Pinoy Reads Pinoy Books discussion

I have read two of his books: The Woman Who Had Two Navels and A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino: An Elegy in Three Scenes. I liked them both.

I still have a bunch of his other books in my to-be-read folder and will be reading them soon.

In the meantime, if you want to discuss about him, please feel free to put your thoughts below.

I remember those. They were required readings in school.

The Joaquin book I'd like to read is Manila, My Manila. Sadly, it's out of print. It's not even available at Solidaridad and Popular. ):

Good for you, Veronica. You must have graduated from a nice high school.

Last year, we saw a deluge of freshly printed books by Joaquin. I wonder why the publishers did not reprint Manila, My Manila: A History for the Young?

Nabasa ko din ang 2 nobela nya, pati na rin Prose and Poems kung saan kasama din ang A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino. Sana magkaroon ng adaptasyon sa pelikula ang dulang ito dahil maganda talaga, hindi lang pang-teatro.

Candido's Apocalypse and Cave and Shadows

both are really good

Krizia, I envy you. I am still to read them.

You know what I like about Pinoy authors? Their books are not lengthy, Candido's Apocalypse is less than 100 pages but almost all Pinoy books I've read are really good. Almost all Pinoy books have depth!

You're right, Krizia.

I was introduced to Nick Joaquin way back in college when our Intro to Film professor gave us a supplementary reading on a profile he wrote for Nora Aunor. It was said that he's one of the writers then who spotted that there's a potential in La Aunor's acting chops — and the man was indeed right!

So far I have only read his The Woman Who Had Two Navels. I don't know, but there's just something in his prose that makes it magical, as if a time machine that brings you back and somehow experience an old-world glow.

Jzhun, the prose of Two Navels is indeed magical. As if something mysterious is lurking in the story. Whatever it is, it's hard to shake off.

What I also liked about "Two Navels" was the HK setting. The only one local book (that I've read) with that setting at that time in our history.

K.D. wrote: "What I also liked about "Two Navels" was the HK setting. The only one local book (that I've read) with that setting at that time in our history."

Kuya D, come to think of it, the older Dr. Monson's (father of the veterinarian Dr. Pepe Monson)life is like an allusion to Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo's life when the latter was exiled in Hongkong. Ewan ko ba.

Ryan wrote: "Jzhun, the prose of Two Navels is indeed magical. As if something mysterious is lurking in the story. Whatever it is, it's hard to shake off."

Indeed! I admit much of what the book didn't come clear to me, that's why I'm mulling over if I'll buy a copy of the book (since I just borrowed it from a friend) and reread it. Then again, I need to find a copy of Tropical Gothic first and enjoy Joaquin's short stories this time around. :)

jzhunagev wrote: "K.D. wrote: "What I also liked about "Two Navels" was the HK setting. The only one local book (that I've read) with that setting at that time in our history."

Kuya D, come to think of it, the olde..."

Good point, Jzhun. Ngayon ko rin lang na-realize yan. Oo nga ano?

Salamat.

hindi natuloy ang pagbabasa ko ng alvin yapan book. me nakaiwan sa opis ng aklat ni nick joaquin, reportage of a crime. ayun natapos ko in a few days. ang hirap kasi bitawan! napakaganda. nabasa ko na rin ang reportage din niya na tungkol naman sa mga krimen involving lovers ang ganda ganda rin!

yung woman with two navels, medyo naloka ako. hahahaha sori naman! parang masyadong aral ang fiction niya doon?

Beverly, tama ka. Parang nakakahon ang kuwento ng "Two Navels" kung kaya't di siya masyadong entertaining. Pero kung titingnan sa aspeto ng husay sa pagkakasulat, maayos naman. Wala lang nga yong tipong mga tagpo na mahirap makalimutan. Sabagay, bukod sa "Two Navels" at "Portrait" ay wala pa akong ibang nabasang Joaquin. Pero sa dalawa'y mas nagsiyahan ako sa "Portrait." Ang Marasigan sisters na nanghuhuli ng mga daga!

Beverly wrote: "yung woman with two navels, medyo naloka ako. hahahaha sori naman! parang masyadong aral ang fiction niya doon?"

Agree! Nakakaloka nga!

Pero nawili akong basahin, matayog ang simbolismo ng bawat karakter at isa ito sa mga librong Filipino na may elemento ng magical realism, kung matatwag o mapapabilang ito roon. Paborito ko yong ikatlong bahagi ng nobela. Disjointed at sinematiko ang pagkakalahad.

Gusto ko nang basahin ang Tropical Gothic!

Why are there so many temptations in this world, and man made decrepit to resist them?

Foolishly, I started reading Prose and Poems late last night, and I just can't tear away myself from the book. I breeze through the first five short stories and the best o far and my favorites are:
May Day Eve
The Legend of the Virgin's Jewel
The Legend of the Dying Wanton

Iba ang lirisismo ng prosa ni Joaquin, parang gusto ko na lang itigil at kalimutan 'yong isang banyagang aklat na kasalukyan kong binabasa (pero di pwede syempre). :)

Buti nakahanap ka ng kopya nyan, jzhun. May bonus pa na mga tula at dulang A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino yan. Yung mga istorya kasi ni Nick chinap-chop na sa ibang libro kaya parang kaunti na lang ang laman ng isang libro.

Ryan wrote: "Buti nakahanap ka ng kopya nyan, jzhun. May bonus pa na mga tula at dulang A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino yan. Yung mga istorya kasi ni Nick chinap-chop na sa ibang libro kaya parang kaunti n..."

