigration reform of the 1960's. Like many in his generation, and most in the future, this is largely a suburban tale. This part of the book I found very interesting and wish there would've been more of it. I was particularly interested in his Trump-supporting devoutly Catholic mother and his uncle who was a rock star in the Phillipines, but now a seasoned baggage handler in San Francisco. This book was written for the white progressive gaze and if nothing else gives some insight into Filipino history, the struggles of Filipino immigrants, the politics and economy of the Phillipines, and the dilemma of contract workers in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and other places (where, along with Indonesians, many Filipinos toil in slave-like conditions).

Samaha didn't discuss his largely absentee, but financially supportive, Lebanese father, much until he gives us a very superficial account of meeting his half-sisters on a New England road trip. These are the children of a wealthy man who owns American power plants which is a super woke profession and I'm sure he is heavily invested in minimizing the carbon footprint of the family. His sisters, who come from a country dominated by Hezbollah, the Muslim Brotherhood, Christian and other clan militias, and the foreign influence of Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Iran, are positively mortified to see Trump signs. It must've been triggering to see MAGA hats instead of the giant banners of Hasan Nasrallah, Ayatollah Khamenei, and Bashar al-Asad, that can be found in Beirut.

Part Two

The second part of this book is history and basically read like the Wiki version of a Howard Zinn book. Instead of a sophisticated outlook of the world in which there are numerous bad actors with sinister motivations, the US being only one of them, this is a telling of history of the 20th Century in which all bad emanates from the US. Glossed over, or not mentioned at all, are the Cambodian Genocide of the Khmer Rouge, the massacare of Muslim minorities in communist Vietnam, and the campaign of violence against rural Muslims in Indonesia by communist rebels, and many more things. This is the kind of logic that led much of progressive Twitter to go into mourning after the killing of Qasim Soleimani, despite his direct role in the creation of death squads that have terrorized civilians in Iraq and Syria including Palestinian refugees.

I was happy to see near the end of the book the author traveled to the Phillipines and discovered many miss the dictatorship of Marcos just as many in Indonesia miss the rule of Suharto. In both cases liberal democracy hasn't delivered what people really want- economic stability and mobility, safety, and a rising standard of living. Instead, in both countries, you've seen the rise of a corrupt and rigged economy favoring the few and heavily dependent on foreign loans.

Part three

The third part of this book is political and deals heavily with racial and identity politics. When I read these parts I immediately knew Samaha was living in Brooklyn. Brooklyn- where the children of white millionaires meet in coffee shops to discuss abolitionism while the NYPD is harassing Black males outside, where newer white residents move into buildings Black and Latino residents have been priced out of, and then put a Black Lives Matter sign up in the window. This is where modern popular progressive racial dogma runs deep. With his presence in Brooklyn Samaha performs a needed role. While gentrification is an overwhelmingly white phenomenon they are often self conscious about this so are eager to welcome a sprinkling of non whites who can give these settings an appearance of diversity. To fulfill this role the non-white person must be of the same high educational and economic class as the white majority and share their brand of progressive politics. People such as Samaha are actually ideal political candidates for these urban political groups to get behind.

In Brooklyn, or the Bay, Samaha can be part of a "POC" or "BIPOC" coalition that is presented as monolithic. The daughter of the deposed Afghan president, who strolled out of the country with $145 million in cash, is living in Brooklyn and in her own words is "Brooklyn cliche" pursuing an "artistic bohemian lifestyle" There she is joined by the children of wealthy American Suburbs and other international rich kids who have sent Black residents packing to the suburbs of Atlanta and Charlotte and Latino residents packing to the suburbs of Miami and Orlando. The Afghan bohemian, under this popular narrative, is one with the Central American migrant working for cash and the Colombian sex worker. It's fitting this week a video in Canada went viral of a wealthy Iranian woman going on a racist tirade against Filipina workers. As a guy who grew-up in working-class California neighborhoods, Samaha knows damn well this is a more accurate glimpse of relations between groups than anything some trust fund hipster is yapping about at a craft brewery.

Samaha dedicates an entire chapter to his playing football. I also played football (and wrestled, boxed, and played baseball) so I was interested in this chapter even though I knew it would probably be awful. It was. Samaha told some familiar football tales before going into a woke diatribe about how football is uniquely American because you fight for and defend territory. I'm not sure what history Samaha studied, but that's pretty much what everyone has been doing since the beginning of recorded history. The real reason for this chapter was an origin story and coming of age. He was saying I once played and enjoyed football like the filthy suburban breeders driving their SUV's and former Black Brooklyn residents, but now I've seen the light, I apologize for my sins, and please baptize me with soy latte and let me eat from thine holy bread oh Brooklyn hipsters (avocado toast).

