Cecilia Manguerra BrainardReseñas

This is a different kind of mystery/detective novel. The Newspaper Widow was shortlisted for the Inaugural Cirilo F. Bautista Prize for the Novel. It was a Finalist for the 37th National Book Award in the Philippines. It has been praised by the Library Journal (Aug. 2021) as follows:
When her husband dies in 1909, Ines Maceda inherits his newspaper, which is running out of audience and funds; she soon finds that she’s good at both the money side and the reporting side. The paper gets a scoop about the discovery of the body of a priest who had been missing several months, but any pleasure in Ines’s coup is dampened when her son Andres is imprisoned on suspicion of murdering the priest, whose past turns out to be shadier than imagined. What follows is part detective story and part historical fiction, set in the Philippines seven years after the conclusion of the Philippine-American War (1899-1902) that cemented U.S. occupation of the islands. The mystery elements are competently plotted, and the characters appealing, and there’s a charming long-distance romance, with a hint of another yet to come. The book’s signal virtue, though, is its bighearted look at Filipino culture and society in 1909. With 23 books to her name, Brainard (Magdalena) is hardly a novice, but most of her works have appeared out of small presses (including her own Philippine American Literary House), so she might be a new addition to library collections.
VERDICT An old-fashioned novel isn’t a bad thing when it’s as well done as this one about people growing, loving, and rectifying past mistakes. ~ David Keymer, Cleveland

Filipina American author Cecilia Manguerra Brainard's books have been used in classrooms by educators. Some of her short story collections are hard-to-find. This new collection of her Selected Short Stories gathers the best of her short fiction, including the popular 'Woman with Horns", "Flip Gothic", "Romeo", and many more. The author has authored and edited over twenty books. She has won awards -- a California Arts Council Fellowship, a Brody Arts Fund, a Special Recognition Award from the LA Board of Education, an Outstanding Individual Award from her birth city of Cebu, Philippines. She has taught at USC, UCLA, and the California State Summer School for the Arts. She served in the board of PEN, PAAWWW (Pacific Asian American Women Writers West), PAWWA (Philippine American Women Writers and Artists), and others.

The book has been praised by Author and Professor Brian Roley as " powerful, poignant, and engrossing."

First published in 2002 and currently published in the Philippines (UST Publishing House), this 2021 US Edition of the novel MAGDALENA includes illustrations by the author, Cecilia Manguerra Brainard.

Written in the fragmented style, Philippine American author Cecilia Manguerra Brainard's lyrical novel, MAGDALENA, tells the story of three generations of Filipino women whose lives have been affected by the Philippine American War, World War Two, and the Vietnam War. A favorite among poets, academics, and feminists, the book has been the subject of academic papers by Drs. John Jack Wigley, Rhodora G. Magan, and Ruth S. Rimando, among others.

Alma Anonas-Carpio reviewed the book for The Philippines Graphic as follows: "The story of Magdalena’s life is a rich one, full of emotional intensity told with the brilliant clarity of Manguerra Brainard’s pen ... Rarely have I read such exquisite command of storytelling as I see in the pages of this novel. Here she uses the backdrop of a Japanese-occupied Philippines to maximum effect, devastating the reader’s emotions without giving any quarter nor taking any prisoners. You die inside and come to life again when the feelings of hope hit you—and they will ... Read MAGDALENA to see how the strength and beauty of these women spanned three generations, defeating even death. No, not even death can save you from the intense and iridescent beauty of Manguerra Brainard's mastery of her craft."

This is a 2021 US Edition of Contemporary Fiction by Filipinos in America, which was first published in the Philippines by Anvil in 1998. Contemporary Fiction by Filipinos in America collects 26 stories by emerging as well as established Filipino writers living in America, including Luis Cabalquinto, Linda Ty-Casper, Jay Ruben Dayrit, Alma Jill Dizon, Ligaya Victoria Fruto, N.V.M. Gonzalez, Vince Gotera, Paulino Lim, Jr., Veronica Montes, Oscar Penaranda, Edgar Poma, Greg Sarris, Eileen Tabios, John Silva, Marianne Villanueva, Fatima Lim-Wilson, and others.

This book, plus others Cecilia Brainard edited (including Fiction by Filipinos in America, Growing Up Filipino I and II) are valuable sources for many teachers. To quote Harold Augenbraum, “Brainard has done a fine job bringing many little-known writers – and the edginess of Filipinos in America – to the fore.”

The 2020 US Edition of the short story collection , WOMAN WITH HORNS AND OTHER STORIES, by Philippine American writer Cecilia Manguerra Brainard introduces her first book to new readers . First published in 1987, the book collects a dozen stories that draw from historical and contemporary sources. Many of the stories explore the clash of Philippine culture with foreign influences that reached the archipelago during different historical periods.

