Puppy Love and Thirteen Short Stories

by F. Sionil José

The stories of F.Sionil Jose are culled from Filipino life and are clear windows to the humanity of a people striving for justice and well being. Some are also charming episodes on growing up and discovery.

Genres: Short Stories, Historical Fiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 1998

About the author

Francisco Sionil José was born in 1924 in Pangasinan province and attended the public school in his hometown. He attended the University of Santo Tomas after World War II and in 1949, started his career in writing. Since then, his fiction has been published internationally and translated into several languages including his native Ilokano. He has been involved with the international cultural organizations, notably International P.E.N., the world association of poets, playwrights, essayists and novelists whose Philippine Center he founded in 1958.

F. Sionil José, the Philippines' most widely translated author, is known best for his epic work, the Rosales saga - five novels encompassing a hundred years of Philippine history - a vivid documentary of Filipino life.

In 1980, Sionil José received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Journalism, Literature and Creative Communication Arts.

In 2001, Sionil José was named National Artist for Literature.

In 2004, Sionil José received the Pablo Neruda Centennial Award.

Reviews

[Maria Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

"How could two very young people get to know the arcane ways of loving, caring? I did not know then what love was but I did know feeling - unexpressed, compulsive - "
-Puppy Love, an excerpt

A collection of stories by the National Artist F. Sionil Jose, he coincided the them of love into his foray of genres - from magical realism, to taboo tales, to Noir-ish takes, and even a shot of a children's story. The red book is romantic but is not cheesy. He weaves the words like a household chore, like washing the dishes - so mundane, yet so extraordinary.

My personal favorites from the collection is the children's story entitled The Molave and The Orchid, where the author wrote this -

"Someday, I will love someone for we are destined to do so."

THAT SIMPLY GAVE THE FEELS AWAY.
Other notable story here is the Waltz, which appealed to female readers (most of the bookish friends gush in this work, remembering the way the two characters danced and talked).

I suggest you read it in random. You never know what story is in store for you. And if you are a guy who doesn't prefer flowers as a gift to a special someone, give a copy of this instead. Introduce her to that children's story. And give the feels away.

[Ultimotomasino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another five stars for F. Sionil Jose. Puppy Love is in no way sugary for those who are interested, neither is it all corny when it touches upon the different aspects and angles of the ever elusive concept of love.
Puppy Love, is hands down, one of his best short stories but one must also remember to sink their teeth into the other short stories in the collection like that of "The female principle", you're in for one hell of a hike with this one.
Like in his other novels, Jose takes on the coat of the maestro as he swings and swirls his words around to create beautiful stories in glorious harmony.

[Nin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Puppy Love and Thirteen Short Stories portrays love and its different facets (a love that is..., the love for...) and the loss of innocence. Humor is laid on thin and a certain heaviness is present in most, if not all of the stories. These are very thought-provoking and realistic (except maybe for one) that I often found myself questioning the reasons for the characters' behavior, why they have different notions about justice (who deserves it, who should give it, how they would get it, will they ever get it), and if hope isn't very far from anyone who would choose to keep it alive.

[Biena (The Library Mistress) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 really.

Should've given this the perfect five because The Female Principle is really superb and The Waltz almost made me cry but I didn't like Dream Videos. So, there. 4.5

P.S.

I still love you, FSJ. ♥

[Michael Nelmida · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my least favorite work of F.Sionil Jose but I liked the Dream Videos.

[Jay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Criticism lobbied at F. Sionil Jose is largely warranted where his archaic views on women and the situations by which they are subjected to indentured suffering are seen on full display. That unfortunately makes up crucial stories of this anthology that define his work. For me, it's not something I personally subscribe to for moral reasons, especially as we've progressed past the need to empathize for troubled characters whose priority is to subjugate, rape or make women do things against their will. (One story here includes a woman being forced to take an abortion through emotional reasons)

I will say though, his prose is undeniably attractive. It does remind me sometimes of those old uncles commenting on Facebook walls. Attractive in an archaic sense. Sometimes worth reading, but there's a point where the exhaustion is so tangible. Read with some caution.

[Aj Garchitorena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waltz is my favourite. The concept of forbidden and 'never-ending love' was very touchy for me back when I was waaay younger, nevertheless, Waltz is still my favourite. The first time I read this, my chest ached for all the perturbed emotions that were built from the first sentence up to the very last words of the short story.

This whole collection is, matter of fact, worth reading. :)

[Letlet Dimzon · Rating 5 out of 5]

its awesome

[K.D. Absolutely · Rating 2 out of 5]

Is it fair to write what you think about the book even if two years have lapsed since the time you finished reading it?

This book was our book read in Pinoy Reads Pinoy Books in December 2019. We went to Solidaridad Bookstore and interviewed the 95-year old National Artist F. Sionil Jose. The interview lasted for almost 3 hours and had it not for his wife who said that it was Jose's bedtime, the interview could have lasted on and on.

