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The Secret History: a Ridiculous, Morbid Comedy

by Cassandra Isobelle [July 20, 2023]

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

There is so much to say about this book, but really, I do not know where to start or how to make my thoughts blend seamlessly from one to the other. I was entranced, right off the bat, by Donna Tartt’s incredible use of words, and found myself attaching tabs more than I usually do. Placing marks on words that have struck me, whether it be intellectual statements, wtf moments (I had a lot of these), or funny jabs at the characters.

The first line I’d highlighted in the book is this:

I believe that it is better to know one book intimately than a hundred superficially.

Page 31 of The Secret History [Vintage Contemporaries print]

It is so conforming with something a friend of mine had once told me. He explained having to truly immerse yourself to the point of becoming the same person as in a tribe or culture of the language you are learning—how more authentic that act is than simply having the capability to speak multiple languages, whose cultures you know not one thing about.

Grilled Cheese Sandwhich.

I caught on, pretty soon, that although the book revolved around murder and other serious topics, that it was meant to be humorous. None of these guys were men at all, except maybe Francis, who, correct me if I’m wrong—the book is still fresh in my mind and I may have overlooked some flaws—seemed the closest to being sane and likable. Henry, for one, was so hard to take seriously. His character was laughable—an example of an ideal man in the dark academia aesthetic—the way he liked to speak of the smallest things with profound and articulate metaphors, which, when observed from a detached point of view, seemed almost like nonsense.

By the second day I was having my doubts, and then, on the afternoon of the night itself, Charles saw him in Commons eating a grilled cheese sandwich and a milk shake. That did it.

Page 167 of The Secret History [Vintage Contemporaries print]

I don’t know where Henry was. Probably looking at the moon and reciting some poem from the T’ang Dynasty.

Page 458 of The Secret History [Vintage Contemporaries print]

Henry wasn’t the only unlikeable character in the book, of course. Even our dear, Richard Papen, the narrator of this story, frustrated me on multiple occasions. He sort of mocks the group for coming from rich families with their trust funds and monthly allowances, when he himself is no better for continually wanting to impress them and doing nothing of their egotistical traits. Tolerating. Participating.

Being the only female in what was basically a boys’ club must have been difficult for her. Miraculously, she didn’t compensate by being hard or quarrelsome. She was still a girl, a slight lovely girl who lay in bed and ate chocolate, a girl whose hair smelled like hyacinth and whose scarves fluttered jauntily in the breeze.

Page 224 of The Secret History [Vintage Contemporaries print]

Camilla, I believe, was so much more than what Richard made her out to be. We know so little about her character except for Richard’s romanticized description of her ever-so-breathtaking beauty, which makes me think we do not have the full story. I like to imagine that if this had been told from her perspective, we would be much closer to the truth behind these murders.

Julian being completely blind to these occurrences until the last chapters? Skeptical, considering how close he had been with Henry in comparison to his other pupils.

I do not know what to believe and assume about the story, but all I know is that Richard had certainly missed a few details. The Secret History was pure comedy, a satire that made me completely love Donna Tartt and her mind. I stood in the middle of my room after reading this book and laughed, wondering how someone could be as skilled as she is to have written this modern classic. It was hard to grasp my mind on how beautiful the storytelling and imagery were.

I read something that Alfred Hitchcock said. He said suspense doesn’t come from having a bomb thrown from nowhere at the hero. Suspense comes from having two people sitting, talking at a table. There’s a bomb ticking underneath the table, and the audience sees it but the characters don’t. And that’ what suspense is.

Donna Tartt in an interview with Charlie Rose (1992)

And, oh, before anyone asks … Do I think Bunny deserved to die? No, he was a pretty funny guy sometimes. But would I have been tempted to kill him if I were his friend? Maybe. Yes. Surely.

#the secret history #donna tartt #book review #dark academia #psychological thriller #literature #greek literature #richard papen #camilla macaulay #charles macaulay #henry winter #francis abernathy #hampden

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A Reminder That We Are Human: ‘Human Acts’ by Han Kang Review

by Isobelle Cruz [May 21, 2023]

I’ve been hesitant to open up my laptop lately, afraid that I had lost it in me to write a really good article, not in terms of how many likes I receive, but on how much I enjoy the process of making it. My recent works, I admit, have felt passionless and forced for the sake of keeping my blog alive. But this is different. I devoured “Human Acts” by Han Kang over the course of one weekend—my eyes rarely drifting from its pages.

I’d never encountered an interest in the author’s works before, but once I stepped foot in the bookstore, I was suddenly drawn to its cover; simple and clean, silencing the world that surrounded me into muffled echoes.

“Gwangju Uprising” scene in Saedeuldo Sesangeul Teuneunguna at the Yeongwoo Theatre, 1988 [Image Source: Yeongwoo Mudae]

Her lips move, but no sound comes out. Yet Eun-sook knows exactly what she is saying. She recognizes the lines from the manuscript, where Mr. Seo had written them in with a pen. The manuscripts she’s typed up herself, and proofread three times. 

Page 101 of Human Acts

The book features the perspectives of seven characters, one of them being an editor in 1985. Eun-sook’s chapter shows her struggle against censorship and how the company overcomes this, still able to deliver the crossed-out lines of the censors through chilling imagery. Han Kang’s writing is delivered almost in the same feels as the play tackled in her book; quiet, slow, but enough to tell the story.

Gym turned mortuary in May 1980. [Image Source: Robin Moyer, Korea JoongAng Daily]

Another perspective that drew my attention closer than the others was of The Boy’s Friend, Jeong-dae. The words of the dead were briefly featured in the book; faceless spirits hovering over their bodies and watching as others live on, unable to do anything but watch.

If I could escape the sight of our bodies, that festering flesh now fused into a single mass, like rotting carcass of some many-legged monster. If I could sleep, truly sleep, not this flickering haze of wakefulness. If I could plunge headlong down to the floor of my pitch-dark consciousness.

Page 56 of “Human Acts”

It was depressing, and made me conscious of the body I still have control over—a blessing that I often take for granted.

Students on the streets of Gwangju, 1980 [Image Source: Lee Chang-seong, May 18 Memorial Foundation]

Is it possible to bear witness to the fact that of a foot-long wooden ruler being repeatedly thrust into my vagina, all the way to the back wall of my uterus? To a rifle butt bludgeoning my cervix? To the fact that, when the bleeding wouldn’t stop and I had gone into shock, they had to take me to the hospital for a blood transfusion?

Page 164 of Human Acts

Human Acts is flinchingly explicit and gory. It tells the stories of victims from different angles, some of which I would forget to consider if I had not opened this book.

It disturbs me to display these photos on here, but I believe that if words are not enough to deliver chills to the blinded eyes of people, photographs will.

The kids in the photo aren’t lying side by side because their corpses were lined up like that after they were killed. It’s because they were walking in a line.

