HomeGood PinoysElaine Castillo's debut novel about Filipinos in America earns rave review in...

Elaine Castillo’s debut novel about Filipinos in America earns rave review in London

Cypher Learning
Cypher Learning
PHOTO CREDIT: Amaal Said via The Guardian

Filipino author Elaine Castillo’s debut novel about Filipino migrants living in America has earned a rave review from London’s The Guardian which described it as a “blazingly fearless debut novel.”

“America Is Not the Heart,” recently recommended by Asian Journal as one of the top 5 Fil-Am books, is the story about Hero – a woman with broken thumbs who works in a restaurant and babysits and lives in Milpitas, San Jose, California. The story reveals the harrowing long journey from a privileged life in the Philippines, to joining a rebel group as a doctor, captured, tortured and getting a chance to live a life in America.

The Guardian’s review talks about how the “hugely talented Castillo” probes the question of whether such a profoundly traumatic past ever really be redeemed by love?

Benjamin Evans writes:

“For a Filipino generation who spent their lives ‘dreaming of America, singing its lyrics’ the hardships of settling in their adoptive country are powerfully voiced here: ‘As for loving America or not loving America, these aren’t your problems, either. Your word for love is survival. Everything else is a story that isn’t about you.’

The American dream offers a salvation myth, which lures seekers to a country where a surgeon like Pol can become a ‘badly paid security guard at a computer chip company’. Frequently harking back to the privilege of the clan in the Philippines, we feel girded for a panoramic family saga about the disillusionment of the Filipino-American diaspora.”

Evans notes how the Filipino author infuses Hero’s romantic relationship with “a luminous naturalism.”

America Is Not the Heart by Elaine Castillo is published by Atlantic.

Like, Follow, Subscribe to GoodNewsPilipinas.com Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Good News Pilipinas! TV on YouTube, new story notifications and e-mail newsletters for updates on more Filipino Pride stories.

Facebook Comments
The Good News Pilipinas Team
The Good News Pilipinas Team
The Good News Pilipinas Team is a group of Filipino journalists who advocate putting more good news stories about the Philippines and Filipinos on the media.

Get Your Dose of Good Vibes!

Power Up Your Positivity! Catch all the Good-Vibes! Join the GoodNewsPilipinas.com VIP list and get your daily dose of sunshine and Pinoy Pride! Unwrap stories that put Filipino awesomeness in your life! CLICK the subscribe button for our e-newsletter and turn your inbox into a fiesta of feel-good news! Inspire your day, fuel your pride! 🇵🇭✨

- Advertisment -

Top Stories