The reception of Cecilia Brainard’s first short story collection, Woman with Horns and Other Stories, has been extraordinary. Her mythical place Ubec has been embraced by the people of Cebu and “Ubec” has become part of their lexicon. Many teachers use stories from this collection and YouTube has student films of the story “Woman with Horns” in particular. There is even a Wikipedia write-up about “Woman with Horns.”

The stories are folklore, historic, and absolutely charming, and are a welcome addition to Philippine and Filipino American iterature.

This 2020 US Edition of Cecilia Manguerra Brainard's collection of short fiction, ACAPULCO AT SUNSET AND OTHER STORIES, gathers seventeen enchanting stories grouped into four categories: Long Ago Tales, Stories from the '60s and '70s, Stories from the '90s, and American Tales. In this book, Brainard, a Philippine American author, continues her exploration of her Filipino and Filipino-American immigrant experiences. The collection includes some of her best short stories.This anthology of stories, first published in 1995 in the Philippines, is now presented to an audience familiar with Brainard's subsequent literary work -- the novels she wrote (WHEN THE RAINBOW GODDESS WEPT, MAGDALENA, THE NEWSPAPER WIDOW), the books she edited, including the young adult coming-of-age anthologies GROWING UP FILIPINO: STORIE FOR YOUNG ADULTS and the follow up GROWING UP FILIPINO; and more.. The GROWING UP books are most popular among educators librarians.

This 2020 US Edition of FICTION BY FILIPINOS IN AMERICA is a welcome addition to Philippine and Filipino-American Literature!

Edited by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, the book, Fiction by Filipinos in America, is a collection of short stories that includes writings by Philippine and Philippine American writers Cecilia Manguerra Brainard, Carlos Bulosan, Luis Cabalquinto, Virgina R. Cerenio, Juan C. Dionisio, Alberto S. Florentino, Ligaya Victorio Fruto, Jean Vengua Gier, N.V.M. Gonzalez, Erlinda Villamor Kravetz, Paulino Lim, Jr. Manuel R. Olimpo, Julia L. Palarca, Oscar Peñaranda, Bienvenido N. Santos, Nadine Sarreal, Michelle Cruz Skinner, Samuel Tagatac, Linda Ty-Casper, Nenutzka Villamar, Marianne Villanueva, and Manuel A. Viray.

First published in the Philippines in 1993, this 2020 US edition hopes to accommodate librarians, professors, teachers, and students interested in Philippine American literature, books which are still scarce in the US. This collection, which has been by educators and cited as a valuable resource includes classic stories such as "A Scent of Apples" by Bienvenido N. Santos and "The Romance of Magno Rubio" by Carlos Bulosan.

The stories convey the history of Filipinos in America via fiction and the book is acknowledged an important addition to Philippine, Philippine-American, as well as Asian-American literature.

The Newspaper Widow is the third novel of Cecilia Manguerra Brainard (When the Rainbow Goddess Wept) Inspired by her great-grandmother, Cecilia Manguerra Brainard wrote about a newspaper woman from 1909 who solves a crime in Ubec. Brainard’s great-grandmother was Remedios Diosomito Cuenco who was widowed at the age of 39, and who took over her husband’s Imprenta Rosario press in Cebu, Philippines.

Brainard’s imaginings gave birth to her third novel, The Newspaper Widow (University of Santo Tomas Publishing House 2017), a literary mystery, which starts off with the discovery of a dead priest’s body in a creek, but which is really about the protagonist Ines Maceda and how she fights for her son’s freedom. It is also very much the story of the deepening friendship between two women of opposite temperaments, and of the men in their lives who love and have loved them.

The Philippine Edition of Cecilia Brainard's When the Rainbow Goddess Wept was released by the University of Santo Tomas Publishing House in 2019. The book is a coming of age novel of a young girl during World War Two in the Philippines. Associated Press reviews it as follows:

“When the Rainbow Goddess Wept by Cecilia Brainard is the tearful, seldom-told story of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines during World War II as seen through the eyes of a young Filipino girl. The many hardships that 9‑year-old Yvonne Macaraig and her family are faced with teach her the value of hope and endurance … Brainard’s wonderful novel shows how war brings out the best and the worst in people as it describes both the atrocities and the heroics that befall her characters. The novel’s theme, the vast cost of war on the human spirit is illustrated well by Yvonne’s tragic loss of innocence. In the words of her grandfather, Lolo Peping: ‘Before man sinned, he was innocent. Man’s original sin wasn’t eating the forbidden fruit; it was Cain’s murder of his brother.’” (Associated Press)

When the Rainbow Goddess Wept by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard is the story of a Filipino family during the invasion of their country by the Japanese during World War II. The story is narrated by Yvonne, a lively nine year old in 1940, happily living in her family compound. Her father is an American trained engineer and is very valuable to the guerrilla movement and is often called away on mysterious errands. She and her mother, along with a few of the household servants move ever deeper into the jungle, fleeing from the Japanese, but never forgetting the loved ones that they leave behind.

