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Wakasang Wasak
What is the hiwaga that is in the dako paroon? Created by the balintataw or of, like, OA na imagination? I mean,what the fuck is a balintataw, anyway?
Here are the three tales of wild,wonderful women in wicked situations. Why are men dying to be on The Kama Ni Stella? Why does Dindin have a bad feeling about Ang Mutya ng San Isidro? And who’sthe DJ in the place Where Angels Fear to Dance?
What are you waiting for? Yes, you, holding this book at the bookstore? Buy this now.
Ang magsoli nito sa shelf…MAMAMATAY.
Here are the three tales of wild,wonderful women in wicked situations. Why are men dying to be on The Kama Ni Stella? Why does Dindin have a bad feeling about Ang Mutya ng San Isidro? And who’sthe DJ in the place Where Angels Fear to Dance?
What are you waiting for? Yes, you, holding this book at the bookstore? Buy this now.
Ang magsoli nito sa shelf…MAMAMATAY.
- GenresShort StoriesParanormal
132 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 25, 2014
Surprisingly good. My first time to read a work by Siege Malvar so I did not know what to expect. I only bought this because I was about to attend our book club's Christmas party and I was looking for some less expensive books to give away as prizes for games. Then of course, I remember Biena's stories about being with him and many other starting young writers in the city. So, maybe we can someday invite Siege Malvar to guest in our book club?
The book is composed of 3 interesting short stories (novellas) that are basically around the fantasy and paranormal genres. Contrary to what they said during this book's launch, according to Biena's review here on Goodreads, I did not find anything chick lit in any of the 3 except if you say that having many different men in your bed can be classified as desperately longing for love in the tradition of Martha Cecilia's PHR novels except that in one of the three stories here, those men are eaten by the woman's bed. So, for me, that hardly qualifies as chick lit. Maybe they (the people in the book launch) were just trying to entice romance novel patrons to try this book too? As it says in the witty blurb: "Ang magsoli nito sa shelf... MAMAMATAY!" I did not read that when I bought this book as I was just looking at the price haha! But I smiled after reading the book. Very convincing really and it (the thought of dying or scaring the potential reader) somehow reflects what this book is all about for me: scary and funny. That's a very good combination that's apt for a holiday relaxing mood. Not really Christmassy but sounds fun, right?
May isa sa tatlong kuwento na gumamit ng Tagalog. Mas na-enjoy ko yong English ni Malvar. Di ko alam pero normally gusto ko ang Tagalog kapag Pinoy Books. Yong character ni Dindin, kwela lalo na yong "Bukas, pa-BJ ka ulit, ha?" referring to... buko juice haha. Marami sa librong ito may pagka-green tsaka maraming explicit sex scenes lalo na doon sa Ang Kama ni Stella. Parang pag ikaw, ang sarap mahiga doon sa kama na yon. Of course, kung may female version. I can imagine kung babae yong kama, sarap siguro haha.
The third story is somewhat not my kind of storytelling or storyline and that pulled down the rating from 4 (that in GR means: I really liked it) to 3 (I liked it). There are just too many characters for a short work and I am not really fond of Neil Gaiman or Greek Mythology cum Star Wars and it felt like a combination of those for me.
But still, overall, I liked this book.
The book is composed of 3 interesting short stories (novellas) that are basically around the fantasy and paranormal genres. Contrary to what they said during this book's launch, according to Biena's review here on Goodreads, I did not find anything chick lit in any of the 3 except if you say that having many different men in your bed can be classified as desperately longing for love in the tradition of Martha Cecilia's PHR novels except that in one of the three stories here, those men are eaten by the woman's bed. So, for me, that hardly qualifies as chick lit. Maybe they (the people in the book launch) were just trying to entice romance novel patrons to try this book too? As it says in the witty blurb: "Ang magsoli nito sa shelf... MAMAMATAY!" I did not read that when I bought this book as I was just looking at the price haha! But I smiled after reading the book. Very convincing really and it (the thought of dying or scaring the potential reader) somehow reflects what this book is all about for me: scary and funny. That's a very good combination that's apt for a holiday relaxing mood. Not really Christmassy but sounds fun, right?
