This remarkable first novel follows the struggle of Ben Lucero, a
young Filipino American priest who must come to terms with his
bifurcated notion of home as well as his own religious commitment.
Ben's first visit to the city of Cebu in the Philippines, for his
mother's burial, becomes the occasion of his corruption when he is
confronted with the manipulative wiles of two enigmatic women, his
powerful Aunt Clara and her glamorous young business associate,
Ellen. Ben is inherently corruptible, but his moment of truth is
advanced by what he sees as a perversion of Catholicism, namely the
crucifixion as a means of bargaining with God. Despair, guilt, and
their religious corollary, the need for redemption, follow Ben back
to Seattle, where he attempts to unravel his existential dilemma.
Bacho's vision is darkly comic, and he refuses to sentimentalize
his demanding material. He conveys his vision well, balancing
aphoristic meditations with the oblique revelations of funny,
vivid, believable dialogue. His complex and timely message is
underscored with skillful irony; even the denouement has an
ambiguous twist, raising as many questions as answers.
The fiction of Carlos Bulosan and Bienvenido N. Santos has long
been valued for its depiction of the lives of Filipino immigrants;
this book tells the story of those immigrants' American-born sons
and daughters. Bach's dramatization of the conflict between
Filipino and Filipino American cultures conveys the concerns of the
post-World War II generation with boldness and skill.
""Cebu" is a passionate and sensuous portrayal of Filipino
American life and identity." - Shawn Wong, co-editor of "Aiiieeee
An Anthology of Asian American Writers" and author of
"Homebase."
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
