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Instructions on How to Disappear
In Gabriela Lee's first book, she has meticulously and intelligently reworked numerous genre tropes. Set in future Manila, a gleaming metropolis where one's paranoia may not be exactly unfounded and whose lashing sings tribute to Philip K. Dick. "Stations" takes on the ethical trappings of high technology adoption. "August Moon" relies on a succession of flashbacks to uncover, as well as obscure, the eventual doom of a woman who deems herself a "good wife," while "Eyes as Wide as the Sky" depicts a post-war world—scorched yet not wholly devoid of hope. These stories insist on the unreal becoming the real, the rational melding with the irrational, familiarity breeding strangeness.
226 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2016
23 people are currently reading
254 people want to read
About the author
Gabriela Lee
21 books19 followersWannabe writer, amateur fangirl, bibliophile, geek. Currently a wandering academic.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 2, 2018
Average rating: 3.7. Rounding up to 4.
Instructions on How to Disappear is a collection of short stories that is somehow familiar yet offer a fascinating take on speculative fiction. The short stories are well-thought and compelling on each own.
Instructions on How to Disappear is a collection of short stories that is somehow familiar yet offer a fascinating take on speculative fiction. The short stories are well-thought and compelling on each own.
March 20, 2017
Short stories can probably be considered the most underappreciated form of fiction writing these days, particularly those that belong in the genre of speculative fiction. Not a lot of people are aware of this, but said genre actually thrives in the fringes of Filipino literature and most are written in the English language. Writers like Dean Francis Alfar and Eliza Victoria have had small mainstream successes with their respective works, but other writers for the genre only have their works usually published as part of a varied anthology.
In fact, I never would have discovered author Gabriela Lee myself if I wasn't dutifully checking the Filipino Literature section of my local bookstore near my place of work. I'm glad I did one day because I would have missed out in buying my copy of her freshman debut Instructions on How to Disappear whose cover illustration as well as the rest of its visual presentation was enticing enough to pick up and browse through. I was furthermore encouraged to read it because Dean Francis Alfar himself wrote the Introduction who promised the readers a truly remarkable experience in the hands of Gabriela Lee herself. With my expectations in check, I proceeded to partake.
Composed of no more than eleven short stories, this collection had made it rather easy enough to make a fair assessment of Ms. Lee's caliber and style.
I would consider that seven of these tales are the ones I considered the most poetic and painfully unforgettable; all of which were intricately woven as they combine both searing, introspective narrative and hard-hitting symbolism. At times I would even feel as if Ms. Lee was carving the words not just in my skin but also in my bones. Her expertise in literary language is unapologetic and unique. She was not only effective in exploring characters with nuance in which their personal journeys through the abyss would resonate almost powerfully in readers, but she was also adept in crafting plots that expose not only the mythical in her more urban fantasy stories, but also the maddeningly sublime and hurtful in her futuristic dystopias. By reading Ms. Lee's collection and embracing its magic, I realized that a short story is only as good as its overreaching message of either hope or despair.
Instructions opens with Bargains whose atmosphere and situation resemble the very premise for CLAMP's manga xxxHOLIC, but with a more horrific twist of its own. An aspiring writer whose ambition outweighs her talent meets up with an enigmatic Chinese shopkeeper. This elderly woman provided her with the means to become successful in her literary field--but for a very steep price. Next we have the charming The Side of the Looking Class which is quite young-adult-esque with its heroine outcast and her weight problems. The wish fulfillment element of this odd story is what gave its sequence of events a guilty pleasure appeal.
Tabula Rasa was the most haunting piece in the anthology overall; a dark yet romantic tale of how love literally consumes its host. Much of its narrative was driven with metaphorical representation which can be borderline absurd. After all, how else would you interpret events concerning a woman who can absorb all of her boyfriend's memories every time they engage in sexual congress and, in turn, she was also able to abolish his very identity and essence until he was reduced into nothingness? There was something almost suspenseful about this story as it reaches an ill-fated climax. On the flip side, we have Capture which chronicled a college boy's photography project with his model who seemed to slowly become less tangible than the photos in which she was depicted in. These two stories are the most ambiguous as Honesty Hour, meanwhile, is the most straightforward yet also the least interesting story of the collection.
