Cry Slaughter!

by Edilberto K. Tiempo

An Avon original.

160 pages, paperback

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

Fiction-writer and literary critic Edilberto Tiempo (1913-Sept. 1996) obtained his M.F.A. from the University of Iowa and his Ph.D. in English from the University of Denver. In addition to having been a Guggenheim and Rockefeller fellow, Ed Tiempo, alongside wife Edith L. Tiempo, spent around four years studying literature and creative writing in the Iowa Writers Workshop. Upon returning to the Philippines in 1962, the Tiempos founded the Silliman National Writers Workshop after the objectives of the Iowa writers' clinic. The annual writing workshop in Dumaguete City is the longest running in Asia.

In the 1960s he taught in two American schools, but it was the Silliman University which Tiempo chose as his base, serving as department chair, graduate school dean, vice-president for academic affairs, and writer-in-residence. He reaped numerous honors for his writing, among them the Cultural Center of the Philippines Prize, Palanca Awards, the National Book Award, and a prize in the U.P. Golden Anniversary Literary Contest.

(from panitikan.com.ph)

Reviews

[Josh Hitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's fine and actually fairly well written, but overall, it's kind of dull. The setting is the Phillipines during the Japanese occupation and how the guerrillas kept fighting after official surrender. It's from the view of a minster turned soldier who, due to an aggressive act, has a crisis of faith. Most of the action is told second-hand since our narrator isn't part of much.

Can't really recommend it. Has some nice historical aspect since the original manuscript was written in the Phillipines and was shipped out on a sub in 43. Also based on actual events written in the official report of the resistant forces by the author.

[Kelly]

I got about halfway through this book (52% according to my kindle) and it just never really gripped me. I had put it down for about two months, for various reasons, and when I went to pick it back up, I read a few pages and just thought, nope. It wasn't terrible, but I just wasn't compelled to keep reading it.

[Lorelei · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really amazing book. From the Philippines during WWII. Recommended if you can find it.

[Ana Bonode · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was gonna be great