When The Elephants Dance-My Book Review

The last five years I have read only a couple of books. But last week, Jane Williams, a co-resident here at THD and one of my bridge buddies lend me her book,  "When the Elephant Dance" when I told her that I have written an article about my childhood experiences during the Japanese-American War in the Philippines.  The trilogy details my own childhood experiences ( Part 1), my wife's family( Part 2) and my first cousin ( Part 3).💥 

https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2023/10/my-childhood-experiences-during.html

After one week, I finished the book and I agree wholeheartedly with all the reviews. Some of the events in the book is similar to the experiences of some of my adult relatives as well as my own experiences as a child in the Philippines.  Thus, I could relate to the story and indeed enjoyed the book very much. The book also reminded me of Isabelle Allende's book, "The House of the Spirits".  

One of the reviews states " A Powerful tale of the Philippine Islands and a testament to the resilience and courage of the Filipino people"-Gail Tsukiyama, San Francisco Chronicle. 

Here's a summary of the book from Wikipedia.      

Once in a great while comes a storyteller who can illuminate worlds large and small, magical and true to life. When the Elephants Dance introduces us to the incandescent voice of Tess Uriza Holthe, who sets her remarkable first novel in the waning days of World War II, as the Japanese and the Americans engage in a fierce battle for possession of the Philippine Islands. The Karangalan family and their neighbors huddle for survival in the cellar of a house a few miles from Manila. Outside the safety of their little refuge the war rages on—fiery bombs torch the beautiful Filipino countryside, Japanese soldiers round up and interrogate innocent people, and from the hills guerillas wage a desperate campaign against the enemy. Inside the cellar, these men, women, and children put their hopes and dreams on hold as they wait out the war, only emerging to look for food, water, and medicine.

Through the eyes of three narrators, thirteen-year-old Alejandro Karangalan, his spirited older sister Isabelle, and Domingo, a passionate guerilla commander, we see how ordinary people must learn to live in 

the midst of extraordinary uncertainty, how they must find hope for survival where none seems to exist. 

Crowded together in the cellar, the Karangalans and their friends and neighbors tell magical stories to one another based on Filipino myth and legend to fuel their courage, pass the time, and teach important lessons. The group is held spellbound by these stories, which feature a dazzling array of ghosts, witches, supernatural creatures, and courageous Filipinos who changed the course of history with their actions. These profoundly moving stories transport the listeners from the chaos of the war around them and give them new resolve to fight on.

With When the Elephants Dance Holthe has not only written a gripping narrative of how Alejandro, Isabelle, Domingo and their community fight for survival, but a loving tribute to the magical realism that infuses Filipino culture. The stories shared by her characters are based on the same tales handed down to Holthe from her Filipino father and lola, her grandmother. This stunning debut novel is the first to celebrate in such richness and depth the spirit of the Filipino people and their fascinating story and marks the introduction of a talented new author who will join the ranks of writers such as Arundhati Roy, Manil Suri, and Amy Tan.

💥Personal Note: Isabelle story is similar to Part 3 of my article published in Hubpages.com

Isabelle was raped by the Japanese in this fictional story, but Part 3 of my article is a true story of the rape of my cousin.  

https://discover.hubpages.com/literature/my-childhood-memories-of-world-war-2

Meanwhile enjoy this photo of my recent salmon-trout dinner here at Newton's with Jay Pollack, new resident in the Fairmount Building. I have been introducing Jay to the other residents for the last week as his Greeter. Again, welcome Jay to THD.

Lastly here's the site for books similar to When the Elephants Dance.

 https://www.goodreads.com/book/similar/2074473-when-the-elephants-dance