After reading the football part I said to myself- "this guy is not cool". Samaha redeemed himself in my eyes after acknowledging he was a huge fan of Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and it was this interest that rekindled his search for roots and a trip back to the homeland. I'm also a huge Pacquiao fan. After further research I discovered that Samaha began his writing career in my hometown of St. Louis writing for a publication I have a couple of bylines in. When I looked up an article he'd written on boxing I was in the background of a photo at a local gym. Small world.

Samaha closes with his mother upset that she'd thought her American flag had been torn down in California. He tells her that, although she is proud to be an American, now isn't a good time to be hanging a flag because of the political climate and the fact the flag is hateful to many people given its symbolism. I'm not a flag waiver or a fan of flags; but I think we all know, especially after ample video evidence from the summer of 2020, if that flag would've been torn down it wouldn't have been by Black or Latino kids- it would've been the actions of young white hipsters on a mission of performative adventure.

Conclusion

This book is a 3.5. I think this could've been a great book had he stuck to the family story and tales of the Filipino diaspora. Samaha is a very strong and talented writer. In this book he both tried to do too much and when it came to history and politics was cliche and generic not challenging the reader. I often ask myself why are people still coming to America? This appears to be an empire in decline with the best days behind us. The rights for the working-class are minimal and the level of violence in our cities is akin to that of war zones. Then I talk to immigrants, I see their children prosper, and talk to people overseas whose dream it is to come to America. They tell me their problems and I see why they want to come to this very flawed land. In the end Samaha came to the basic conclusion I have- every place pretty much sucks for some reason or another, but for many people, aspiring immigrants included, America may be the place that sucks the least. These new waves of immigrants are eroding old racial lines and creating a complicated, but dynamic and sometimes beautiful new America.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Related so much to the frustration of being the kid of immigrants watching one of your parents wholeheartedly get sucked into the world of Trump worship and conspiracy theories.

[Lina Fernandez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting book. I found the writing style uneven and lacking in a larger narrative structure, and often felt like the author got caught up in random retellings that didn’t add to the story, but his exploration of the difference between what America means for immigrants and their American-born kids hit home for me.

I related to his ambivalence about the U.S. and whether his family made the right choice in moving here, and found his mom’s incredible, unfailing belief in the U.S. familiar in my own immigrant family. What does it mean to critique the place your family sacrificed to reach, believing it to be the promise of a bright future for you? What must it feel like to dedicate your life to providing something for your child that they never asked for and perhaps would not have wanted? I know from experience what it is to be the skeptical, unpatriotic daughter of an all-in-for-America immigrant family, but this book allowed me the room to try to see things from my parents’ and grandparents’ perspectives, even as I continue to disagree with them about the merits of this place we’ve all ended up.

I wish he had spent more time exploring his mother’s devolution into conservatism, as this is something I’ve seen in my dad and heard from friend’s is also common with their immigrant parents. This book left me with a lot to think about.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't get me wrong, at times this novel can get lengthy and the family tree is a large one to follow. And yet, it feels natural to call this one of the best reads I've ever experienced. Albert Samaha boldly shares his family's long-history of adaptation to colonial powers throughout Philippine history. Samaha places you in his shoes; readers come to understand history through the primal focus of Filipino culture: family. Is there no better way to truly root yourself in the history of the world, other than by seeing it through the eyes of those who've come before you?

History is always told by its victors. But in this case, history is told by a mother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and a massive extended family spanning across multiple continents and oceans. This is such a special tale that not only belongs in ethnic studies courses, but should become a classic staple in American Literature classes. To apply investigative journalism skills to one's own family is a special ability; and this novel can serve as a guide for those interested in doing the same.

[Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, wow. This book was able to turn both inward (toward Samaha's own family story) and outward (towards the story of the Philippines and America, both past and present) in an interwoven, really beautiful way.

What a gift to dig deep into your own family's experience of the world and to capture multigenerational perspectives like this. Samaha does not only that, but provides his own commentary and narration, while also zooming out to take a look at larger cultural/political/historical forces shaping everyone's journeys.