One of my top favorites is Hunger. In this story, Ms. Lee was able to examine her own mythos concerning the lore of the manananggal. Written in the second-person, Hunger follows the intimate details of succumbing to a cursed state and how often liberating it is to accept your transformation as the kind of creature anchored by nightmares and bloodlust. That being said, it was also a bittersweet account about unrequited love.
Most of this anthology's stories deals with the devastation of a lost love such as the titular Instructions on How to Disappear and August Moon. On the other hand, not all of Ms. Lee's stories captivated me. One of them is Stations which revealed a dystopic landscape that feels a little fragmented story-wise, redeemed only by the bouts of lyricism in the prose; whereas the more urban fantasy story mixed with mythology entitled The Nameless Ones succeeded in delivering a fast-paced thriller which warrants a second chapter because it left me looking forward to a multi-chaptered series of its plot. I would definitely read a second part.
The other science fiction dystopia tale is Eyes As Wide as the Sky whose opening paragraph already illustrates just how breathtaking Ms. Lee can write and sustain that same enchantment of prose all throughout the way said story flowed. Its subtle horror and piercing poignancy were both unexpected, and left me with a sensation of loss myself once I have reached its tragic conclusion that left more questions unanswered.
"We did a good thing when we raised ourselves up from the rubble of the last war. Amid the carnage and destruction, we built the single thing that can truly stand the test of time: the Last City, a shimmering dome that surrounded our fluted structures of glass and metal, rings upon rings of protection that we erected against he elements, against time, against all that wishes to destroy the final creation of mankind."
In a nutshell, Instructions on How to Disappear is a purchase you will not regret!
RECOMMENDED: 8.5/10
READ MY REVIEWS AT:
May 5, 2017
Being too exposed to the weird stuff, the stories lost its novelty for me, hence the rating. Stories with the most impact for me would be August Moon, Tabula Rasa and Honesty Hour while I enjoyed the Nameless Ones as a narrative, gave me a sense of following someone.
March 6, 2017
I wrote fiction to please myself. The stories that I thought nobody would want to read, I wrote for myself. . . I wrote about myself in my stories, trying to figure out how I felt about things and why. I grappled with loneliness, intense loneliness that made me feel breathless and empty.
- Gabriela Lee
1. INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DISAPPEAR (Visprint, 2016) by Gabriela Lee adds to the flavorful canon of Philippine speculative fiction. Not just adds, but, most especially, escalates in terms of the genre’s impact to readers and in its sense of significance in Philippine literature in general. This collection of 11 stories sums up Lee’s potential in equalling the linguistic power and aesthetic sensibilities of today’s most celebrated Filipino fictionists. This collection serves as a rainbow of characters hungering and drooling for relevance and sanity, characters whose passions might come in tidbits to secretly and gradually suppress our complacency and superficiality. Her characters, not only given the scale of power and scrutiny but also laid out in carefully chosen words and perspectives, are indeed instructions on how to disappear. Disappear from life’s rigidity and monotony.
2. What I love about Lee’s characters is they start from accepting their vulnerabilities, then to seeing hopes for strength and transformation, and, at the end, learning these hopes should have been dealt with meek intentions. Thus, these creatures are always confronted with moral or psychological dilemmas which we might vicariously experience in moments of daydreaming. In “August Moon,” a woman who deemed herself as a good wife took on a continuum of flashbacks, as she little by little uncovered betrayal and maltreatment; a ghost lurking in the wreaths offered on her coffin, patiently waiting the nightmare of being dead and invisible to her loved ones to fade.
3. In the title story “Instructions on How to Disappear,” you stand there acting as Susan, living her pains and troubles, as her body became translucent, glistening, and brittle. You feel the heartache, almost impenetrable by light and sound, and you keep on believing there are chances of going back. But there’s none. In an essay of her own poetics, Lee said that she could absolutely relate with this story. This is me. . .This is what I’m becoming. I wrote this even before I left for Singapore, but I felt like I was still Susan, trying to disappear into her own skin, emptying herself . . . the story stayed with me. I felt like I was on the verge of disappearing, of becoming invisible.