Page 133 of Human Acts

Whether you read this in the rain, or at the beach where life is supposed to be happy, a strike of pain will stay in the back of your chest, the images of agony haunting you even in bed. 

Human Acts truly opened my mind much more than the other books I’ve read that spit out facts and statistics, so much so, that I am driven away from what matters most—feeling and sympathizing with the victims. Most books I’ve encountered focus solely on hating the dictator that I finish them feeling sort of empty, that I am the same person as I was when I started the book. But that is not the case with Han Kang’s third novel. It reminded me that I am human, and how much my life should be valued.

#han kang #human acts #south korean literature #korean history #asian literature #asian author #asian history #martial law #chun doo hwan #gwangju massacre #gwangju uprising #May 18

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What I’ve Been Watching This Year

by Isobelle Cruz [April 13, 2023]

March has passed and I figure it’s too late to follow through with a post on the female directors I love, so instead, here’s a short list of the shows and films I’ve been watching this year in no specific order.

Beef (2023)

Directed by Lee Sung Jin

My most recent and favorite watch…lo and behold, Beef. A show about two extremely vulnerable and flawed people masking themselves through pride and borderline pettiness. Beef has it all from road rage, heist, and arson, to child abduction.

The Netflix Original starring Ali Wong and Steven Yeung features some of the most lonely characters I’ve seen on film. Danny Cho is a struggling self-proclaimed contractor that works every opportunity he’s given to keep him and his brother afloat while also standing by his promise to buy their parents a house in Los Angeles. With all of that weight at hand, Danny resorts to attempts at suicide and at the perfect time, meets Amy Lau—a woman just as lonely, struggling, and desperate at life as Danny.

But I promise you, it is not as touching as I made it out to be.

Danny and Amy take turns attacking each other after a road rage incident—pissing in Amy’s bathroom floor, vandalizing Danny’s truck, breaking into her house, fucking his brother, kidnapping her daughter—it never seems to end. … Until it does, in the middle of nowhere. The final episode of Danny and Amy in the Deserts reminded me of animals in the wild, a representation of what humans are in the grand scheme of it all. Beef is a must-watch for the hot-tempered, prideful Asians out there who are looking to see themselves on screen

Aftersun (2022)

Directed by Charlotte Wells

Aftersun was an experience. It was uneventful yet somehow spoke so much to me about the joys I’ve been holding myself back from and continue to do. I’d say that Aftersun is so well-loved because of how much it’s able to connect with its audience, despite their varying experiences in life.

It reminded me so much of a trip I had gone on with my father when I was about the same age as Sophie. It’s happened, it’s passed, and I can’t say it really made a drastic impact on my life. But it was there. It is now a memory—which is exactly what the film was. Instead of showing a major turning point in the protagonist’s life, it showed a memory, and it was enough for me to love.

Daisy Jones & the Six (2023)

Directed by James Ponsoldt, Nzingha Stewart, and Will Graham

Let me start off by saying how rich the production for Daisy Jones & the Six was, firstly through their music. I still remember when I first got my hands on the book and searched the band on Spotify, knowing very well that no results would come up, but now there they are—-with 3 million monthly listeners and 24 songs released.

Although the production and marketing went beyond my expectations, the writing seemed to lack, unable to show depth and establish the characters’ relationships with each other. The show went straight to the point, as though the writers had been scared of losing the audience’s attention by putting more focus on the little things, which I would doubt. It lacked the craziness that was found in the book. It lacked the drugs, women, fans, and the skyrocketing feel of their career that were always present in Reed’s works.

Nonetheless, these things never dragged down my rating of the show. It was interesting to finally see what Daisy and Billy’s chemistry looked like on screen and hear their lyrics come to life, which were, oh, so difficult to read on paper. Amazon Prime did its job to reach DJATS fans’ expectations and to entertain newcomers to the fictional band. — Let’s just hope Netflix does the same for Evelyn Hugo.

Suzume (2023)

Directed by Makoto Shinkai

My first anime experience in the cinema. Suzume’s soundtrack blasting from the speakers and Makoto Shinkai’s breathtaking art displayed before me brought this urge to jump through the screen. The atmosphere his art carried through the room was something I wish I could do with my own works.

Throughout the whole watch, it didn’t come to me that this was a love story between two people. There was that obvious crush Suzume had on Sōta, but it surprises me to hear a few people refer to this film as romance. It was moreover an emotional adventure, shining light on the lost souls that have made inches of the world alive.

My favorite scene, before Sōta is turned into a keystone, wherein Tokyo is shown in slow-motion with people going through their everyday lives—eating, shopping, and commuting–-while not knowing their world was on the brink of end, made me ponder of the unseen things that make life the way it is. Everything that has brought everyone to where they are.

There had been times when Suzume and Sōta would prepare to lock up a door once again and I’d think to myself, when will this end? It was as though listening to a song that would repeat the same line over and over again, but besides that, the pacing was captivating---had my eyes stuck to the screen the whole time.

Suzume is exactly what you would expect from Makoto Shinkai. Beautiful art, music, and an okay story.

Babylon (2023)

Directed by Damien Chazelle

Ask me if I’m tired of watching films set in Hollywood and I would likely say yes. But that doesn’t stop me from doing just so over and over again. It surprised me to see how negative the reviews on Babylon have been and almost allowed myself to be swayed by them, but thankfully, had chosen otherwise.

Although I do see where some of the negativity comes from.

The film has been branded as “ Chazelle’s attempt to pander to the Academy for another best pic nomination” by audiences, and as yet another film showing off the lavish and wild lives of Hollywood. Inequality, drugs, women, abuse, and everything. What’s new?

Well, I don’t really care about what’s new or what makes Babylon a poorly-made knockoff of Cinema Paradiso or Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Chazelle was able to keep me entertained and laughing throughout its 3-hour duration, and sometimes it gets really tiring trying to make cinema a technical experience. I can proudly say (shaking as I type this) that I loved Babylon.

#babylon #suzume #anime #aftersun #djats #beef #ali wong #steven yeun #film review #anime review #makoto shinkai #netflix original #beef netflix #damien chazelle #taylor jenkins reid #book to film #book to series #book to screen #2023 movies #2023 shows #paul mescal #lee sung jin #charlotte wells #danny cho #amy lau #margot robbie #brad pitt #diego calva #daisy jones #billy dunne

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“Eat The Rich” — My Favorite Genre in Film

by Isobelle Cruz [February 1, 2022]

The Menu (2022) dir. by Mark Mylod

The phrase in the title comes from political philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s quote, “When people have nothing to eat, they will eat the rich.” The last film I watched that had me surprised they did not literally eat the rich was The Menu by Mark Mylod.

This film never took itself too seriously despite its center around the wealthy and the lengths they go to just to experience the finer things in life. It is fully aware of its bizarreness and adds bits of humor here and there, making it enjoyable despite mostly taking place in one setting.