The quest to carve out the family barangay sounds challenging, nonlinear, and at times excruciating—but it is also so wonderful and exciting, and reminds me of my own family's quest to all stick together. :)

Loved this book. The author is a fantastic narrator, too.

[Mam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Parts of this book were fascinating; parts of this book were not. I was very interested in the subject, because I had a dear friend whose father was Filipino. She had some experiences with racial prejudice, some questions about her identity (which box to check?!), and the ability to fit in no matter what the setting. I'm glad I had the chance to read the book. It did bring some understanding about a population about which I had read very little.

[Czarina Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to convey how much I'm grateful that this book exists, in the way that it brings a little more clarity to my own existence.

[Debi Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only an account of the author and his family's history, but that of the colonization of the Philippines by Spain and then by the U.S., its independence, and the rise and fall of Marcos. I appreciated the sprawling history of the author's family that, like those of us who live it, is not just his nuclear family. When I'm not back home and people ask about my family, they get a look of shock when I talk about my extended family as well, instead of focusing on the nuclear. Multi-generations of immigrants in our families isn't uncommon and remembering who is related to you how (sometimes it gets real complicated) is a necessity. Including the extended family provides deeper dimensions and full context to the author's life. It's difficult to understand my story as the daughter of an immigrant without also knowing my grandparents, great-grandparents, and others of their generations also immigrated while me and my dad's siblings are all first gen FilAms; and that those immigrant elders had a lot to do with who I am today.

This isn't a memoir that represents all FilAms or Filipinos in the rest of the diaspora, but one family's against the background of the history that the elder generations left to pursue the "American Dream." I appreciate the history that the author includes as much of it was known to me but only in generalities and not some of the details that he delves into like Spain refusing to negotiate Philippine independence with Filipinos (but using racial slurs to refer to us), only dealing with the U.S. who helped the country win independence only to take advantage of Spain's disdain for the people it colonized for centuries and take hold of the archipelago as its territory.

This is a great read for getting a better understanding of Philippine history as well as family dynamics for some Filipinos.

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book dives into the author's journey on discovering who he is, where his family came from, and how they got here. He talks about his confused identity growing up, being from the Philippines, and his family's Filipino history. He also shines a light on his mother's life as an immigrant, one of eight children. The story reveals his family’s history through Spanish colonialism, American intervention, and Japanese occupation. It also demonstrates how his immigrant family tried to become Americans and the unfathomable losses they have faced along the way.

This story is really a commentary on the issues and challenges surrounding immigration. The book dives into the question, what does it mean to be an American? I learned a lot about America's history and the immigration struggles people face. The author's family's story illustrates the rise and fall of our country that, for some, is comprised of dashed dreams and immigration struggles.

To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/alb...

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a bit of a chore to get through mainly because the author liked to delve into long tangents explaining the historical context of some aspects of his family’s life or his own personal experience. The chapters are long and arduous, but I always looked forward to the moments where he came back to the main storyline retelling his family’s immigrant experience in the US.

I also appreciated some of the historical context around the many political dynasties in the Philippines and the inevitable influence the US exercised to control our political landscape.

There were a tad too many family member names to remember and the author loved enumerating them and their whereabouts many times, which I find myself glossing over as I’ve stopped caring about many of them. My primary focus is on him, Uncle Spanky, and his mother and I wish that came through much more prominently throughout the book.

I would give it three stars for readability, but all the effort and diligence he took to put together references and research in this beast of a book deserve another nod of praise.

[Manisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really liked how it fused history of Philippines, Spanish colonial project and American involvement in Philippines, with Samaha's own family story. It helped that many of Samaha's family tree were historically/culturally important figures and lived such diverse yet interesting lives, making it a gripping read. The book also educated me about Philippines figures and American culture in so many ways, with me looking up Harriett Tubman, Jose Rizal, Aguinaldo, Huey Newton, history of NFL racism, Jim Thorpe, US conquest of California from Mexico.

[Jea Canizares · Rating 4 out of 5]

The heart of “Concepcion” is the story of Samaha’s mother (Concepcion is the family’s surname on his maternal side), who came to the U.S. and raised the author in relative middle-class privilege in Vallejo, only to have the financial meltdown of 2008 trigger an economic backslide from which she hasn’t recovered. By 2020, she’s pawning off her jewelry and drifting from one itinerant job to the next. But her faith in the American dream never wavers, nor does her support for Trump and her belief in the assorted right-wing conspiracies associated with him.