4. Amidst the narratives of vulnerable souls, Lee stands erect as a master storyteller of woman characters whose trying times turned into opportunities for resistance, seduction, and empowerment. The readiness to endure was there, yet the spirit does not give in, soaring against curses and tides. “Tabula Rasa” is a fine example of this category, following a woman with her body utilized to slurp her lover’s memories and knowledge, to the point that he was likened to a blank slate. On the other hand, “Bargains” charted the story of a writer confronted with a writer’s block, willing to risk her oral faculties to fill in the void. Inspiration, said the shrewd character of Auntie Wang, is expensive to brew. So it is one of our valuable items for sale. Both of these stories described women as risk-takers, sojourning the trails of danger and despair to get into the metropolis filled with double standards and remarks of underestimation.
5. “Hunger” and “Capture” are what I consider winners of detail amplification. You can smell, hear, and touch the gore brought by transmogrification of human beings into creatures driveling for blood and flesh. Lee has the power to hold her grip on you so tight, then throw you into a battlefield where you are frozen and motionless while witnessing carcasses splattering the pavements and bat-like wings flapping and strutting. You are given the 360 degrees of details. Just wait for what would come next.
6. The story that topped the roster is “This Side of the Looking Glass” which covers a range of emotions – estrangement, thirst for revenge, shock, humility and contentment – eloquently articulated as the plot complicates. Heat, dust, hordes of sweat, glimmering nails, flabs of fat, and reengineered eyebrows melt into the background to illuminate a young lady whose willpower will never be enervated, as long as she loves her curves and imperfections, as long as the invisible forces, be they odds and tribulations, are with her side. It reminds you of the archetypes found in fairy tales and young adult bestsellers. But you keep on reading, believing there is something to be learned, there is life to be celebrated.
7. Not only does this collection captivate me. Most importantly, it rests on me the consolation that in imagination and creativity, everything can transcend the universal design, anything is beyond borders. Kudos to Gabriela Lee. Adore her and this impressive debut.
- Gabriela Lee
1. INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DISAPPEAR (Visprint, 2016) by Gabriela Lee adds to the flavorful canon of Philippine speculative fiction. Not just adds, but, most especially, escalates in terms of the genre’s impact to readers and in its sense of significance in Philippine literature in general. This collection of 11 stories sums up Lee’s potential in equalling the linguistic power and aesthetic sensibilities of today’s most celebrated Filipino fictionists. This collection serves as a rainbow of characters hungering and drooling for relevance and sanity, characters whose passions might come in tidbits to secretly and gradually suppress our complacency and superficiality. Her characters, not only given the scale of power and scrutiny but also laid out in carefully chosen words and perspectives, are indeed instructions on how to disappear. Disappear from life’s rigidity and monotony.
2. What I love about Lee’s characters is they start from accepting their vulnerabilities, then to seeing hopes for strength and transformation, and, at the end, learning these hopes should have been dealt with meek intentions. Thus, these creatures are always confronted with moral or psychological dilemmas which we might vicariously experience in moments of daydreaming. In “August Moon,” a woman who deemed herself as a good wife took on a continuum of flashbacks, as she little by little uncovered betrayal and maltreatment; a ghost lurking in the wreaths offered on her coffin, patiently waiting the nightmare of being dead and invisible to her loved ones to fade.
3. In the title story “Instructions on How to Disappear,” you stand there acting as Susan, living her pains and troubles, as her body became translucent, glistening, and brittle. You feel the heartache, almost impenetrable by light and sound, and you keep on believing there are chances of going back. But there’s none. In an essay of her own poetics, Lee said that she could absolutely relate with this story. This is me. . .This is what I’m becoming. I wrote this even before I left for Singapore, but I felt like I was still Susan, trying to disappear into her own skin, emptying herself . . . the story stayed with me. I felt like I was on the verge of disappearing, of becoming invisible.