As the first film I had seen this year, The Menu truly sets up expectations and a fresh path to more of what the industry has in store for the rest of the year. Moving on, here are four more films to see if you enjoyed The Menu:

Triangle of Sadness (2022) dir. by Ruben Östlund

Starting off strong with one of my final watches of 2022 that had me saying “what the fuck?” under my breath every few minutes is Triangle of Sadness directed by Ruben Östlund. What initially caught my interest in watching this film was a clip in the opening part wherein we see a bit of the modeling industry and its quirks, or so, ridiculousness. What I didn’t know, and certainly wasn’t prepared for,  was what I would witness next.

I went into this film after refraining myself from spoilers or even a hint of what it could be about, preparing myself to be either disappointed or pleased with what I was about to be met with. And that is exactly what I suggest to you as well. Ditch the synopsis and logline and head straight into this experience. Just know that you’ll be met with great dialogue, delicate cinematography, and a whole lot of shit—both figuratively and literally.

Parasite (2019) dir. by Bong Joon-ho

Behind my little song to the clouds to tuck its raindrops away, a certain thought would always lie at the back of my head while growing up. As we celebrate a class suspension and give thanks for the chilly weather in the desert-like heat of the Philippines, I wonder what life is like for those living by the rivers, whose roofs are made with cheap iron or yero and whose walls are made of thin wood.

It hasn’t occurred to me before how important these thoughts were until I encountered this film a few years back. Parasite presents its audience with the rich’s ignorance of their surroundings and several contrasts between the everyday life scenes of a wealthy and poor family. 

Parasite is precise, well-written, and surely deserving of its multiple awards.

Knives Out (2019) dir. by Rian Johnson

Whodunnit—-they say that when you see them once, you’ve seen them all. And that may be true, but Knives Out’s fast pacing and quick cuts from past to present still kept my eyes glued to the screen. It’s a classic murder mystery, encouraging the audience to say things like “It’s too early on for such an obvious clue.”

This will keep you thinking throughout its length, asking questions again and again in your head, eager to beat the ending before the killer’s reveal. Though predictable for some, Knives Out nonetheless offers a fun view into the world of a money-starved family and their deceased father, along with a bunch of odd and entertaining characters.

The Handmaiden (2016) dir. by Park Chan-wook

Of course I found a way to sneak The Handmaiden into this list. 

The film follows Kim Tae-ri’s character who falls in deep romance with Lady Hideko, the woman she works for. Just when you think it is about to finally end, a sharp turn comes and it’s as if the story had only begun then—this happens thrice, by the way.

As we go further along the story we encounter money’s play in the wickedness of men and are left with our mouths agape after another unexpected revelation or scene. 

The Handmaiden is not only a story of forbidden romance between two women but also a showcasing of comradeship and care for another in suffering. Looking past its long length and adult scenes is a mind-boggling and thoroughly written story accompanied by excellent direction, camera work, and acting.

#eat the rich #film review #the menu #triangle of sadness #the handmaiden #knives out #film list #parasite #asian cinema #2022 films #2019 films #park chan wook #bong joon ho #kim taeri #anya taylor joy #rian johnson #Ruben Östlund #mark mylod #film reviews #kill the rich #film recommendation #movie recommendation

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Taylor Jenkins Reid is Back: The Satisfying End of Carrie Soto’s Career

by Isobelle Cruz [December 13, 2022]

Cover of Taylor Jenkins Reid's "Carrie Soto is Back"

Yet again, Taylor Jenkins Reid has published another book, now revolving around the fictional tennis legend, Carrie Soto, who has been introduced as an antagonist in the author’s last novel titled Malibu Rising. In this publication, we get to explore the perspective of Carrie Soto and follow her through her childhood and later anticipate the success in retrieving her broken record taken by a player named Nicki Chan.

Even as someone that has a passion for the sport, I could not say that this was anywhere near being one of Reid’s most striking stories. It started off slow despite the first page landing directly on the catalyst, followed by the dull narration of Soto’s backstory, though which, by the end, I recognized were all necessary for a build-up.

Nicki Chan [Source: @tjenkinsreid on Instragram]

Firstly mentioned as the mistress of Nina Riva’s husband in Malibu Rising, I got the impression that she was a psychotic bitch just as newscasters and headlines referred to her in this latest book. It was expected that Carrie Soto would be seen in a much better light in this novel, portrayed as misunderstood and humane, but never did I expect when checking out this purchase that my heart would be gripped so tightly at Soto’s growth.

I wait for the skies to open up and shame to rain down on me. I wait for my belly to split in half. For the grief to overtake me. But…it doesn’t come.

Page 362 of Carrie Soto is Back

The story, though had a few ups and downs, felt overall flat to me but not in so much of a bad way. The progress of Soto’s career didn’t feel as dramatic as previous TJR characters’ stardoms were and instead focuses on the gradual growth of her gameplay.

“I want your form to be like breathing. Right now, hijita, you are still doing it with your mind,” he told me. “We will not stop until you have done it so many times, your body does it without thinking. Because then, you’ll be free to think of anything else.”

Page 256 of Carrie Soto is Back

Taylor Jenkins Reid shared through her Instagram story the books she had used as a reference in writing this novel. And with just that, she had managed to write lines that would make my heart thump from excitement or wince at the gruesome injuries mentioned, as though my own feet were already on the court.

There was a chill in imagining the feeling of playing as great as Soto’s games were described that left me willing to learn more and take risks to harness my skills; to hear that clear thump of a ball, explore different courts, predict the ball landing, and put intention into my serves.

And now here we are—coach and player—at the 1996 US Open, me sitting here in the stands, helpless to do anything but hope she can harness all the new skills we’ve worked on.

Page 364 of Carrie Soto is Back

Despite the not-so-memorable impression the story had left, of all the Taylor Jenkins Reid novels I’ve encountered so far, this left me most satisfied and not wanting more or feeling that it wasn’t enough.

A pressured athlete and her journey to accepting flaws and defeat. A daughter falling under the demands of her father’s dreams. A lonely woman learning how to love and be loved. I’ve learned a lot of lessons from this book, but the most important one I’ve received is … Carrie Soto is a bitch, in the greatest way possible.

#taylor jenkins reid #tjr #carrie soto is back #carrie soto #tennis #historical fiction #book review #tjr review #carrie soto review #carrie soto is back review #nick chan #nina riva #malibu rising #wimbledon

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Understanding the Female Body: 'Breasts and Eggs' Review

by Isobelle Cruz [November 5, 2022]

ABOVE: Author Mieko Kawakami of 'Breasts and Eggs'

I am so glad to start off the month with a review of, by far, my favorite read this year. Although it took me a while to get myself to finish this book, Mieko Kawakami’s words stuck with me between those long days of setting the piece aside and always found their way back into my hands, where I would stick my nose in and devour her unique insights on the female body and the society that revolves around them.