Samaha’s narrative jumps in time and between family members; at times, it’s disorienting, but it serves well his greater storytelling purposes. The narrative shines when Samaha details the life of his grandmother, who stayed with various relatives at different points in time, redefining the meaning of home.

The beauty of memoir is not so much in the author's revelation of universal emotions and sentiments, but in the locality of instances with which the reader can associate his own memories. For us Filipinos in the Diaspora, these memories are part of a cultural archive. Names and places are particularly relevant and carry a lot of weight. The archive is a tool box for survival in foreign lands.  I was relieved that Concepcion is neither a make-me-feel-good memoir or a self-promotion of a prominent family.  Samaha maintains a tone of humility, positivity, possibilities, and wonderment even though in the immigration game, a bad hand had been dealt to his family, and by extension, the Filipino people.

[Edrick Willie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The absolutely bonkers timeline resonated with me and accurately approximated my own questions about my parents' migrations being "worth it." Samaha's love for his barangay -- and above all, his mother -- is clear even as he describes the incredible frustration of navigating differences bases on politics, age, and culture. A standout work of nonfiction.

[Calvyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Albert Samaha interweaves the history of one Filipino family through the lens of history. In doing so, he addresses the history of colonization throughout the world; of nations' self-interests; of the immigrants' quest for "something better," and of the American Dream, even as well-educated talented family members are hired for menial jobs. He describes the rise and fall of family fortune, while comparing and contrasting the experiences of the first- and second-generation family members.

And he balances the American Dream, with stark observations:
"...A lot of people just want a place to live peacefully, a reasonable job that pays the bills, and opportunities for their children to do the same or more. America's exceptionalism spawned from the promise of being that place for anyone who needed it. Who better to lead the world out of the colonial age than a colony that grew into an empire and welcomed others fleeing tyranny? Who better to reckon with the fruits of oppression than the idealistic democracy whose sins are so brutal and present? Who better to share the wealth than the land that mastered the science of making money?..." (at 312)

And yet he balances critique with history, with family, with humor, and with his own success.

"I aimed for this book to honor my elders who built the foundation I was born into, and to offer an account of their journeys for the historical record. My elders passed down many of the stories I wrote, and I'm grateful for their willingness to share memories that aren't always fond, and for their teaching me how to confront those shadows with humor and good spirit." (at 376)

An American Filipino looks at his countries by following his family's own history.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of book I love, but I understand why it wouldn't be five stars for everyone. For me, super interesting content, plus a writing style that I really admire.

I loved learning about history that I was completely unaware of. About the Philippines. About Vallejo, CA. Etc.

I loved this family, even when I had a hard time keeping track of who was whose sibling and whose cousin, etc. He describes early arrivals in the US as establishing beachheads or outposts; big multi-generational family gatherings with the grown-ups standing around the rice cooker talking about their next moves; all the different jobs and commutes relatives had in the San Francisco area and how they helped each other out with living arrangements, etc. It's a team effort, which ties in so well with his reflections on US football.

In particular, I enjoyed his portrayal of his mother, even though the two of them see the United States and all that it promises so differently. At the same time that he raises concerns about her drift into MAGA world, he obviously loves and respects her. A lot of his inner struggle is figuring out whether his family fully appreciated what they were facing when they left the Philippines for the US, what life would have been like if they hadn't, what his identity as half-Filipino American means.

Lots of politics in this book. If you liked Wilkerson's approach in Caste, you'll like his similar approach. At one point, he brilliantly analyzes football, the kind that isn't played anywhere except the US, and how it displays some of the best and worst of the US mindset.

[Hannah Bergstrom de Leon · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is nothing so rewarding as reading a deeply personal, generational family narrative while learning the history of place and people along the way. I am not a great lover of history books, but when it’s interwoven with story with the skill of Albert Samaha’s “Concepcion: An Immigrant Family's Fortunes” it is a delightful experience I highly recommend.

“Concepcion” tells the story of Samaha’s Filipino family for generations as they engaged in the colonization of their homeland to their complicated immigration to the United States and the highs and lows they experienced. What is remarkable about this book is Samaha’s ability to weave together a family history and lore along with the social and political influences and circumstances affecting the Philippines.

I listened to Samaha tell this story in his own voice through an audio format and his care and passion to share this particular immigration story from a part of the world too often forgotten or glossed over is crystal clear. He helps the reader see the deeply human complexities of his family’s past and the colonization of the world as they continue to impact his and the next generations’ futures.