4. Amidst the narratives of vulnerable souls, Lee stands erect as a master storyteller of woman characters whose trying times turned into opportunities for resistance, seduction, and empowerment. The readiness to endure was there, yet the spirit does not give in, soaring against curses and tides. “Tabula Rasa” is a fine example of this category, following a woman with her body utilized to slurp her lover’s memories and knowledge, to the point that he was likened to a blank slate. On the other hand, “Bargains” charted the story of a writer confronted with a writer’s block, willing to risk her oral faculties to fill in the void. Inspiration, said the shrewd character of Auntie Wang, is expensive to brew. So it is one of our valuable items for sale. Both of these stories described women as risk-takers, sojourning the trails of danger and despair to get into the metropolis filled with double standards and remarks of underestimation.
5. “Hunger” and “Capture” are what I consider winners of detail amplification. You can smell, hear, and touch the gore brought by transmogrification of human beings into creatures driveling for blood and flesh. Lee has the power to hold her grip on you so tight, then throw you into a battlefield where you are frozen and motionless while witnessing carcasses splattering the pavements and bat-like wings flapping and strutting. You are given the 360 degrees of details. Just wait for what would come next.
6. The story that topped the roster is “This Side of the Looking Glass” which covers a range of emotions – estrangement, thirst for revenge, shock, humility and contentment – eloquently articulated as the plot complicates. Heat, dust, hordes of sweat, glimmering nails, flabs of fat, and reengineered eyebrows melt into the background to illuminate a young lady whose willpower will never be enervated, as long as she loves her curves and imperfections, as long as the invisible forces, be they odds and tribulations, are with her side. It reminds you of the archetypes found in fairy tales and young adult bestsellers. But you keep on reading, believing there is something to be learned, there is life to be celebrated.
7. Not only does this collection captivate me. Most importantly, it rests on me the consolation that in imagination and creativity, everything can transcend the universal design, anything is beyond borders. Kudos to Gabriela Lee. Adore her and this impressive debut.
May 31, 2018
There are some similarities with other Pinoy works but it has her personal touch, perhaps on the romantic inclinations or those with the Prose relating to heartbreak.
April 23, 2017
aaaAAAAAh I LOVED this novel. The author, Gabriela Lee went to our school and talked about her writing and its process. She also read out a snippet of this novel and it made me ralize how much I NEEDED this. These set of stories are unlike anything I have ever read. Being a filipina author it was so nice to see how she incorporated certain filipino aspects not just in the words but in the concepts such as filipino mythology and the like. I absolutely LOVE spec fic and this just made me appreciate it more. A MUST READ !!!!! Support Local Authors!!!! sobrang ganda talaga GRABE wala akong masabi na okay bye
April 15, 2018
This book is all meat, no filler. I have a favorite phrase or concept in EVERY story, and I wish I could encounter it again for the first time. It is alternately heartfelt and provoking, and it makes me want to write. My favorites, so I can keep track: Tabula Rasa, Hunger, August Moon, Honesty Hour, and the titular Instructions on How to Disappear. I want to recommend this to EVERY person I see (I felt the same way about Kite of Stars). I'm envious of all my peers who got to have Ma'am Lee as a prof; I would've loved to witness how she thought and talked, because I'm in love with the way she writes. I'm watching out for the next collection, and I hope it comes soon!
March 8, 2024
i think it's a good collection of short stories!
faves: bargains, this side of the looking glass, eyes as wide as the sky
faves: bargains, this side of the looking glass, eyes as wide as the sky
March 9, 2023
https://thebaguiochronicle.com/opinio...
" In the titular story from Gabriella Lee’s collection Instructions on How to Disappear, seven tips were given on how to – well, surprise surprise – disappear. In the process, the protagonist Sue/Susan slowly, well, disappears, although I prefer the term, “transforms” into ice. Instruction no. 7 (“Clean your room”) at the beginning saw Susan feeling “the cold, tendrils of ice seeping underneath your skin. You hear your fingers crackle as they change, morph into something other than flesh and blood” (204). In Instruction no. 4 (“Hide from your friends”), Sue “start[ed] to transform again: your hand is becoming translucent, reflecting the mood lights mounted at the corners of the bar” (212). On the last, and unironic, Instruction no. 1 (“Close your eyes”), Sue/Susan “want[ed] to cry, but lately your tears have started becoming crystalline before they even fall. There are thin cuts around your eyes and down your cheeks where the tears have traced their path” (220)."