Out of those 3 hours we might have talked about the book for just 30 minutes. Jose diverted the discussion to politics, arts and asked us questions about what we thought of this and that personality. Or what we thought could be the solutions to the ills of the society from economy, government, moral standards, etc. I always enjoy listening to the wisdom of older people especially from an octogenarian or nonagenarian. Especially from an astute author who still is very much aware of what's going on around him. Especially from a national artist for literature.

That brings me to what I think about the book. To be honest, I could no longer remember even a single story when I picked up this from a stack of read-but-still-to-be-reviewed books. That tells me that the 14 stories here are forgettable. F. Sionil did not want to discuss about the stories. And two years are too short for me not to remember anything. I had to scan and read a few dialogues for me to recall the plot of tsome of the stories like "Puppy Love" about childhood friends with the girl turning into a prostitute during the war, "The Letters" about a lady teacher assigned to teach in the province and "A Walk with My Grandson" that reminded me of Jose Garcia Villa's "A Footnote to Youth." That Villa's short story I read in four decades ago but I still vividly remember the story. That's why I said that the stories are forgettable.

Nevertheless, I understand why some readers younger than me liked this book very much. The narration is simple and easy to read and the stories are believable. However, the book doesn't have the complex and unforgettable characters that are in his Rosales saga. Still, "2 stars" in Goodreads still mean that "it was OK".

[John Ray Catingub · Rating 4 out of 5]

FSJ's strengths as a novelist are distilled and purified in his short stories. They are as potent as his longer works. While not every story resonated with me, the ones that did gave me pause and made me sit and think a while: Puppy Love, The Other Forest, Waltz, A Walk With My Grandson, and Walking on Fire. The first three I enjoyed because I am a romantic, the fourth because it was touching, and the fifth because it reminded me of Nick Joaquin's use of the folkloric in magical realism. FSJ's "children's stories for adults" are, I assume, retellings of Filipino fables; if they are, he gives them a fresh and timeless sense that teaches an adult well. I can devour an FSJ novel but going through his short stories in such a way allows his talents across genres to be showcased.

[Gsus · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've been wanting to read this since 2018. 3 years later here I am. I do not know much about politics, all I know is I do like F. Sionil José's literature. I like the prose, although not as much. Sometimes the sentences are, hmm how should I say this, unnecessarily complicated? But I guess this has to do with the types of books I've been reading and have grown quite accustomed to?

Had I read this at the time, when I was scouring the internet for a copy of this book, maybe I would have not given it 2 stars. I feel like I have outgrown this (?) Idk. I liked some stories, the first and last ones, the middle fell a bit short for me. I liked: Puppy love, Waltz, A walk with my grandson, Dream Videos and The Molave and the Orchid.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of charming short stories that evoke the Philippines with every image. Most are set in the Philippines, though at least one reflects the diaspora in the U.S.. The author captures the poverty, the resentment of colonialism and the class system that are vivid in the Philippine experience. My last sentence is a statement; these stories are an evocation.

[Cece · Rating 4 out of 5]

F Sionil’s writing evokes picturesque sceneries in the mind and captures feelings of nostalgia for me. He takes the reader on a ride with his characters by letting us readers understand the emotions the characters go through. The commentary on the environment they belong to, the emotions they’ve felt due to events— these all come together with how masterful F Sionil crafts his stories.

[Gestolem4]

Educational purposes

[Ereln Cabiles]

goodf

[Bvikee · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. So boring.

[Leilani]

If you would read this, better read many other F. Sionil Jose stories to get a glimpse of the supporting characters.

[Kyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll remember this book for having some of the most satisfying endings I have ever read.

[Chenley Cabaluna · Rating 5 out of 5]

#54 of 2014

Binuo nito ang taon ko. Ang sarap basahin. Teka lang ranting 'to ha. Wag umasa ng profound at pa-deep na review kase layman lang naman ako. Wahaha.

Yung choice of words. Yung way ng pagku-kwento. Sobrang ugh. Kada tapos ng isang short story sobrang emotional ko sa sobrang ganda haha.

May mga nakakagulat. May mga unexpected sobra ang ending. Galing talaga. Fan girl na niya ko.

Female principle ang pinaka-gusto kong short story. :-)

[John Exos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puppy Love and the other short stories is a good way of familiarizing yourself with F. Sionil Jose's writing style.

I recommend reading these stories first before the big move to the Rosales Saga Novels.

[Dreamy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first F. Sionil Jose

[LJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first time i read a book written by a Filipino author.. Surprisingly, i loved it!

Had to create a book review out of this book.
My favorite is Puppy Love and Female Principle!

[Niccy Hen'Z]

kkk

[Jason Gonzales · Rating 3 out of 5]

should finish this.