For anyone interested in learning more about Southeast Asia, the Philippines or immigration in general this book offers a unique and engaging perspective. Deeply researched and honest, Samaha faces the complexity of the present and future in relation to the past.

Want more book content? Follow me at thebookwar.com

[Fmartija · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concepcion is generally a memoir about Albert Samaha's experiences as a first generation Filipino American. Samaha relates his experiences against the backdrop of his family's history in the Philippines dating all the way back to just prior to the Spanish colonization of the Philippines. Throughout his narrative, Samaha dives into the question - in his family's quest to search for a better life in America, did they trade off what could have been a gilded life in the Philippines? The answer is...its complicated. As with every family, the perspectives of the different generations can vary wildly, despite shared experiences. Albert Samaha develops a keen and conflicted awareness of the complicated history of the United States, whereas his mom (and other members of her generation within the family) have always seen the United States as a place where their family can seek out greater opportunity.

Being a first generation Filipino American, I have never related better to the experiences described in a book as I did with this book. Albert Samaha's elder relatives are reflections of my Titos and Titas.... Albert's experiences, while not identical to mine, were a close reflection to my experiences of growing up as a Filipino American. I loved every bit of this book, because, for the first time in my life, there was a language that helped verbalize my perspectives, thoughts, and experiences. I did not actively seek out this book, this book found me...and I am extremely grateful for it!

[Levi Pierpont · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally finished this one. Not an overly pleasant or engaging reading experience. The author reads for the audiobook, and there’s something about his tone of voice throughout the whole thing that grated on me. It’s hard to explain, give a sample a listen to see what I mean.

All that said, the book offered lots of information about the Philippines and what it’s like to be an immigrant from one imperfect country to another. I appreciated hearing about his conservative-minded mother, because my parents are pretty much the same way, save a few more extreme Qanon-related ideas.

I wanted to read this book because Jia Tolentino provided a blurb for it, but also because I’m dating someone who is the first of his family to come to the United States (from the Philippines 🇵🇭), and I wanted to understand more where he’s coming from, politically and socially and culturally. So, for all I learned from this book, I have to give it 4 stars. Also, what’s all that football information? And why does he have to take a grand, metaphorical stance on everything? Maybe I’m annoyed because I’m the same way. :/

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is at its best when it focuses on the narrative family history. Unfortunately, the author tries to cover too much sweeping history and social commentary while also telling his family story. I watched an interview Samaha did, which is what led me to this book. In the interview, I loved how he recounted interviewing his family members to piece together this memoir. Individual and family history always unfolds within broader contexts, but Samaha attempts to cover swathes of time and conquest that make it difficult to follow and remain engaged. Added to that is a lot of general posturing on social issues rather than focusing specifically on how those social issues affected his family.

I was hoping to enjoy this book. The stories of his family members are compelling and bring out Samaha's best writing. I wish he had focused on his family within the historical and social context rather than trying to be three different books in one. Overall, I would give this book 2 stars, but I loved the narrative parts so much that I am giving it 3.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than a personal memoir, this is an insightful and informative look at the Filipino diaspora in the US through the stories of Samaha's relatives and friends. His family was privileged in the Philippines but not so in the US. They began to immigrate in the 1960s but the rise of Ferdinand Marcos escalated their departures. Samaha, who moved to the US with his mother in the mid 1990s, found life not only vastly different but also confusing as he struggled with racial identity, among other things. While the stories of his relatives are fascinating, equally interesting is his look at the how the colonization of the Philippines by a series of countries - Spain, the US, Japan- has impacted its people and their view of their place in the world. While incredibly well researched, more importantly, it's a uniquely personal look at a big issue. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC. Great read.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know if this book is for everyone, but everyone should have a book like this.

To me, the work he's done to put his life in the context of the history of our people and our countries taught isn't about educating others about colonialism in the Philippines or shining a light on the immense cost of the American dream. It's about understanding himself and helping those like him understand themselves.

This book captures a story that I know innately because of my own life. But to go beyond that experience and connect it to the lives of our parents, their parents and back to the effective founding of our country gave me a deeper understanding of who I am and why.