" In the titular story from Gabriella Lee’s collection Instructions on How to Disappear, seven tips were given on how to – well, surprise surprise – disappear. In the process, the protagonist Sue/Susan slowly, well, disappears, although I prefer the term, “transforms” into ice. Instruction no. 7 (“Clean your room”) at the beginning saw Susan feeling “the cold, tendrils of ice seeping underneath your skin. You hear your fingers crackle as they change, morph into something other than flesh and blood” (204). In Instruction no. 4 (“Hide from your friends”), Sue “start[ed] to transform again: your hand is becoming translucent, reflecting the mood lights mounted at the corners of the bar” (212). On the last, and unironic, Instruction no. 1 (“Close your eyes”), Sue/Susan “want[ed] to cry, but lately your tears have started becoming crystalline before they even fall. There are thin cuts around your eyes and down your cheeks where the tears have traced their path” (220)."
December 18, 2020
I was actually disappointed after reading the entire book. I actually wanted to claim it as my favorite short-story collection for this year. Each story in the set rises up: it gets better each time, until the second half of the book. I don't know what happened, but I felt like the stories were rushed. You would still get the familiar feeling of being curious at the beginning of the story, but it will only disappoint you to find out that there are only a few remaining pages left. The author delved so much in building up the story, but fails to focus on the ending too. Maybe it's their style, but I didn't feel that with the first few stories in the book (I disagree with some of the endings, but they are still relatively satisfying compared to the second part). Kudos for creating whole new worlds though. Overall, if you wanna get the most of this book, I personally suggest that you start reading from the last story; the best ones are really at the first part.
July 2, 2019
I had no idea what this book was about when I bought it. The title really just captured my attention. Luckily, it did not disappoint!
Instructions on How to Disappear is a collection of short stories that left me wanting more.
The book as a whole is quite a masterpiece and it really made me appreciate Filipino authors more.
My favorites are:
1. Hunger
2. Tabula Rasa
3. Honesty Hour
4. Instructions on How to Disappear
5. August Moon
The Nameless Ones especially caught my attention. I really think it deserves its own novel/series.
Overall, it's a great read that you'd want to re-read again.
**will probably write a proper review for each short story soon**
Instructions on How to Disappear is a collection of short stories that left me wanting more.
The book as a whole is quite a masterpiece and it really made me appreciate Filipino authors more.
My favorites are:
1. Hunger
2. Tabula Rasa
3. Honesty Hour
4. Instructions on How to Disappear
5. August Moon
The Nameless Ones especially caught my attention. I really think it deserves its own novel/series.
Overall, it's a great read that you'd want to re-read again.
**will probably write a proper review for each short story soon**
March 30, 2025
After reading, I now know the focus of these stories is on the supernatural elements (from manananggal to kulam) with a 20% touch of high technology integration as seen on pages 33 and 187. I wish I had known these things from the cover and the title because look at that cover!!!
Pages 15 and 59 were Wansapanataym-coded and I'm all for it. I would have liked it better if I had read these two in elementary. This was my jam.
Bought my copy during MIBF2020, not bad for a pandemic purchase. Recurring themes included (aside from the ones mentioned above, but not limited to) cheating (approximately 40%) and nostalgia connected to unprocessed grief. Alexa, play Heirloom Pain by Niki charot
Pages 15 and 59 were Wansapanataym-coded and I'm all for it. I would have liked it better if I had read these two in elementary. This was my jam.
Bought my copy during MIBF2020, not bad for a pandemic purchase. Recurring themes included (aside from the ones mentioned above, but not limited to) cheating (approximately 40%) and nostalgia connected to unprocessed grief. Alexa, play Heirloom Pain by Niki charot
August 19, 2022
I don’t usually enjoy compilations of short stories but as soon as I read this book, I immediately loved it. I thought it was gonna be my new favorite book until I reached the 4th story. Not quite sure if “magic realism” is the right terminology but if it is then the majority of this book’s stories use that style. Magic realism isn’t really my preferred style but if it is yours then you might enjoy this book. I had fun reading perhaps 50% of the book. It is still interesting. Additionally, I loved the way the author wrote this book. It makes you want to romanticize life.
