Book Review: The Box of Noli's Bones by Felix Llamido, M.D.

I received a complimentary and autographed copy of Dr. Llamido's book(photo above) last week. It is a story of the Japanese-American War in the Philippines that happened during his childhood. The book is historical fiction or creative nonfiction which contained historical facts and his memories of the war as well as of his relatives and friends. It is well written and an engaging story. I finished reading it in three hours non-stopped with only one bathroom break. It was time well spent and better than watching television.
  
I enjoyed the book very much as it reminded me of my own and Macrine's( my spouse of 62 years) childhood experiences during the Japanese-American War in the Philippines. There are similarities and differences in the events described beautifully in detail by the author in his book and my own and Macrine's childhood experiences.

My experiences and recollections of the war as a child growing up during the Japanese-American War in the Philippines was discussed in detail in my autobiography ( http://davidbkatague.blogspot.com) as well as in my Hubpages.com writing account published on December 8, 2011.

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

The first major difference is my experience was in Panay Island whereas Dr. Llamido's book venue is in Luzon. Other events in the book that is similar to my own and Macrine are: water boarding ( artisan well vs the ocean high tides involving Macrine's grand father), monitor lizard vs a python encounters and the airplane dogfights hillside and meadows watching.

Dr Llamido and I during our college years in UP ( mid 1950's). Dr Llamido is squatting on the first row holding a newspaper. I am standing at the back row, 3rd from the Left.

For My first review of this book click on:

https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/search?q=felix+llamido

Two other events in Dr Llamido's book that are very similar to my own are the Palawan Massacre and the Guerilla's methods of messaging. The Palawan massacre  reminds me of the massacre of my Mothers relatives (Balleza clan) in  Barotac Viejo, Iloilo that I discussed in my blog :

https://davidbkatague.blogspot.com/search?q=balleza+massacre

I am rating this book 5 star out of 5 and highly recommend it not only to history enthusiasts but also to all who love to read good books and history.

At the end of the book under Liberation, page 255 , the author was telling us of his encounter with a GI repeating a coded radio message which he did not understand. He was more interested in the Dentyne gum, the GI was distributing to the children.

" It was my first taste of gum--ever.  On the way home Dida asked, What did you do with your gum?  I swallowed it. 

I could see the disbelief in her face.  You are supposed to only chew it.  Now your intestines will stick together.  I did not sleep well that night as I waited to die.  

But I didn't and I am glad. If I had died, who would be around to write this story." 

This gum incident reminded me of my own chewing gum story.  I was enjoying my gum when a neighbor (younger) kid started following me and started begging for my gum. It was the only gum I have left, so with reluctance I spew it out and gave it to him so he would stop begging. Without hesitation, he put it in his mouth and chewed it with gusto.   I am not sure what he did with the gum after he finished chewing ( may be he also swallowed it) as I was just too happy to get away from him. 

For details on this book click on:

https://www.amazon.com/Box-NOLIs-Bones-story-Philippines-ebook/product-reviews/B07VCN67WP/ref=cm_cr_dp_d_show_all_btm?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=all_reviews

Personal Note: Dr Llamido and I were dormates at the University of the Philippines Mens South Dorm ( Narra Hall) when he was a pre-med student and I was a Chemistry student/ Instructor in the early and Mid-1950's. He visited me and Macrine with his son from Los Angeles in November, 2018 here in Northern California. We get reacquainted-thus getting a complimentary copy of his well-written and engaging book. Again, thank you for my complimentary copy of your book. May your book be one of Amazon's best sellers for 2019-2020.