There is truly something incredible about seeing yourself and your experiences reflected so starkly in someone else's life. I'm incredibly grateful to have had the chance to read this.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

One part family drama, one part historical narrative, and one part social commentary, this book made me jump out of my seat metaphorically (most of the time) and literally (a couple of times). Samaha is a journalist who came up in the internet age of media so if you're used to reading those longform, narrative journalism, personal essay hybrids that everyone seems fond of nowadays, then you'll be in for a treat. His storytelling style is excellent (watch a couple of videos where he narrates a story and maybe you'll start hearing his voice while reading the book) and he has wonderful respect for his ancestors. I dare you to read this book without being compelled to wonder about all the untold stories in your own family.

[R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading Filipino stories. Especially from the perspective of the Filipino diaspora because I relate so much with the feelings, struggles, and issues raised. I enjoyed the peek into this family structure, some moments made me laugh because Albert Samaha’s mother reminded me of Filipinas I’ve also known throughout my life. The book also explored the history of Philippines, and I am often transported into a different world when I read about these histories. Having only grown up with a Westernized point of view its refreshing to read about the history of my family’s ancestors. It was a little dry, history tends to be for me, at least, but nonetheless I really enjoyed this novel and I liked being able to take my time with it.

[Jan Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

My personal hero is a Filipino immigrant - a doctor who saved my life.
This books covers three areas: History of the Philippines, his family's personal immigration story, and Us/World 20th century history with an emphasis on race relations. The intersect a bit but at times it becomes a bit to massive in scope. There is also a very long chapter on American football, which he played in high school and college until he saw the light and saw football for the bad thing it is, I guess , and quit. So, the book was kind of all over the place. I think it got a little too broad in scope and would have been better to stick to the firsts two aspects and used the the world history when it applied. While I agree it took the NFL too long to elect Black players to the hall of fame, I questions the relevance to the story or improvement of it.

[ADude ABikes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book took me a very long time to read. I'm not sure why, buy I wasn't expecting so much history. I was looking more for the memoir. I found it sprawling in its coverage and sometimes confusing when it would bring in football, for example. The author being a journalist for a website greatly affected the tone and pacing of the book I think. All the jumping around and the timelines was a bit confused . But in the end I was sad when it ended and felt like I learned something about the Philippines and the history of US Spanish and Japanese colonization The negative effects of which linger to this day, sadly.

[Jonathan Carter]

Decided to drop this book altogether.

I find the topic very interesting and engaging; however, the author wanted to discuss so much within his book that it felt less of his story and more of a historical textbook. He should've focused on what he wanted us to experience—being in his shoe, and placed less emphasis on the very historical aspect of his book.

A huge chunk of the portion that I've read, I was left to wonder, why is this even here? What is the connection of this with the main story?

And even though, in a sense, it has a connection, I didn't think it was detrimental enough to actually place it there.

[Hannah Bae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Concepcion is an extraordinary, genre-bending memoir. It's an important addition to the historical record in its detailed exploration of the history of the Philippines, colonization and its diasporas. This is a memoir that's as much about Albert Samaha's ancestors, his mother's generation and the author himself. While Samaha explores the political differences between him and members of his family, including his mother, I was charmed by how kind, yet unflinchingly truthful he remained in his portrayals of these beloveds. His take is brave and nonjudgmental, just one of the many narrative techniques to admire in this exceptional book.

[Darby DeBonis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a one of a kind read. As another reviewer wrote, often history is told my it’s victor’s and in this novel, it is told by a mother, aunts, uncles, cousins, and a young Filipino American man. This story, which I expected to be a memoir of the Concepcion family’s immigration to the states, is so much more than that. It is the story of this family’s adaptability under colonial rule, their resilience, and their faith. Samaha’s role as an investigative journalist shines very brightly and his four years of research show in a fun dance throughout every chapter. Not an easy read but definitely worthwhile.

[Santino Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concepcion dives into the history of the Philippines/US colonization and does a great job of showing how the past affects the mentalities and events of the present. I believe this book is strongest when it makes those historical connections and the conclusions he draws from them are insightful and resonate with my experience as a Filipino-American.

This book loses a star in my book because the second half of the book has a lot less of this focus. Sometimes the personal stories overstayed its welcome and you can truly just “yadda yadda” skim away those parts and you don’t lose much. Overall, I loved this book!

[Missy Rolseth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story of the immigrant family is interesting and engaging. However, the style of the book was not for me. It was a little hard to follow as it kept jumping around and then you wouldn't realize the point of this new setting for several pages...but I had already checked out by then. There is a LOT of detail which is helpful, but also overwhelming at times. I start skimming once I see long paragraphs with lists of examples or details. For me, I would prefer a more straightforward telling of what is an incredible story.