This lively young girl is witness to a number of horrific events. She sees her mother’s health slipping away and lives through the fear of having her father fall into the hands of the Japanese. She is enriched by the Philippine folktales that are passed on to her through the family cook.

When The Rainbow Goddess Wept deals with the psychological damage that war wreaks through the events that happen within this small family. Yvonne refuses to give up hope and learns how to cope with the uncertainties that come their way. With this young girl, the author has created a sensitive and intelligent recorder, one who sees what is happening and, even though she doesn’t always understand, is able to paint a vivid picture of endurance and survival. This is an excellent story that highlights how war can bring out both the best and worst in people

Philippines.

Narrated by Yvonne, a Filipina girl, this novel blends local legends and the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, heightening their parallels (and those of the legends and the plot) in a slightly folkloric, slightly magical realistic blend. I enjoyed the narrator's voice and found the story easy to follow and poignant. Read with Davenport's [b:Song of the Exile|281573|Exile's Song (Darkover, Book 25)|Marion Zimmer Bradley|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1173388891s/281573.jpg|3095906], Stephenson's [b:Cryptonomicon|816|Cryptonomicon|Neal Stephenson|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1157396454s/816.jpg|1166797], and Kim's [b:Lost Names: Scenes from a Korean Boyhood|210469|Lost Names Scenes from a Korean Boyhood|Richard E. Kim|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1172720297s/210469.jpg|203711] for a broader fictional representation of the effects of Japanese expansionism from World War II through the Korean War.

I really loved Angelica's story especially her letter and diary accounts. I would have loved to read her story and to know Teban's whereabouts (;p). It was a really easy read with recipes for those who love to cook. Even if it was a "dugtungan" novel it was really coherent but you'll see the different writing styles of the authors which is why I don't like certain chapters.

However, i felt that the story was rushed. Tess' moving on, Tess' finding a new love, Dina's moving on, Tess and Paolo looking for the church all happened too fast. Here is a novel where time does not heal wounds because they didn't even have time for healing. Everything here is instant. The writing tells you what happens and does not get convey emotion too well. I felt like an outsider because the authors failed to effectively convey the character's feelings.

The family was also too centered on Angelica. Every conversation revolves around her or even if it doesn't her name would eventually pop out of the conversation. Everything happens because of her, everything is compared to her life. They say that she's only a woman but it seems that their life revolves around her. She's long dead, I want to tell them to live their own life.

I just wished that the authors has scraped the whole thing and focused on Angelica's life. I would love to see more of that. Bitin na bitin ako sa kwento ni Angelica. A prequel maybe? :)

This is a very good book that should be better known, I think. It's a coming of age story told through the eyes of a 9-year old girl growing up in the Philippines whose life is shattered by the onset of WW Two and the Japanese invasion of the country. Her family literally heads for the hills so that her father, an American-educated engineer sure to be targeted by the invaders, can join and help lead the guerrilla resistance forces. Mixed into this tale (and the story does not spare the horrors of war) are many Filipino folk tales, as told to the narrator (and then recounted by her) by the family's old retainer, who learned them at the feet of an old folk master.

The novel relates the ways in which the narrator relies upon these old tales of her people's past to retain her sanity and her hope for the future through sadness, horror and death. This is a beautifully told tale.

1. http://libro.ph/content/view/100/30/

2. Excerpted from Sunday Inquirer Magazineshowbizandstyle.inquirer.net/sim/sim/view_article.php?article_id=58204

"A La Carte (Food & Fiction)"Collected and edited by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard and Marily Ysip OrosaAnvil PublishingYoull need two vital ingredients before you start devouring this book: a full stomach and a comfortable seat some distance away from a working kitchen and a food court. Because definitely, a hungry reader will be torn between finishing the sumptuous stories and rushing off to try out the recipes offered as appetizer at the start of each chapter. The tasty morsels leave you convinced that food is more than just repast; it is also the stuff of national pride, childhood memory, romance, regret, rivalry, and even bloody murder. This book is one thick bubbling stew that satisfies ones hunger and imagination while whetting the appetite for more. Best cuts: "Wok Man" by Jose Dalisay, Jr.; "Closopen" by Janet Villa, "No Salt" by Nadine Sarreal, "Pedro and the Chickens" by Ian Rosales Casocot, "Kitchen Secrets" by Shirlie Mae Choe, and "Does It Matter What the Dead Think?" by Erwin Cabucos. PAC

Entertaining enough, specially if you come from one of these schools.