May 22, 2020
I found "Stations" and "Eyes as Wide as Sky" particularly interesting. Both of them were set in a uniquely dystopian Philippine society, which has the potential to capture numerous readers' minds most especially when translated into a novel. Gabriela Lee's writing is amazing--the way she vividly describes the intricate scenes with words. The imagery in her writing is just fascinating. The other stories were just okay but overall, I think it's a great collection.
May 28, 2019
This is my first dabble on speculative fiction and I must say, it's really great.
I love some of the stories here but some are just so-so. I guess I was just waiting for something more (really, I was expecting that the stories were all connected and that would've been really cool but that didn't happen so yeah)
I love some of the stories here but some are just so-so. I guess I was just waiting for something more (really, I was expecting that the stories were all connected and that would've been really cool but that didn't happen so yeah)
August 10, 2021
I love how the author used different style and writing technique in each story. Each is indeed unique and remarkable. It is distinct from her other stories as well. The way she narrates is breathtaking and has the power to convince you that her fiction is true and is happening in real life.
This is recommended for those who are looking for a book that is short, sweet, and strange.
This is recommended for those who are looking for a book that is short, sweet, and strange.
March 7, 2019
One of the best short story collections I've ever read: no story feels out of place and Gabriela Lee manages to keep our attention (and our bodies at the edge of our seats). Speculative fiction at its finest. Can't wait to read what she writes next.
June 13, 2017
I love the cover design and tht title of the book is catchy. I like how the stories were arranged. Tabula Rasa and August Moon really hit the spot for me.
November 8, 2020
First speculative fiction book that I have read. It was not really my genre but I enjoyed it. Personal favorites are: Tabula Rasa, August Moon, and Instructions on how to disappear.
August 23, 2021
Some stories felt like I've read a version of them somewhere else already.
December 30, 2023
Great writer!
I just did not enjoy all the stories though. Probably cause I'm not in the right headspace.
I was angry, and annoyed at most of them.
Fave: This Side of the Looking Glass
I just did not enjoy all the stories though. Probably cause I'm not in the right headspace.
I was angry, and annoyed at most of them.
Fave: This Side of the Looking Glass
June 4, 2021
A collection of short stories so haunting and real I kept rereading them over and over just to submerge myself again in their worlds. The feeling I get when I read this book is similar to that of late night road trips.
September 23, 2016
While I wasn't crazy about some of the first stories, and there were a few typos, I still thoroughly enjoyed most of the stories here! The stories were a mixture of sci-fi, fantasy, magical realism and horror, and I actually found myself really surprised by how much I enjoyed some of them.
This is, I think, only the second short story collection I ever finished reading, since I seem to struggle to get into them, and the first one to make me think that maybe I could actually enjoy short stories, since I normally actually avoid them.
My favorite stories here were definitely the last two, namely Eyes as Wide as the Sky and Instructions on How to Disappear.
I definitely look forward to reading more from this author and to reading more short story collections in the future!
INDIVIDUAL STORY REVIEWS:
I hesitated to put my ratings for each story, just because as I type this there are no other Goodreads reviews on this book yet so I don't want others judging this book based on my ratings alone, but some of you may be curious, so I will include them here anyway.
Just take note that my rating system is heavily influenced by my personal preference and experience with each of these stories, so it is not particularly "objective". You may have different experiences than I did for some of these stories, but maybe you'll find my ratings helpful to you, especially if we have similar taste in stories. :)
Bargains: 2/5
It was okay, but came off as a bit typical and predictable to me.
Stations: 3.5/5
I liked this because I generally enjoy sci-fi, but also because it was interesting seeing a sort of dystopian Philippines.
This Side of the Looking Glass: 1/5
The message of this story, at least the one I got from it because of the very ending of it, was really shallow, which I didn't appreciate at all. Maybe you'll get something different from it if you read it, but I didn't enjoy my experience.