May isa sa tatlong kuwento na gumamit ng Tagalog. Mas na-enjoy ko yong English ni Malvar. Di ko alam pero normally gusto ko ang Tagalog kapag Pinoy Books. Yong character ni Dindin, kwela lalo na yong "Bukas, pa-BJ ka ulit, ha?" referring to... buko juice haha. Marami sa librong ito may pagka-green tsaka maraming explicit sex scenes lalo na doon sa Ang Kama ni Stella. Parang pag ikaw, ang sarap mahiga doon sa kama na yon. Of course, kung may female version. I can imagine kung babae yong kama, sarap siguro haha.
The third story is somewhat not my kind of storytelling or storyline and that pulled down the rating from 4 (that in GR means: I really liked it) to 3 (I liked it). There are just too many characters for a short work and I am not really fond of Neil Gaiman or Greek Mythology cum Star Wars and it felt like a combination of those for me.
But still, overall, I liked this book.
December 25, 2014
Wakasang wasak is so much different from Siege's other books and I somehow expected it, I mean, who in their right mind would write a Chick Lit and entitle it as such? Well, maybe Siege haha. *peace*
Personally, I've read this book too long considering it's just few pages over a hundred. Perhaps because I'm not really fond of anthologies, or better yet, I read anthologies very slowly, digesting every mood, story and whatnot.
Now, this isn't a review just saying what I wanted to say at the moment. I actually vowed to finish this couple of days ago only because I was with the author that day but life (read:work) just kept on butting in.
Some guys who attended the launch of this book (I arrived early for the photobooth souvenir) told me that this book is a combination of mystery, fantasy and chick lit, now I don't know if I agree.
Personally, I've read this book too long considering it's just few pages over a hundred. Perhaps because I'm not really fond of anthologies, or better yet, I read anthologies very slowly, digesting every mood, story and whatnot.
Now, this isn't a review just saying what I wanted to say at the moment. I actually vowed to finish this couple of days ago only because I was with the author that day but life (read:work) just kept on butting in.
Some guys who attended the launch of this book (I arrived early for the photobooth souvenir) told me that this book is a combination of mystery, fantasy and chick lit, now I don't know if I agree.
May 19, 2014
This turned out to be one of the best unplanned buys ever!
I haven't read any of Malvar's pieces before but I thoroughly enjoyed myself with Wakasang Wasak.
The stories were interesting, gripping and flowed well. I appreciated the fact that the stories had a nice balance to them. The characters weren't flat and had proper personalities. The spattering of mythical lore was just right and did nothing to overwhelm the reader. Lastly, the mix of English and Filipino wasn't off-putting at all.
I must say that the best part is the witty banter at the back of the book. "What the fuck is a balintataw, anyway?" had me smiling like a loon. Half-way through the bit, I was already set on getting a copy but the last lines encouraging me with extreme prejudice to NOT return it to the shelf just bowled me over.
There were a few things that were missed in the final editing but that's just me nit-picking.
All in all, Wakasang Wasak was an amazing find and I'll be on the look out for Malvar's other books.
P.S.
This book may not be for everyone. If monsters, human sacrifice, witches and fairly descriptive coitus aren't your thing, you may want to think twice about picking this title up. That being said, the wit that this book is steeped in is well-worth some discomfort you may have with the aforementioned nouns.
I haven't read any of Malvar's pieces before but I thoroughly enjoyed myself with Wakasang Wasak.
The stories were interesting, gripping and flowed well. I appreciated the fact that the stories had a nice balance to them. The characters weren't flat and had proper personalities. The spattering of mythical lore was just right and did nothing to overwhelm the reader. Lastly, the mix of English and Filipino wasn't off-putting at all.
I must say that the best part is the witty banter at the back of the book. "What the fuck is a balintataw, anyway?" had me smiling like a loon. Half-way through the bit, I was already set on getting a copy but the last lines encouraging me with extreme prejudice to NOT return it to the shelf just bowled me over.