Even with a quarter more left to be read, I had already decided earlier on that this would be my most cherished read of the year. It’s left me thinking several times about the world and pondering on situations that I had never thought of before. ‘Breasts and Eggs’ was able to educate me so much in its own entertaining and subtle way through its incredible storytelling.

“Hey, did you see that woman’s nipples?” Makiko asked. “No, why?” “They were really something.” Makiko let out a reverent sigh. “It’s a miracle for Asians to be born with nipples that pink.”

Page 53 of ‘Breats and Eggs’

I adore Kawakami so much for writing a book with such a great understanding of the female body without glossing over its hard and uneasy truths. Reading her words and shedding tears so easily made me realize how important it is for there to be a raw representation of femininity in media, especially for young people such as myself, who are cautious on exploring their bodies. Reading this book made me feel touched and understood in a way that I had not expected written words to make me feel before.

It was easy to imagine people turning away from this book, refusing to read it, or putting it down halfway through due to its lack of sugarcoating over serious topics that are often only dwelled on merely from its surface.

My breasts were in the middle of the mirror. Little just like Makiko’s. Brown and bumpy nipples. My hips had barely any shape, but there was flesh around my belly button, stretch marks curved around my sides. 

Page 147 of ‘Breasts and Eggs’

Mieko Kawakami, as always, has such descriptive writing that sets the tone of her worlds so well and was able to execute the travel through Natsuko’s mind and the transitions from external and internal storytelling with grace—which is what I found so uniquely interesting about the narration.

Despite feeling like it’s two unrelated stories put together and forced to be connected—as if the first half of the book were some idea that was too afraid to be let go of—there was something and everything about the writing that still had my heart glued to the story and kept myself reading until the end.

Then she let go of my hand, opened the tiny door, and slipped inside. Lying down among the sleeping children, she closed her eyes as well. No more hurting. No more pain. 

Page 357 of ‘Breasts and Eggs’

There were several times wherein reading made me feel as though I were drifting into a feverish dream, just as I had felt while reading ‘Heaven’ written by the same author. While having only read two of her books, Mieko Kawakami had already managed to set a distinctive feel to her writing, which makes it easy to identify her words amongst the millions of others out there. ‘Breasts and Eggs’ is a book that I feel would stick with me for a very long time, and will keep reminding me that my body is okay.

Which of Mieko Kawakami's works should I read next? All The Lovers In The Night or Ms Ice Sandwich?

#mieko kawakami #japanese author #japanese literature #asian literature #asian lit #book review #feminist books #feminism #kawakami #breasts and eggs #All The Lovers In The Night #Ms Ice Sandwich #Natsuko #Makiko #Midoriko

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The Flawed Women of Gilmore Girls

by Isobelle Cruz [October 30, 2022]

After spending two months' worth of days and nights with the Gilmore Girls—Emily, Lorelai, and Rory—I could finally write my review and thoughts about the rollercoaster and hold these fictional characters had on me for quite some time. Other than motivating me to take my education more seriously and providing me with something to look forward to at the end of a long day, the show unexpectedly made me reflect on some of the life decisions I would inevitably have to take some time into the future.

The original plan was to write up a post discussing which Gilmore boyfriend was the best and deserved to stay until the end, until I reached the final episode and realized how much more the show is than just a mother and daughter featuring the men in their lives. I see myself a lot in Rory Gilmore—with not only her same bursting passion for writing but with her pride that leads to her flaws and mistakes.

RORY: See? I hate that. / Everyone thinking I’m doing an amazing job all the time, like it’s a given. It’s not a given. What if I’m a terrible reporter?

Gilmore Girls S7:E22 “Bon Voyage”

Rory Gilmore, painted as an intelligent girl ahead of her peers in the education and literary field, grows up with people constantly sharing their praise which leads the girl with high standards and pride for herself. Although I don’t necessarily live in a community as open and supportive as Rory’s world, I find myself deep with pride at times and struggle to shake it away for my own good.

Rory had a sort of victim mentality, refusing to associate herself with the luxury that her grandparent’s wealth gives her or refusing to embrace her privilege, which, no matter what she does, she will always have and benefit from.

LOGAN: Whether you like it or not, you’re one of us. You went to prep school. You go to Yale. Your grandparents are building a whole damn astronomy building in your name. 

Gilmore Girl S7:E8 “Introducing Lorelai Planetarium”

Although Logan wasn’t exactly the best guy out there, like all of Rory’s other beaus, I admired him at least for acknowledging his privilege and wealth and using it to uplift himself in terms of business and career. Despite not being on the best terms with his father, Logan didn’t deny the easy head start he got into the working industry due to his connections, unlike Rory who would constantly deny her privilege while continually benefiting from it.

Rory’s greatest villain was herself.

No matter how frustrating the situations may have been at times, especially in the later seasons, I was kin to the idea of throwing away some fantasy fairytale-ending in exchange for the truth of life’s hardships.

I hated Rory the same way I would have hated myself when stuck in a situation wherein the wrong would obviously be pointed at me, with a mix of bittersweet understanding and guilt. You’ve witnessed this person grow up from being a perfect daughter and student, experience their first kisses and days at school and college, and only makes it awfully harder to turn against them completely when they’ve become a flaw-filled wreck just like everyone else.

The Gilmore Girls are more than just two women with mouths that speak in nothing but references, but is an accurate representation of flawed female characters, with topics such as teenage pregnancy, family trauma, and privilege amongst others which bring depth to the story.

I was comforted, conflicted, and given a piece of mind for what the writing industry would more or less be, especially for someone so full of willpower to make her extremely high dreams come true.

#rory gilmore #lorelai gilmore #gilmore girls #logan huntzberger #alexis bledel #logan x rory #dean x rory #paris geller #tv shwo review #gilmore girls review #lauren graham #jared padalecki #milo ventimiglia #scott patterson

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What is Worth More, Art or Life?

by Isobelle Cruz [October 26, 2022]

ABOVE: "Sunflowers" (1888) by Vincent van Gogh

A close friend of mine recently brought up the latest issue regarding the two activists that had thrown soup at Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” painting at London’s National Art Gallery and had sparked an interest in me to look further into it, and how this is not the first instance wherein art had been used as a gateway to spreading social awareness.

Was it right? Was it wrong? Let’s start with what the news articles say.

As usual, news articles and journalists have refrained from stating opinions and instead laid out facts on the event. One thing I had noticed, though, while on this little research of mine, was the prominent use of the word “Gen-Z” in news headlines. Young people are getting more and more aware of society’s troubles and unjust treatment of the privileged towards minorities as time passes by. With that, activists have grown to find more uniquely absurd ways to catch mass attention and awareness.

Earlier this year in May, at the Louvre Museum, a 36-year-old man had smeared cake on Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” with the intent of drawing attention to the environmental damage that is caused by artists and their craft. His words spoken in French specifically were as stated below:

"There are people who are destroying the Earth. All artists, think about the earth. That’s why I did this. Think of the planet.”

