A Filipino YA novel in English
"I Hate My Mother!": Magnetic levitation, a grain of rice & 3 women (Cacho Publishing House, 2007) introduces readers to finding a mother's wisdom in a grain of rice, the parallel between human relationships and magnets, and Bell, her mother, and her sister Cory.
This book made me happy. Not because it's a bright and cheery novel - in fact it has its funny moments but is mostly a serious novel. But because good books make me happy, and this is definitely a solidly good book.
I have heard once that children love their parents and then love them again as adults. "I Hate My Mother!" is about that time in between, when teenagers "hate" their parents. Written in that unique way Filipino teenagers use English, and generously peppered with Filipino words and phrases, "I Hate My Mother!" traces the transformation of Bell's awe of her mother's wisdom as a little girl to her bewilderment, annoyance, and frustration with her mother as a teenager.
But as the years went by, it only became harder for me to understand anything Mommy would say. Even in my most patient moments, no beam of light would shine on me or on Mommy's words. Parang* I was losing all capacity for understanding.
But then again, more and more, I would come to believe it was my Mom who was losing all her wisdom.
...
Kasi** while I was getting wiser, Mommy was getting dumber. Like she was losing the wisdom Dad always talked about when I was a little girl. And she was losing it fast.
In this novel, Perpilili Vivienne Tiongson gives readers an almost pitch perfect portrayal of the INEXPLICABLE rage many teenage girls feel towards their mother.
I just wanted to feel nothing. For once, to feel like nothing's the matter with my Mom. To just watch her walk across the hall, or even into our room, without having to avoid her, without having to pretend that I was too busy to talk to her or pretend I had not noticed her at all. To not cringe at the way she chewed her food when we sat at the dining table. To not shudder at the slightest touch of her hand on my back. To not ice over at the words "I love you."
There is no clear, neat, happy ending for this novel. No resolution between mother and daughter. But the ending does satisfy in that there is hope. And as one cannot help but get emotionally involved with the story, the ending is also satisfying because it gives readers plenty of room to work out their own thoughts and feelings.
Needless to say, I recommend this book!
Loose English translations of the words in Filipino:
*It was as if...
**Because...
[I bought my own copy of "I Hate My Mother!".]
"I Hate My Mother!": Magnetic levitation, a grain of rice & 3 women (Cacho Publishing House, 2007) introduces readers to finding a mother's wisdom in a grain of rice, the parallel between human relationships and magnets, and Bell, her mother, and her sister Cory.
This book made me happy. Not because it's a bright and cheery novel - in fact it has its funny moments but is mostly a serious novel. But because good books make me happy, and this is definitely a solidly good book.
I have heard once that children love their parents and then love them again as adults. "I Hate My Mother!" is about that time in between, when teenagers "hate" their parents. Written in that unique way Filipino teenagers use English, and generously peppered with Filipino words and phrases, "I Hate My Mother!" traces the transformation of Bell's awe of her mother's wisdom as a little girl to her bewilderment, annoyance, and frustration with her mother as a teenager.
But as the years went by, it only became harder for me to understand anything Mommy would say. Even in my most patient moments, no beam of light would shine on me or on Mommy's words. Parang* I was losing all capacity for understanding.
But then again, more and more, I would come to believe it was my Mom who was losing all her wisdom.
...
Kasi** while I was getting wiser, Mommy was getting dumber. Like she was losing the wisdom Dad always talked about when I was a little girl. And she was losing it fast.
In this novel, Perpilili Vivienne Tiongson gives readers an almost pitch perfect portrayal of the INEXPLICABLE rage many teenage girls feel towards their mother.
I just wanted to feel nothing. For once, to feel like nothing's the matter with my Mom. To just watch her walk across the hall, or even into our room, without having to avoid her, without having to pretend that I was too busy to talk to her or pretend I had not noticed her at all. To not cringe at the way she chewed her food when we sat at the dining table. To not shudder at the slightest touch of her hand on my back. To not ice over at the words "I love you."
There is no clear, neat, happy ending for this novel. No resolution between mother and daughter. But the ending does satisfy in that there is hope. And as one cannot help but get emotionally involved with the story, the ending is also satisfying because it gives readers plenty of room to work out their own thoughts and feelings.
Needless to say, I recommend this book!
Loose English translations of the words in Filipino:
*It was as if...
**Because...
[I bought my own copy of "I Hate My Mother!".]
Comments
It would be nice if Filipino teens living in the States could get their hands on this.
I usually appreciate when an author incorporates some of their own culture or language in their novels. It gives me a chance to learn something. As long as there is a word guide in the back its all good.
And you're right! Filipino teens in the US should be able to read this book. I think a lot of foreign publishers have trouble breaking into the US market. Sigh.
perpi alipon-tiongson happens to be one of the founders of KUTING (Kwentista ng Mga Tsikiting) and is very much active in the children's literature scene in Manila as professor in De La Salle Univeristy (Taft).
Angelica, aww. *hug* I cried too when I read this book! I remembered all the rage I used to have against my mother. :o(
i am going through this period in life and a little 'reality slap' would really do me some good.
it'll be even more helpful because i am a pure filipina.
if anyone could refer me to where i can get this book, it would be greatly appreciated
Here's our address:
Cacho Publishing House
Union corner Pines
Mandaluyong
(near the Boni MRT stop. Take Reliance St/Abbott Labs, then first left)
(From Shaw/Lourdes School Mandaluyong, take Sheridan then turn right at Boyds Coffee)
I recently bought Owl Friends by Carla Pacis. Can't wait to read it! :o)
www.candygourlay.com
And thank you for your very kind words about my blog. :o)
My experience is that it's difficult to order just a few books. There are 2 reasons for this:
a) the cost of air mail usually exceeds that of the books themselves
b) the mode of payment. Unfortunately, we don't accept credit cards so one has to do it through checks and/or bank drafts. Buyer takes care of any extra charges
Best is still to run it through someone visiting the Philippines. (Now that I'm talking abut this, I just realized that I have a friend leaving for London next week i think. If you are interested, you know my email naman Candy.)