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JUNE BOOK OF THE MONTH: When the Elephants Dance

PostPosted: May 31st, 2012, 2:19 pm
by thevinethatwrites
From Amazon.com:

“Papa explains the war like this: ‘When the elephants dance, the chickens must be careful.’ The great beasts, as they circle one another, shaking the trees and trumpeting loudly, are the Amerikanos and the Japanese as they fight. And our Philippine Islands? We are the small chickens.”

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. They find this hope in the dramatic history of the Philippine Islands and the passion and bravery of its people. 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.

Re: JUNE BOOK OF THE MONTH: When the Elephants Dance

PostPosted: May 31st, 2012, 8:48 pm
by Wanda
Sounds good! Will go and get my copy!

Re: JUNE BOOK OF THE MONTH: When the Elephants Dance

PostPosted: June 1st, 2012, 1:31 am
by Heldervert
Ms Wanda..bili na hehe
I'll check amazon for the ebook...

Re: JUNE BOOK OF THE MONTH: When the Elephants Dance

PostPosted: June 1st, 2012, 11:33 am
by lizzie23
Hey this is good! I've always wanted to check out Filipino authors.... will give this a try! Hope it will be good!

Re: JUNE BOOK OF THE MONTH: When the Elephants Dance

PostPosted: June 4th, 2012, 8:00 pm
by Heldervert
I'm still waiting for amazon to deliver the book. I've ordered HB...7 days more

What chapter are you in right now, i guess i'll be late.

Re: JUNE BOOK OF THE MONTH: When the Elephants Dance

PostPosted: June 5th, 2012, 4:13 am
by malot1182
I can't get a copy. Still searching.. if not, then I have to settle with an e-book.

Re: JUNE BOOK OF THE MONTH: When the Elephants Dance

PostPosted: June 5th, 2012, 8:00 am
by deathwalker
Hi malot! Try looking @ Fully Booked. It costs 599 pesos though, for the budget-conscious (like me).. :mrgreen:

Re: JUNE BOOK OF THE MONTH: When the Elephants Dance

PostPosted: June 5th, 2012, 11:03 am
by Wanda
haha, finally, got my copy na! its available at fully booked in Greenhills. But they said they also have stocks of this book at Fort, Rockwell, Shangri-La, and Gateway in Cubao.

Re: JUNE BOOK OF THE MONTH: When the Elephants Dance

PostPosted: June 5th, 2012, 7:44 pm
by Heldervert
Wanda wrote:haha, finally, got my copy na! its available at fully booked in Greenhills. But they said they also have stocks of this book at Fort, Rockwell, Shangri-La, and Gateway in Cubao.



good for you Wanda....next week hopefully amazon will deliver..

Re: JUNE BOOK OF THE MONTH: When the Elephants Dance

PostPosted: June 5th, 2012, 9:12 pm
by malot1182
Finally, got my copy! An e-book though. Wala talaga sa bookstore eh. Officially, this would be my first participation sa isang book discussion. Pwede na bang umpisahan? hehehe