Eye Of The Fish, The [Paperback]

Luis Francia (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2, 2001

"The first of Luis H. Francia's books of non-fiction to be published in the United States, The Eye of the Fish paints a vivid and detailed portrait of the terror, beauty, and insistent humanity of the Philippines of today. Cross-cutting between Francia's recollections of the Philippines of his youth and accounts of his travels through the archipelago over the past two decades, The Eye of the Fish takes us the length of the nation: from Batanes in the north to the Muslim Jolo and Marawi regions of the south, and from the rugged mountain hideaways of revolutionary freedom fighters to the well-appointed salons of the political and cultural elite. Painters and priests, island shamans and small-town politicians, cultists, feminists, and infamous first ladies all make an appearance in this imaginative and idiosyncratic exploration of 'home.' Through their stories, and through his own memories of estrangement and acceptance in the Philippines and in the U.S., Francia reflects on the hybridity that is simultaneously the burden and the benediction of the PhilippinesUand of his own mestizo self."

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Francia was born and raised in Manila and currently lives in New York City, where he writes for the Village Voice, Manila's Philippine Daily Inquirer, and Hong Kong's Asiaweek. He has previously published two collections of poetry and a collection of his reviews and essays. His new book is a description of his experiences in the Philippines, from his memories of childhood and adolescence to his adult experiences as a journalist. Observant and receptive to the stories of many, including freedom fighters and rice farmers, Francia presents a series of descriptions and contradictions that intrigue the reader. The narrative meanders from past to present, using Francia's experiences as the framework for exploring the Philippines. The result is intriguing and well constructed, but the topic may not have wide appeal. Recommended for larger public and academic libraries that collect materials about the Philippines. Alison Hopkins, Queens Borough P.L., Jamaica, NY
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Poet, essayist, and anthologist Francia teaches Asian American literature at Sarah Lawrence College. Here, he provides a portrait of his Philippine homeland: a mosaic composed of childhood memories, historical fragments, and stories gleaned during many trips home. The Philippines is composed of more than 7,000 islands; most Americans (even veterans of the Pacific campaigns of World War II) can name only a few. Yet the U.S. controlled the archipelago, directly or indirectly, for much of the twentieth century, and Spain held it for centuries before that (and established Catholicism as its dominant religion). This long colonial history is a key element of the Philippines today, not least in the hybrid culture (and hybrid lineage) of many of the country's multiethnic citizens. Francia explores the complexity of the Philippines, from Muslim freedom fighters' mountain hideaways in the south to the isolated Batones islands in the north. This unconventional travel book would be wonderful preparation for a visit to the Philippines or for involvement with the many Philippine natives who now live in the U.S. Mary Carroll
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: MUAE Publishing; 1st edition (February 2, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885030312
• ISBN-13: 978-1885030313
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,101,680 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Discovery of Cultural Identiy, June 11, 2001

By 

David Larkin (Scituate, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eye Of The Fish, The (Paperback)

From the first word of this book I knew that this book was for me. Luis Francia's book is a must read for any Filipino-American looking to discover their Cultural Identity.

Luis takes his reader's on poetic journeys through the Philippine Archipelago, through these adventures we discover the many cultures of the Philippines and start to understand social and political issues that Filipinos face. Through his words you feel Luis' passion for a country he loves in the same way that you feel the passion through the words of Jose Rizal, Jorge Luis Borges, or Pablo Neruda.

It is not enough to say that I enjoyed this book. Luis' book is culturally significant. It meets the needs of Filipino's in their struggle to create a new cultural identity.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect, June 30, 2005

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Eye Of The Fish, The (Paperback)

I come from a similar background as the author, though a generation removed (younger). As I read it, I find that he has in fact written MY personal archipelago. This book is not contrived or pretentious. One of very few books I've found that relate the Philippines and Filipino identity issues so genuinely and honestly.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Buy This Book!, April 11, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Eye Of The Fish, The (Paperback)

The only thing better then reading this book on your own, is to experience it from Francia's own lips. Francia is an amazing storyteller, this book is a must for anyone interested in personal/cultural identity. If you ever get a chance to hear this author read, do it- he is wonderful!