Actually, sa Solidaridad lang ako nakahanap nito (Php 265) at kung sakaling wala na, available rin ito sa publisher sa Bookmark Publishing, kaso sa Makati pa 'to.

Kung may aklat na magandang introduksyon sa mga gawa ni Nick Joaquin, ito na ang masasabi kong full package: may 11 maiikling kuwento na kasama ng mga una niyang nailathalang mga tula mula sa mga literary magazine, may play ka pa (A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino: An Elegy in Three Scenes! Saan ka pa?! :)

Maganda yung nabasa kong May Day Eve. Yun na siguro yung gawa ni Nick Joaquin na una kong nabasa kaya tumatak sa akin.

Johan anak, madalas nga ganoon. Pag unang akdang nabasa mo sa isang manunulat, parang first impression. Di mo na sya makakalimutan kahit may mabasa ka pang ibang akda niya na mas maganda. Parang love at first sight hahaha.

hahaha parang love at first lang.. hehehehe

Oo tay nagdedebate pa kami sa Phil Lit subject ko dati about sa May Day eve. Damaing magagandang fil stories eh.

May day eve nga pala ngayon. haha kay sarap muling basahin ang maikling kuwento na ito. At kung ako ang tatanungin, ito ang pinaka mahusay na maikling kuwento na isinulat sa ingles ng isang Filipino.

Happy May Day Eve!

Ganoon pala ang ibig sabihin ng May Day Eve? Bisperas ng Labor Day? :) Bago sa akin yon a. :)

naaalala ko tuloy si Donya Agueda at ang salamin haha

Johan, buti ka pa. Di ko pa nabasa ito hehe. Ang alam kong Donya Agueda ay yon karakter sa Flor de Luna. Hahaha

oo tay nabasa ko yan kasi required sa Phil Lit subject namin. :)

ano yung Flor De Luna tay? yan ba yung nasa radyo na drama? :)

Johan anak, primetime serialized drama yan starring Janice de Belen during the 80's sa RPN9. Ang kalaban nyan sa 6-6:30 time slot ay ang Anna Liza starring the late Julie Vega sa GMA7. At college ako noon. Umuuwi ako ng maaga para mapanood si Anna Liza dahil enjoy ako sa intro music ng drama (kahit di masyado sa kuwento). Pero minsan inililipat ko sa Flor de Luna kasi may multo roon hahaha.

Ang dami ng kopya ng The Woman Who Had Two Navels! :)

Biena, madalas ganoon. Pag maraming naghahanap this month, hintayin mo ang 2-3 months, dadagsa ang libro. Kasi may nagtatanong tapos mago-order sila. O di kaya naman may lurkers sa mga threads. Hindi impossible, di ba? :)

Baka yung nga po ang nangyari, kasi dati wala pa akong makita ngayon ang dami dami na nila! Pero kabibili ko lang kasi ng Ang Mundong Ito ay Lupa kaya tsaka na muna si Tata Nick.

Johan wrote: "oo tay nabasa ko yan kasi required sa Phil Lit subject namin. :)

ano yung Flor De Luna tay? yan ba yung nasa radyo na drama? :)"

tay nung high school ako, pinakikinggan ko tuwing tanghali yung flor de Luna Sa DZRM... hahaha yan yung pinagmamalupitan sya ng lola at stepmother nya. haha heavy drama. :)

^Huwaaat? may Flor De Luna sa radio? ni di ko nga inabutan si Janice eh! Yung makabagong Flor de Luna na. Sino nga ba yun?

yes, way back 2007 yun bienna, nai-air sa radyo. I prefer listening flor De Luna kesa panuorin. si Eliza Pineda yung bida dun. :) Mas madrama kasi sa radyo eh

K.D. wrote: "I wonder why the publishers did not reprint Manila, My Man..."

Sabi na, dapat binili ko na yun eh! Bakit ba di ko pa binili yung nakita kong kopya!!!

Gotita de Dragon and Other Stories palang nababasa ko sa kanya at so far, magandaaaaaa!

maganda nga yung gotita! puro essays ni Nick ang balak kong basahin. centennial nya sa 2017.

Kaya nga e. Tara makiisa tayo sa centennial celeb nya, magbasa ng mga gawa nya :D

Hmmm, hindi pa tayo nagbasa ng Nick Joaquin. Mabasa nga yang sinasabi ninyo.

Line up natin:

Agosto - Cirilo F. Bautista
Setyembre - Genaro R. Gojo Cruz
Oktubre - Candy Gourlay??? kung hindi, Ricky Lee!!!
Nobyembre - Nick Joaquin???
Disyembre - Komiks (may request si Ella at Tricia na sila ang magmo-moderate). Balak ko ring mag-outreach tayo para sa Museo Pambata last year? Nagsisimula na ulit akong magbasa ng children's books (sisihin si Genaro hahaha o ang puso ni Clare). Ano sa palagay ninyo?

(view spoiler)[got travel leaves on november, 13-17 and 27-30, kaya okay lang kung sa disyembre ang komiks krismas party hehehe. (hide spoiler)]

Wow. May travel na naman si Ella hehehe

K.D. wrote: "Hmmm, hindi pa tayo nagbasa ng Nick Joaquin. Mabasa nga yang sinasabi ninyo.

Line up natin:

Agosto - Cirilo F. Bautista
Setyembre - Genaro R. Gojo Cruz
Oktubre - Candy Gourlay??? kung hindi, Ric..."

Storytelling ulit? :) May storytelling workshop pala sa Sept. 19, si Kuya Bodjie ang magwuworkshop!!

Aattend ka?