There were a few things that were missed in the final editing but that's just me nit-picking.
All in all, Wakasang Wasak was an amazing find and I'll be on the look out for Malvar's other books.
P.S.
This book may not be for everyone. If monsters, human sacrifice, witches and fairly descriptive coitus aren't your thing, you may want to think twice about picking this title up. That being said, the wit that this book is steeped in is well-worth some discomfort you may have with the aforementioned nouns.
May 20, 2014
Book #20 for 2014: Liked his book. Light, disturbing but fun, and fast read. It's a collection of 3 long stories / short novels. Clearly, this guy devoured comics while growing up (my kind of guy! Before, I subsisted on Batabatuta, Funny, and Ghost Comics).
July 9, 2014
My Oh Shit Quotient skyrocketed with this one.
November 11, 2015
The Verdict:
A warning for Mature Readers would have been better if it was placed on the cover of this excellent work by Siege Malvar.
Stories full of H.P. Lovecraft's works, sorcery and the current young adult novel themes, Wakasang Wasak would have been fun to see if it was given its own movie adaptation to the likes of the Shake, Rattle and Roll movie franchise.
This has been a great first read of Malvar's books. It was overwhelming as Siege Malvar ended this book hilariously with Sparkle, Bitch!
More of my review at:
http://onemantra.blogspot.com/2015/08...
A warning for Mature Readers would have been better if it was placed on the cover of this excellent work by Siege Malvar.
Stories full of H.P. Lovecraft's works, sorcery and the current young adult novel themes, Wakasang Wasak would have been fun to see if it was given its own movie adaptation to the likes of the Shake, Rattle and Roll movie franchise.
This has been a great first read of Malvar's books. It was overwhelming as Siege Malvar ended this book hilariously with Sparkle, Bitch!
More of my review at:
http://onemantra.blogspot.com/2015/08...
March 9, 2019
"Wakasang Wasak" by Siege Malvar is a short story collection that will introduce you to monstrous beds, beauty pageants, witches, demons, saints, and even a pedophile vampire.
This is a book that had me annotating right from the introduction. Malvar is a good storyteller, and I am fascinated with how he rebuilds and twists ordinary or known stories and make it his own.
This is a book that had me annotating right from the introduction. Malvar is a good storyteller, and I am fascinated with how he rebuilds and twists ordinary or known stories and make it his own.
May 6, 2020
Halos hindi ako patulugin ng pangalawang kwento sa librong ito. Marahil yun din ang paborito ko at talagang tumatak sa akin. Yun tipong habang naliligo ako, bigla kong maiisip ang bawat tagpo. Bago ako matulog, ayaw ko man pero yun ang huling bagay na nare-recall ko sa isip. O kaya habang kumakain lang o nanonood ng TV, biglang papira-piraso e naiisip ko ang nangyari sa kwento. Ewan ko, siguro nilalagay ko lang ang pananaw ko kung ako yung kaibigang sinama sa probinsya para manood ng pageant. Siguro na-absorb ko yung trauma. Haha, but anyway, astig tong librong to. Nagustuhan ko si Siege Malvar sa paraan nya ng pagsusulat. Casual yet mapapakapit ka sa upuan. Hindi nakaka-umay ang mga ganitong klase ng pagsusulat.
May 14, 2025
Dinala ko sa school and doon ko binasa without even knowing kung tungkol saan ang kuwento at laman niya hahaha
September 28, 2016
First time I read a book by Siege Malvar and it was unexpectedly a light read despite having a horror genre. It was composed of three stories and I finished them all over the weekend. That was very seldom for me when reading a collection of stories, possibly because of the smooth narration? As for the stories, I liked the second one the best, Ang Mutya ng San Isidro. I also noticed how the stories reminded me of the comics I read when I was but a little kid. Same influence, I guess? Another thing I liked about this was the epilogue-ish at the end.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews