Customer Reviews

When the Rainbow Goddess Wept

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

11/27/99 "I am quite encouraged with what I have read about your life...and the way you write pleases me somewher within. I am a Filipina-American of thirty four years and the youngest of two children of one of those filipino immgrant families you speak of who were the wave of Filipinos who came to North America in the mid-sixties. I arrived in Chicago at three years old and have felt the stigma or prejudice and misunderstanding of wha and what our culture is about, as I slowly became who I am now. In the '70s and clearly in the '80's, I have felt the strange emotions all at one time come upon me when I began to journey back and forth to the Philippines, I was one of the first wave of balikbayan youth at the time to feel I had sojourned out of the mainland and forever sojourning back to the culture in my soul, helpless in integrating who I am, because truly I have come to accept I am both. With a very strong Ilocano-Tagalog flavor invading our homelife in the early '70's such was my identity as now both Filipina-American.My mama has but a few, yet valid vivid memories of Japanese invasion in the North Ilocano region as a child, yet I myself held some confused and strong emotions hearing about the Edsa revolution in the '80's...but did not know why, all the while living here in Chicago. Only reading a few excerpts of your work offline indicates you can help to give understanding to who we are as Filipinos and as Americans just by your experience. It seems reflective in your 'use of words' and you don't sound 'revolutionary' and emotional like most Filipino writers think they 'must' express. There is a softness, soothing and tender to the 'touch' of your pen. No one has yet been able to penetrate the Chicago area with this understanding, nor is there an appreciation for 'current'writers in the filipino community here other than the usual local editors and columnists of Filipino newspapers, perhaps unlike where you reside. Continue, ma'am, in your special gift and example. May God honor the rest of the new chapters of your life experience."

Cecilia Manguerra Brainard is a master story teller, who paints a vivid picture of the struggles of the Filipino people during the Japanese invasion of their country in 1941. Her deep understanding of the culture enables her to weave myth with every day life, creating a unique and haunting tale. Very well done.

I just wanted to thank Cecilia Brainard for writing this book and other books as well. I didn't know much about World War II in the Philippines, and this book taught me a lot about what the Filipino people went through. Cecilia Brainard, a very talented writer, has written an exceptionally fine novel in When the Rainbow Goddess Wept. Thank you, Cecilia.

The imagery was startling and real. It recalled stories that my father told me about the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, which he witnessed as a boy about the same age as the protagonist. Manguerra-Brainard weaved the folk tales of the Philippines into her story expertly. Well done.

As I have said in the title, this is a great book. The language is fluently written by an amazing author who is able to really capture the pain and agony of being a Filipino during the times of Japanese invasions. It tells the story through a small girl, Yvonne's eyes. How absolutely terrifying everything is and how the war had really impacted the lifestyle of common, everyday, Filipino people. Their struggles to stay alive as the Japanese gain upon them; their worries about the family members that might never return. Though losses were made in the process, Yvoone emerges at the end shining like a star.

Dispise all the praises I have had for this book, the four stars as opposed to five were crucial. Some parts in the book where Yvoone accidentally walks in upon her parents I thought was completely unnecessary. I recommend this book to adults, but prehaps the kids can hold it off for a while. Just till they get a little bit older.

11/27/99 "I am quite encouraged with what I have read about your life...and the way you write pleases me somewher within. I am a Filipina-American of thirty four years and the youngest of two children of one of those filipino immgrant families you speak of who were the wave of Filipinos who came to North America in the mid-sixties. I arrived in Chicago at three years old and have felt the stigma or prejudice and misunderstanding of what our culture is about, as I slowly became who I am now. In the '70s and clearly in the '80's, I have felt the strange emotions all at one time come upon me when I began to journey back and forth to the Philippines, I was one of the first wave of balikbayan youth at the time to feel I had sojourned out of the mainland and forever sojourning back to the culture in my soul, helpless in integrating who I am, because truly I have come to accept I am both. With a very strong Ilocano-Tagalog flavor invading our homelife in the early '70's such was my identity as now both Filipina-American.My mama has but a few, yet valid vivid memories of Japanese invasion in the North Ilocano region as a child, yet I myself held some confused and strong emotions hearing about the Edsa revolution in the '80's...but did not know why, all the while living here in Chicago. Only reading a few excerpts of your work offline indicates you can help to give understanding to who we are as Filipinos and as Americans just by your experience. It seems reflective in your 'use of words' and you don't sound 'revolutionary' and emotional like most Filipino writers think they 'must' express. There is a softness, soothing and tender to the 'touch' of your pen. No one has yet been able to penetrate the Chicago area with this understanding, nor is there an appreciation for 'current'writers in the filipino community here other than the usual local editors and columnists of Filipino newspapers, perhaps unlike where you reside. Continue, ma'am, in your special gift and example. May God honor the rest of the new chapters of your life experience."

This reminded me of "When the Elephants Dance" by Tess Uriza Holthe, although Brainard's book was published first. The organization of the story felt a bit chaotic, but perhaps that was the author's method of juxtaposing the format with the events occurring in the story. On the other hand, there were moments of poignancy that mentally remain, giving the reader material to philosophize and mull over. Parts of the storyline wavered, but the central storyline was executed overall, and the characters were believable. As a whole, this was an enjoyable read, and I commend the author for being a literary figure for aspiring Fil-Am writers.

We read WHEN THE RAINBOW GODDESS WEPT by Cecilia Manguerra Brainard in our class, and I had to write this review because it touched me deeply. It is a moving story about a young girl and her family in war-torn Philippines.