Arlene J. Chai

Caridad, separated from her husband, is living with her daughter Marla (a pianist) in Sydney. When Caridad receives the letter from her mother stating: "Come home Caridad. I need to speak to you. Mama", she catches the first flight back to Manila, Philippines.

There, Caridad is told the secrets of her life, in three parts by Mama Thelma, Tia Emma, & Cousin Ligaya. Each only telling their own part in Caridad's life with the admonishment referring to the others: "I can not tell you more, it is her part to tell".

So the truth of Caridad's life unfolds from her family, a truth which she was somewhat always aware of, but never fully in its reality.

The story begins before WWII and takes us through the occupation of the Philippines by the Japanese during WWII (which is a good history lesson) and up to modern times.

I liked the characters and there was no condemnation on my part for their actions; people do what they must do in order to live and these women were no exception.

I found the book to be easily read and despite the simplicity of the writing I found the story to be compelling, interesting, and poignant. So much so that I was up until after midnight reading.… (mehr)

Set against the backdrop of an emerging rebellion, a struggling young reporter rushes to a fire in a small street in the city to write about what happened. Little did she know that the circumstances of her birth are intertwined with the story she would be writing.

So goes the story of Clara Perez. Written in the first person, this book tells stories within a story. I would like to remark again on the author's brilliant recollection of historical events that was the background of this novel, and should I say, Arlene J. Chai definitely knows her strongest suit: historical backgrounds. However, unlike The Last Time I Saw Mother, this story is not hesitant, uncertain, or digressing. Maybe that's because there is only one storyteller here, and so the reader is not bombarded with several voices speaking about different things, yet all very identical. This book's tone is at once haunting and fascinating, logical and imaginative. This may be the author's best book yet.

The characters assert their own unique qualities which make for interesting reading. It was like reading about your favorite celebrities in the gossip column: you could not, for the life of you, ignore what you are reading, nor unbelieve what you just learned. Only this time, the gossip column is a work of fiction, but feels almost real. Because it occurred in the time of what may be the Philippine People Power Revolution (the author did not specify which country this occurred, but every detail definitely points to the Philippines), I could not help but reconcile the stories within this book to those I learned about in history class, and with conversations with the people who lived through Martial Law and witnessed the revolution. Was there really a stone? Did a church actually disappear? Was there really an attempt on a general's life? You can't help but unearth the story surrounding these events again. I think that is what I love about this author's works: she talks so well about history you want to open the books again and read it to confirm or refute whatever she said. It seems like the author is challenging you on what you know about history.

However, there is one part that I did not like: the stigmata. I know that this was symbolic of that character's life, but it just seemed too much drama already, and this book is already full of it. It's full to the brim you feel like you are watching a movie: you huddle in your seat when a gruesome murder occurs, you snort through the mushy love lines but feel touched in spite of yourself, and you feel roaring angry at the cold, calculating, haughty mother. This book, with its several stories, have all that and more.

In summary, I think the author has evaluated her writing and improved on her storytelling. Gone is the digression and uncertainty, and in its place, something thrilling and just a touch dramatic. She has become one of my favorite authors because of this book, and I can't wait to see what she writes about next.… (mehr)

A conversation between a mother and her teenage daughter:

Daughter: "Mom, am I adopted?"

Mother: "Of course not. What made you think that?"

D: "Aunt Lucy said that I don't look like you or Dad."

M: "That's because you take after both of us. Our features are thoroughly mixed in you that if you smile, your lips spread thinly like mine, but when you're serious, your lips purse like Dad's."

D: "You're really sure I'm not adopted?"

M: "A hundred percent sure. Even a million. I gave birth to you, or have you forgotten that? Why are you thinking of those things anyway? Have you been watching too much telenovelas lately?"

D: "No. But I read a book, The Last Time I Saw Mother by Arlene J. Chai. Caridad learns that she was just adopted, and the circumstances surrounding her birth are told to her by three different women: her mother Thelma, her aunt Emma, and her cousin Ligaya, which also touches upon the history of their families before the Japanese occupation and then further afterward."

M: "And because of that, you thought you might be adopted? Was the book any good?"

D: "Well, in my opinion, the plot is interesting. I mean, it shows four sides of the story. However, although the author wanted to do four voices, to me it felt like their voices are one and they same."

M: "So it was not that good?"

D: "Ideally, it is very good, Mom, since the author wanted to touch on the lives of four women with the history of the Philippines as a backdrop. It's just that because the characters sounded the same, and they also sounded a bit uncertain with respect to their reflections on the past, the whole book became more like a narrative lesson in history, than a compelling story of family and relationships."

M: "I see. Well at least it made you learn a bit of history, which you're not very good in. But if you said that the characters almost sound the same, how were you able to distinguish them from each other?"

D: "Well the book is divided into four parts, each dedicated for a single character. And they also have a bit of distinction in the tone in that Thelma is resolute, Caridad is confused, then contemplative, then understanding, Emma is regretful, and Ligaya is bitter. But that's just the difference as far as this story goes."

M: "So from what you've told me, you didn't seem to have enjoyed the story."

D: "As I was telling you Mom, I enjoyed the premise. I just felt that it could have been written better. There was too much drama going on but I guess that's understandable, since the premise is intended to be dramatic. But the characters are too digressing in their personal stories, and quite frankly, it's reminiscent of typical Filipino telenovelas where a child is adopted early on and only learns of the truth when they are older, though this one does not have all the pathetic complications as those on television. And the ending could have been better, but I guess it would suffice."

M: "Well that explains your question about being adopted. You read something that is like a telenovela! You mean I gave you your allowance and you spent it on an unsatisfying book?"

D: "It was cheap Mom, so I didn't really lose that much."

M: "So what happened in the ending? Why were you not satisfied?"

D: "Why don't you just read the book, Mom? I can't stand here all day and talk to you about that book."

M: "And why can't you stay and talk to me? I told you you're not going out to that party."

D: "You're never this strict with my brother! Maybe I am adopted!"

M: "Go to your room. And give me that book."… (mehr)