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Santuwaryo: Tatlong Kuwento Ng Pag-ibig
Trilogy of M2M Love/Romance Stories
1. Bahay-Bahayan
2. Ang Lihim Ni Rigor
3. Santuwaryo Ng Pag-ibig
1. Bahay-Bahayan
2. Ang Lihim Ni Rigor
3. Santuwaryo Ng Pag-ibig
132 pages, Paperback
First published May 5, 2014
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56 people want to read
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 28, 2014
Three well-written stories of gay love. I did not really expect these to be superior than what I've already read in Michael Juha's previous anthology of gay short stories, Michael's Shades of Blue Anthology: 13 Stories of Love, Hunger and Paranoia (3 stars). I think Michael Juha was able to mix the right formula here by zeroing on man-to-man romance and veering away from the common notion that it is different from heterosexual love. I've attended a romance novel writing workshop because Precious Hearts Romance company is just at the back of our house and I had nothing better to do on those two Saturdays many years ago (I don't know why do I have to elaborate on this), so I know what make a romance novel ticks with its women readers.
Here, the stories are told in ordinary way yet the interweaving of events, the development of characters, the setting, the situations the lovers find themselves into all make each of the three stories possible (I think) to happen. What I am trying to say is that we all know how impossible a straight man to fall for a gay man like Dodong to Ada in Ang Kagilagilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah (3 stars) even how out-of-the-box we think about it. However, in the book, Michael Juha seemed to make the straight guy show a bit of "gay tendency" that gave the story a better, i.e., more realistic, believability.
I've finished reading this book more than a week now. Normally, I write my reviews right after devouring the pages lest I would forget about it and have a hard time putting in my thoughts. Maybe I was busy in the office, maybe I'd like to test myself if I would easily forget these three stories. I did not. They are as fresh as ever in my mind now that I am writing this review. That is enough to tell you that this is a wonderful piece of writing.
Bahay-bahayan - 3 stars
sweet, innocent, pure love
Ang Lihim ni Rigor - 4 stars
tragic, i can't forget the river, the ending!
Santuwaryo ng Pag-Ibib - 5 stars
simply amazing. how could you have thought of this, Michael Juha?
Editor Patrice Marco, may mga typo pa! hahaha...
Here, the stories are told in ordinary way yet the interweaving of events, the development of characters, the setting, the situations the lovers find themselves into all make each of the three stories possible (I think) to happen. What I am trying to say is that we all know how impossible a straight man to fall for a gay man like Dodong to Ada in Ang Kagilagilalas na Pakikipagsapalaran ni Zsazsa Zaturnnah (3 stars) even how out-of-the-box we think about it. However, in the book, Michael Juha seemed to make the straight guy show a bit of "gay tendency" that gave the story a better, i.e., more realistic, believability.
I've finished reading this book more than a week now. Normally, I write my reviews right after devouring the pages lest I would forget about it and have a hard time putting in my thoughts. Maybe I was busy in the office, maybe I'd like to test myself if I would easily forget these three stories. I did not. They are as fresh as ever in my mind now that I am writing this review. That is enough to tell you that this is a wonderful piece of writing.
Bahay-bahayan - 3 stars
sweet, innocent, pure love
Ang Lihim ni Rigor - 4 stars
tragic, i can't forget the river, the ending!
Santuwaryo ng Pag-Ibib - 5 stars
simply amazing. how could you have thought of this, Michael Juha?
Editor Patrice Marco, may mga typo pa! hahaha...
Displaying 1 of 1 review