Just like the Mona Lisa cake-smearing situation, the recent event that took place on October 14th garnered a lot of attention online and several opinions were broadcasted through social media outlets; one of them popularly being Twitter. Though to thoroughly examine the situation, I’ve decided to go beyond the surface of social media posts and online articles and had some people closely related in my life—most of them fellow artists connected through a mutual friend—state their thoughts and opinions.

ABOVE: "Minotaur Caressing a Sleeping Woman" (1933) by Pablo Picasso

WHAT DO THE PEOPLE THINK?

It was in my favor, that, just like opinions are split in half and spread across social media, the personal statements I’ve come to gather are diverse in their takes on the situation as well, hence broadening the areas of my discussion.

One of them stated that they weren’t sure what to think but were relieved that the painting wasn’t damaged, while others think the same though feel that it wasn’t the right approach to take on behalf of the activists. 

Another states quite boldly that the attempt to destroy such an important piece of art and cultural history won’t fix the climate crisis and also compares it to destroying the great pyramids in an attempt to fix racism.

Personally, I think that is a completely irrelevant comparison. Although there are several conflicting and morally bad artists out there whose paintings could have been harmed instead, such as Pablo Picasso, who used his art as a form to showcase his misogyny towards “machines for suffering”, “doormats”, or women, it still does not take away the fact that this not-so newly adapted form activism was successful in garnering attention towards artists and enjoyers of art—no matter how small or large it may seem.

ABOVE: "Ophelia" (1851–1852) by John Everett Millais

WHAT CAN I DO?

As someone who participates in the problem of our crisis through the use of oil paints and other harmful materials, I began wondering what I may change or prevent in order to help in the situation. It would be ignorant to find this occasion as something interesting enough to be worth writing about yet continually participating in everyday actions that slowly destroy our environment.

For a detailed discussion of what artists may do to become more environmentally friendly, I went over a helpful article written by Agora Experts titled Going Green: Environmentally Friendly Practices for Artists.

“What is worth more, art or life? Is it worth more than food? Worth more than justice? Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting or the protection of our planet and people?”

Statement from one of the activists on the Van Gogh occurrence

Tell me, what is worth more to you? Art or life?

#art #art discussion #activism art #activism #environmental activisim #climate change #oil painting #vincent van gogh #sunflowers #van goh #picasso #pablo picasso #john everett millais #da vinci #mona lisa #louvre museum #contemporary art #morally bad artists

[isobelleposts]

Is There Life After Death? – 'Heaven' by Mieko Kawakami

by Isobelle Cruz [October 20, 2022]

ABOVE: Cover Photograph of Mieko Kawakami's "Heaven"

A quarter into Kawakami’s “Breasts and Eggs” and having just finished “Heaven”, which I have for so long been eyeing and wanting to check out, I could already say with complete confidence that the Japanese writer has to be one of my favorite contemporary authors at the moment. Every day, I try my best to bring myself closer and be more knowledgeable about Asian literature, and deciding to read Mieko Kawakami’s books turned out to be one of the most intimate experiences I’ve had with written texts.

Heaven is a story that follows the perspective of a fourteen-year-old boy who is subjected to bullying and relentless torment and seeks an understanding companion in Kojima, another subject to oppression, in his class. Through their friendship that is almost exclusively lived through handwritten letters that are exchanged in secret, away from anyone else to witness and make a fuss over, the readers are led through the heavy baggage of the protagonist’s thoughts and questions regarding life’s ways and reasons, which had me taking breaks in between chapters and leaving time for my own pondering.

Then it hit me: dying is just like sleeping. You only know you’re sleeping when you wake up the next day, but if morning never comes, you sleep forever. That must be what death is like.

Page 104 of “Heaven”

Although I do not particularly relate to the protagonist’s sufferings of excessive pain or violence, Kawakami has a way of capturing the sense of leaving your own body; providing glimpses of what it feels like and has you pondering so much that thought is all you have left inside, floating in the air and staring straight back at your suddenly hollow shell of skin.

Most forms of media tackling the root of life’s conflicts such as Everything Everywhere All at Once dir. by Daniel Kwan and Scheinert often ends with the conclusion that life has no definite meaning or reason, which is something I agree on.

"None of this has any meaning. Everyone just does what they want. They have these urges, so they try to satisfy them. Nothing’s good or bad. There was something they wanted to do, and they had the chance to do it. Same goes for you. "

Page 114 of “Heaven”

It is inevitable to sometimes wonder in the depth about one’s life and question every little thing’s existence, especially when given enough silence or time. Why this? Why that? No one has a definite answer, though it is always interesting for me to read my thoughts on paper as though the author had plucked them straight out of my brain.

Listen, if there’s hell, we’re in it. And if there's heaven, we’re already there. This is it. None of that matters. And you know what? I think that’s fucking great.

Page 120 of “Heaven”

Whatever the reason is that I’m being put through this heaven or hell doesn’t really matter as long as I learn to live the most out of it. Because, after all, we can’t be totally sure whether we get another chance at feeling after death. Whether there is heaven or not.

With just under 200 pages worth of words, Mieko Kawakami succeeds in putting me in a trance through the eyes of her unnamed protagonist. To break your reading block, "Heaven" is a short yet unsettling coming-of-age story that leaves you bitterly heart wrenched by the end.

Lots of thanks to Enzo for giving me the opportunity to read this book ♡

#mieko kawakami #japanese literature #japanese novels #mieko kawakami review #kawakami book #heaven #heaven book #kawakami heaven #breasts and eggs #book review #asian literature #asian lit #japanese lit #female authors #japanese author #asian author #kojima #kojima heaven

[isobelleposts]

Exploring the Works of Lino Brocka: 'Insiang' Review

by Isobelle Cruz [October 5, 2022]

ABOVE: Hilda Koronel as Insiang[Photo: The Film Foundation]

Today I got another look into Lino Brocka’s world, or what could also be referred to as the real Philippine society that is often glazed over in cinema. After my first encounter with Manila in the Claws of Light, I immediately went ahead and searched for other Brocka films that may serve the same rawness and awareness to lower-class Philippine society.

‘Insiang’ depicts the everyday life of Filipinos in the lower masses of the country around the years of 1976, when this film was first released and was later featured in numerous screening festivals and bagged awards from the Metro Manila Film Festival, one of them being for Best Cinematography—which is all well-deserved. 

Although it is great to showcase a brighter side of the country on screen and is much appreciated, transparency and representation of the world beneath the rich Filipinos of Manila without glossing over its truths can be somewhat refreshing, as wrong as that may sound. This film was temporarily banned during the Marcos regime, because the then-dictator’s wife, Imelda Marcos, frowned upon its showcase of an image of Manila that was opposite to the one they were trying to sell to the world and keep to themselves, which is exactly why this film among others rebelliously produced during that era, is so important and deserve to be revisited.

[Photo: The NY Times]

The film starts off already brutally with shots set in a slaughterhouse where pigs are butchered and killed for products in the market, setting up what the audience would further witness in the piece: undiminished and gruesome representation and shots of the cruel and difficult parts of Philippine society.

INSIANG: Mahal kita, Bebot, kaya lang hindi ko gusto ginagawa mo sa akin sa loob ng sine.

BEBOT: Eh, lalaki ako, Isiang. Mapipigil ko ba ang sarili ko?

ABOVE: A conversation between Insiang and her boyfriend

The objectification of women is one of the main subjects that this film handles, aside from poverty and the sadly normalized manipulation of parents over their children, and of men over women. In today’s time, even with the overly encouraged activism to show truth and give justice to the country’s real struggles and debunking the richness only brought by corruption, producing a film like Brocka’s still brings a ton of risk for criticism, and even more so with another Marcos given power.

ABOVE: Mona Lisa and Hilda Koronel as mother and daughter [Photo: Letterboxd]

Renowned Filipina actress, Mona Lisa, did an unnerving performance as Tonya, the manipulative and controlling mother of Insiang, which helped set up the film’s tension. With these powerful characters surrounding Insiang and giving her barely any choice to live her own life and escape the madness of her world, Brocka makes me think of all the other people—mostly women—that live with the chokehold that our protagonist goes through.

Ngayong nakaganti ka na, siguro maligayang maligaya ka na.

ABOVE: Tonya to her daughter Insiang, after killing Dado

Unlike Manila in the Claws of Light, released only a year before this film, Insiang has more of a still and let-down ending. But nonetheless, Lino Brocka’s seventh production remains an important piece of Philippine cinema that deserves all the recognition and revisiting by the latest generations.

#lino brocka #philippine cinema #philippine entertainment #movie review #classic film review #metro manila film festival #hilda koronel #brocka #brocka film #ph film #ph cinema #manila in the claws of light #maynila sa kuko ng liwanag #insiang #insiang 1976 #rez cortez #dado #Mario O'Hara #Lamberto Antonio

[isobelleposts]

Book Review: Poetry in 'The Song of Achilles'

by Isobelle Cruz [October 4, 2022]

Artwork by Alice Blake

Although not written in verse or sonnet, The Song of Achilles is poetic in its way of storytelling with its simplicity. For so long, this book has been heard every now and then and seen at every bookstore I enter. And finally, some weeks ago, I picked it up from a shelf and found myself immediately stuck in the beautifully written world of Patroclus and Achilles.

From what started out to feel like an old fable, into a blooming love story in heaven, and later a depressing story of war, grief, and loss, this book had me live through the soul of Patroclus, a man who loved another man in a way every person wishes or deserves to be loved.

The story is written from the perspective of Patroclus—only drifting from his narrative a paragraph in one of the latter chapters—and lets us witness his story from being an exiled prince and into Aristos Achaion’s greatest and only true love, fighting in war and doing all that he can to be by his beloved friend’s side, even after death.

It was almost like fear in the way it filled me, rising in my chest. It was almost like tears, in how swiftly it came. But it was neither of those, buoyant where they were heavy, bright where they were dull. 

Page 48 of ‘The Song of Achilles’

Oh, to be loved the way Patroclus admired Achilles.

He would sail to Troy and I would follow, even into death. “Yes,” I whispered. “Yes.”

Page 168 of ‘The Song of Achilles’

There was a gracefulness in the way Madeline Miller wrote the book’s characters and the way their stories had been put together. Even in the context of war and bloodshed battles, mixed with betrayal and extreme violence, reading through The Song of Achilles felt like gliding on a marble floor.

Artwork by aw anqi on ArtStation

The war between the Greeks and Trojans enters the story and it is evident that a new season and road to downfall has begun.

A spinning spear, from Hector himself, hit him, and the surf around him flushed red. He was the first of the Greeks to die.

Page 214 of ‘The Song of Achilles’

Achilles’ state of madness nearing the end of the story was a conflict that felt natural and gave more depth to his character by making his mortality more evident and showcasing him as more than just a gorgeous weapon brought down by the Gods to be used.

He was flaw-ful, not flawless. He loved and wasn’t just loved by others. Achilles was a person with the pride of gods and the fragility of humans, leading him to put his honor before his people. And Patroclus may have been the only person who had acknowledged this and was the only one willing to offer his life at the expense of Aristos Achaion’s honor.

In the darkness, two shadows reaching through the hopeless, heavy dusk. Their hands meet and light spills in a flood like a hundred golden urns pouring out of the sun.

Page 369 of ‘The Song of Achilles’

As someone who does not regularly pick up novels that fall under the fantasy genre, and am not keen on action-packed stories, The Song of Achilles felt different from the murky feel that I receive from other books. To witness a tragic yet somehow peacefully-ended story of two forbidden lovers with a touch of greek mythology, The Song of Achilles exists to serve you just that and so much more.

#the song of achilles #book review #madeline miller #achilles x patroclus #patroclus #booklr #greek mythology #literature #greek mythology literature #trojan war #aristos achaion #pyrrhus #priam #hector #menelaus #agamemnon #chiron #thetis

[isobelleposts]

5 Films to Watch and Cry About Love

Directed by Joachim Trier - Starring Renate Reinsve

The Worst Person in the World (2021)

When I first finished this movie, I felt as though there was so much to talk about but found no place to begin, hence my Letterboxd review only mentioning how great its soundtrack is—though it is so much more than just that. The Worst Person in the World follows the life of an ever-changing woman named Julie and her struggles in finding her career path and keeping her love life afloat.

This is a film that I wish I could watch for the first time once again and reminisce how my eyes never left my screen. It allows you to feel conflicted and worry about the protagonist's plights and almost leaves you renewed and grown in someway by the end.

Directed by Cooper Raiff - Starring Dakota Johnson

Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022)

This film is one of those that you get into without much expectation and then suddenly, there on your couch or in your bed, you feel a warmness fill your insides and catch yourself attached to its stories and characters. With its natural dialogue and delivery, Cha Cha Real Smooth follows the story of Andrew, a guy who is new to love’s pains.

Director and actor Cooper Raiff manages to let his audience feel as though they had just watched a fracture of someone’s life at some corner of the world, and just so unexpectedly brings them comfort.

Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones & Paul Mescal

Normal People (2020)

Marianne and Connel have to be one of the most humane and genuine relationships I’ve ever seen featured on screen. Normal People is a show that doesn’t over-dramatize or romanticize life and instead features its admittedly “boring” yet raw cycle of love and relationships.

If he silently decides not to say something when they’re talking, Marianne will ask “what?” within one or two seconds. This “what?” question seems to him to contain so much: not just the forensic attentiveness to his silence that allows her to ask in the first place, but a desire for total communication, a sense that anything unsaid is an unwelcome interruption between them.

Page 26 of ‘Normal People’ by Sally Rooney

Normal People is a TV adaptation of the popular novel in the same title by Sally Rooney, and both capture you with sympathy and heartache for both leading characters. This is a story about loving and growing apart and with each other, which has you pondering about life and its still movements in time.

For my full review of the show and book: Click Here.

Starring Jung Hae-in & Son Ye-jin

Something in the Rain (2018)

Regular K-drama watchers know how unrealistic and dramatic Korean Television tends to get, and sometimes there’s this craving for something new and real—distinctly apart from the cliches and repetitive tropes of rich-and-poor, love-triangle, and much more. Instead, the show revolves around two unforbidden lovers and beautifully unravels their relationship and its ups and downs with time’s passing.

Something in the Rain directed by Ahn Pan-seok is perfect for the rainy and winter season with its melancholic feel and tolerably slow pace. You’ll find yourself wishing for a love like theirs by the end of this show.

Starring Rachel McAdams & Domhnall Gleeson

About Time (2013)

Although I didn’t shed a tear for this one, About Time is an extremely heartwarming film that leaves you thinking about time and how it should be spent. The film follows Tim, a guy desperate for love and to keep it with him, spending hours of his life manipulating time only to realize that faith’s path to loss can never be blocked.

The part I love most about this film is its head-on approach to supernaturality without having to explain why or how this is possible. For so long I’ve restricted myself from pursuing ideas and plots in fear that I had to give it sense, but this film made me learn that it is only a fictional world after all.

#sad movies #film recommendation #about time #letterboxd #something in the rain #kdrama #cooper raiff #cha cha real smooth #dakota johnson #normal people #daisy edgar jones #paul mescal #rachel mcadams #jung hae in #son ye jin #the worst person in the world #Renate Reinsve #tearjerker #romcoms #romantic films

[isobelleposts]

Smaller and Smaller Circles: A Thriller Tackling the Philippines’ Lows and Truths

Movie Poster for 'Smaller and Smaller Circles' Adaptation

Felisa Batacan’s debut and only novel to date is my favorite read throughout the course of this year, thus far, despite moments wherein disappointment and dissatisfaction hit me, especially nearing the end.

Our neighborhoods are too congested, our neighbors too noisy, our families too tightly knit for secrets to be kept and allowed to fester.

Page 44 of 'Smaller and Smaller Circles'

This chilling story of a murder investigated by priests and forensic anthropologists Father Saenz and Father Jerome is set in the summer of 1997, taking place in Manila wherein corruption, poverty, and negligence from the government is at their high. F.H. Batacan manages to keep her readers at the edge of their seats and feeling goosebumps up their spine while also bringing light to the disheartening cases of poverty in Manila, which has sadly grown to be seen as normal in the country’s society.

Scene from TBA Studio's Film Adaptation

POVERTY

It is national knowledge to most Filipinos that the country is not exactly fit to be defined as expensive or rich if not for its natural surroundings, but the fact that over 58% of families in the Philippines as of this year fall under the lower class category seems to have grown overlooked by many and treated as usual.

Isang kahig, isang tuka, one scratch, one peck: a day’s work for a day’s food.

Page 64 of ‘Smaller and Smaller Circles’

We have become so much accustomed to watching small and malnourished kids begging and working odd jobs in the streets and dump sites of the city that it is only when their lives are put into specific detail that it hits us how despairing the society and government have to be for this kind of lifestyle to be lived by the majority of the nation.

It’s shattering; when the scholarships dried up, Alex’s abuser had manipulated the situation, used the family’s poverty and need to keep him in school so he would have ready access to him.

Page 285 of ‘Smaller and Smaller Circles’

While flipping from one broken family to another, taken of a son by a murderer, I note how many what-ifs had crossed my mind.

What if Alex did not need a scholarship to finish school? What if Binang had afforded enough help to raise her son Lino? What if these women had afforded a divorce from their abusive husbands? What if they had a way out?

Fathers Lucero and Saenz played by Sid Lucero and Nonie Buencamino

ABUSE

The Philippines is a highly religious country with more than 83% of its population being Roman Catholics and growing up in families that provide church as a second home for their children.

However, I think there is a clear difference between mere misconduct and crime. — I think as soon as a priest crosses the line into molestation and sexual abuse, it becomes a civil matter, a law enforcement matter, and a matter for the country’s courts.

Page 83 of ‘Smaller and Smaller Circles’

There is a kind of cowardice in people, I think, and their act of keeping silent and blind over the crimes so regularly committed by priests upon the nation’s youths, not only among Catholics but also among other religions. This not only goes to civilians and regular church-goers but also to those in power refusing to take due justice.

Though I wished there was more of a plot twist towards the ending and who the killer ended up being, Batacan was still able to amaze and hook me with her direct and chilling storytelling. Reading this book during the rainy seasons in Manila was one of the most enjoyable decisions I’ve made this year, and I highly recommend it.

#fh batacan #smaller and smaller circles #philippine cinema #philippine literature #book review #book to film #batacan #filipino author #murder book #thriller book #ph literature #father saenz #father lucero #book recommendation #filipino novel #filipino story #manila #murder mystery #smaller and smaller circles review

[isobelleposts]

A Unique Perspective into the Marcos Regime from Gina Apostol

Cover of 'Gun Dealer's Daughter' by Gina Apostol

Gun Dealer’s Daughter by Gina Apostol is one of the first Filipino novels I’ve read and has pushed me to further explore and support local writers. As someone who is young and has never witnessed the Marcos regime with my own eyes or lived through those dreadful times—and thankfully so—getting an unusual perspective of the era through the deranged mind of Soledad Soliman immediately hooked me to purchase the book.

Ferdinand Marcos Sr. alongside his wife, Imelda Marcos

THE RICH

Soledad Soliman, as regarded through the book’s title, is a gun dealer’s daughter with close ties to the dictator and easy access to privilege and wealth. What struck me most aside from the fractured consciousness of the main character, which author Gina Apostol puts us through to witness this story, was the privilege that was often pointed out and openly stated for the readers to interpret.

From the spoils of those bloody times, my parents purchased this gilded womb.

Page 45 of ‘Gun Dealer’s Daughter’

Although Sol was only a baby when the bloody times of the Martial Law first broke out, this line alone proves the sheer privilege she and her family has—able to escape and avoid these crimes while others less privileged were given no other choice than to live under the unjust ruling of the dictator, with some even left to be wrongfully arrested and killed.

“We’ll always have our wealth, we will always have our names. There is something suspicious, dishonest, in playacting revolt. We’re cockroaches. We’ll outlast even our crimes.”

Page 139 of ‘Gun Dealer’s Daughter’

Even Sol herself acknowledges this privilege during a talk with Jed in one of the book’s pages.

Victims of the Martial Law

THE TORTURED

This book is unfortunately slow-paced, and although I adore Gina Apostol’s efforts and talent to write so precisely in the blurred mind of the main character, it took me a while to get to a chapter that would push me to read what else may follow. The plot of the book, I would say, arrives near the end wherein Sol’s vision of her past gradually becomes clearer and concise.

It was the severed head of a child. — Her skirt a clump over her waist. A private army aimed at her parts.

Page 193 of ‘Gun Dealer’s Daughter’

It was at this point that the story started taking up its pace as my stomach lurched in disgust and fright over the images that popped into my head with the author’s description of these tortures that similarly took place in real life not so long ago, to innocent civilians and activists fighting for the country’s freedom.

“That corner there, Sol. See that line, that shadow?” Edwin said. I nodded, looking. “That’s a gun, an automatic.”

Page 194 of ‘Gun Dealer’s Daughter’

It was disappointing, that I, along with Sol, only then was struck with the seriousness of her father’s business and her close association with these horrid crimes. To think that she had been so closely linked with giving way for these tortures to take place was something only the most cruel people could ignore.

THE ENDING

Gina Apostol’s writing is one of the most unique ones I’ve encountered and the structure of this story was interesting enough to keep me reading. Yet despite this, it felt as though the story from the very beginning was leading up to a major revelation that never met or come close to exceeding my expectations.

“Why, the Colonel had to go, of course,” my mother exclaimed. “One way or the other, Gianni said, he had to go. He was not following the plan.”

Page 272 of Gun Dealer’s Daughter

The book shares an interesting view into the Marcos regime through the eyes of the privileged youth, and though it may not be the most educational book there is to learn about our sadly almost-forgotten and widely disregarded history based on recent election results, it is a well-written story that has you applauding the author for her clear execution.

#ferdinand marcos #marcos #marcos regime #marcos era #martial law #martial law philippines #gina apostol #gun dealer's daughter #philippine literature #book review #ph book review #historical fiction #soledad soliman #political book #filipino author #asian literature #asian book #filipino books #philippine books #asian author #edsa revolution #neverforget #writersforleni

[isobelleposts]

Isobelle's Art Commissions Open

Although summer is coming to an end, I am now OPEN to Art Commissions as a sideline during school! I am looking forward to working with you and improving my craft.

⟢ Instagram: @isobellesart

⟢ Email: [email protected]

Please refer to the image below for more details and inquiries:

For WRITING Commissions, check my pinned post or click HERE.

#digital art commissions #art commission sale #art commission #art #artists on tumblr #digital art #kpop fanart #ghibi redraw #studio ghibli #studio ghibli redraw #anime #anime redraw #howl's moving castle #filipino artist #commissions #kdrama fanart #extraordinary attorney woo

[isobelleposts]

Frances Cha's Depiction of Korean Society in ‘If I Had Your Face’

Cover of 'If I Had Your Face' by Frances Cha

I have recently taken up exploring Asian authors and women empowering books such as the works of Mieko Kawakami and Min Jin Lee, in hopes that I can dive more into the contemporary conflicts that directly affect women daily. And as a young woman myself, still figuring out who I am or am to become, Frances Cha’s debut novel has made me ponder on several points in women’s shared experiences in society.

I’m okay. I have survived the day, again. All I need now is for these stupid fucking pills to work.

Page 192 of ‘If I Had Your Face’

This book follows the story of four young women living in Seoul, struggling to float above the drowning waters of Korea’s social norms and beauty standards, without having its readers wrestle with keeping track of each individual story that is all somehow tied down to each other.

Photography by Julia and Nic of SHSandler

STEREOTYPES

Kyuri may just be my favorite out of the four women because of the brazen truths that her character is able to state in the lines of the book, which most I have always known but never taken time to acknowledge as an actual problem—which is exactly why I love Cha’s writing.

They pinpoint where you are on the national scale of status, then spit you out in a heartbeat.

Page 68 of ‘If I Had Your Face’

Her character, working a job as a room salon girl which is one that is closely followed by stereotypes and rumors, gives way to breaking off clichés from these women who are just the same as any other, working to survive in this cruel world where the way you look and whether you pay rent monthly or annually greatly affects the course of your life.

Handmade Collage by Ewa Look

PERSPECTIVES

Another aspect of the book which I greatly enjoyed was being able to go through the different perspectives of each character and see how they view each other individually. It is with Miho and Wonna that I begin to notice that the whole book is full of thoughts that would normally be kept to oneself and is something that makes me feel closer to these women.

It hollows me out, the way that they would rather kill themselves than be born to me.

Page 117 of ‘If I Had Your Face’

‘If I Had Your Face’ consists of stories that shed light on several topics that needed to be raised awareness like social constructs, privilege, beauty, and inequality, among others. 

I will be glad when we are almost home and the scenery will turn into rice fields and farm plots, and I will be reminded of how far I have come instead of what I cannot reach.

Page 151 of 'If I Had Your Face'

Rather than being completely fictional, Frances Cha succeeds in making these stories feel so real as if they had been truly lived by people before, and also allowed me to see myself through these women in different and unique ways.

The ending, I found completely satisfying, as the author was able to introduce her characters so well that I had a vivid imagination of what their lives could go on to be like once I reached the last remaining pages.

(Click HERE for Writing Commissions)

by Isobelle Cruz, 20/07/2022

#frances cha #if i had your face #korean book #booklr #asian author #asian book #book review #feminism #feminist books #miho #wonna #ara #bookworm #women empowerment #korean society #asian literature #korean authors

[isobelleposts]

ISOBELLE'S PLACE - CAINTA, RIZAL AIRBNB

Isobelle's Place hand-painted signage by Luz Suñga

If you’re looking for an affordable place to hold a friend's get-together, beat the summer’s dreadful heat, or enjoy a peaceful time with your loved ones, Isobelle’s Place is a spot you'd want to consider!

LOCATION

For those living in Rizal and Metro Manila, Isobelle’s Place, a Santorini-themed and newly constructed Airbnb just this year, is an easy and accessible place to locate and book your stay. Located at:

 Lavender Street, Phase 4, Greenland Executive Subdivision 1900 Cainta, Philippines

AMENITIES

Isobelle’s Place offers amenities including:

Three-bed bedroom

Plunge pool

Smart TV hosting Netflix, YouTube, etc.

Bathroom and outdoor shower

Kettle and Pot

Spacious and air-conditioned room

CONTACT

Built to serve for your comfort and relaxation, Isobelle’s Place promises you a time worthwhile and suitable accommodation. For more inquiries and bookings, please refer to the contact options below:

@isobellesplace on Facebook

@isobelles_place on Instagram

Be one of the first people to stay at Isobelle's Place - Opening Soon!

(Click HERE for Writing Commissions)

by Isobelle Cruz, 20/06/2022

#airbnb #rizal airbnb #philippines airbnb #cainta airbnb #cainta rizal #staycation #philippines staycation #rizal staycation #cainta #rizal #philippines #vacation rental #manila vacation rental #NCR #NCR Vacation Rental #Rizal Vacation Rental #Cainta Vacation Rental #Philippines vacation rental #plunge pool #isobelle's