Tabula Rasa: 3/5
If anything, it was just a bit difficult for me to suspend my disbelief that the characters were acting certain ways, but the concept of this was so fascinating!
Hunger: 3/5
I enjoyed how Philippine mythology was incorporated into more modern society.
Capture: 3/5
I'm actually not sure what to say about this story, except that dragons are great, and I did enjoy this story overall.
Honesty Hour: 3/5
It was maybe a bit too dramatic for my personal taste, but I definitely felt the suspense the whole time I was reading it!
The Nameless Ones: 4/5
Maybe I'm biased by the genre, because I love fantasy and was fascinated by the magic in this world. I was ready to give this story 5 stars, but the ending left me a bit unsatisfied.
August Moon: 3.5/5
I love a good mystery, and enjoyed the use of flashbacks to figure out what was happening.
Eyes as Wide as the Sky: 4.5/5
Maybe I'm, again, biased by the genre, because this story seemed kind of sci-fi, but it amazed me how this story was able to introduce me to this post-war world, as well as a bit of the history behind it, in just a few pages!
Instructions on How to Disappear: 4.5/5
This was just a story that I really felt. When I finished it I knew it was one of my favorites in the collection.
OTHER NOTES:
For people who don't understand Filipino, while majority of the writing is in English, there is some dialog and a couple of words that come up that you may not understand, just so you're aware. :)
This is, I think, only the second short story collection I ever finished reading, since I seem to struggle to get into them, and the first one to make me think that maybe I could actually enjoy short stories, since I normally actually avoid them.
My favorite stories here were definitely the last two, namely Eyes as Wide as the Sky and Instructions on How to Disappear.
I definitely look forward to reading more from this author and to reading more short story collections in the future!
INDIVIDUAL STORY REVIEWS:
I hesitated to put my ratings for each story, just because as I type this there are no other Goodreads reviews on this book yet so I don't want others judging this book based on my ratings alone, but some of you may be curious, so I will include them here anyway.
Just take note that my rating system is heavily influenced by my personal preference and experience with each of these stories, so it is not particularly "objective". You may have different experiences than I did for some of these stories, but maybe you'll find my ratings helpful to you, especially if we have similar taste in stories. :)
Bargains: 2/5
It was okay, but came off as a bit typical and predictable to me.
Stations: 3.5/5
I liked this because I generally enjoy sci-fi, but also because it was interesting seeing a sort of dystopian Philippines.
This Side of the Looking Glass: 1/5
The message of this story, at least the one I got from it because of the very ending of it, was really shallow, which I didn't appreciate at all. Maybe you'll get something different from it if you read it, but I didn't enjoy my experience.
Tabula Rasa: 3/5
If anything, it was just a bit difficult for me to suspend my disbelief that the characters were acting certain ways, but the concept of this was so fascinating!
Hunger: 3/5
I enjoyed how Philippine mythology was incorporated into more modern society.
Capture: 3/5
I'm actually not sure what to say about this story, except that dragons are great, and I did enjoy this story overall.
Honesty Hour: 3/5
It was maybe a bit too dramatic for my personal taste, but I definitely felt the suspense the whole time I was reading it!
The Nameless Ones: 4/5
Maybe I'm biased by the genre, because I love fantasy and was fascinated by the magic in this world. I was ready to give this story 5 stars, but the ending left me a bit unsatisfied.
August Moon: 3.5/5
I love a good mystery, and enjoyed the use of flashbacks to figure out what was happening.
Eyes as Wide as the Sky: 4.5/5
Maybe I'm, again, biased by the genre, because this story seemed kind of sci-fi, but it amazed me how this story was able to introduce me to this post-war world, as well as a bit of the history behind it, in just a few pages!
Instructions on How to Disappear: 4.5/5
This was just a story that I really felt. When I finished it I knew it was one of my favorites in the collection.
OTHER NOTES:
For people who don't understand Filipino, while majority of the writing is in English, there is some dialog and a couple of words that come up that you may not understand, just so you're aware. :)
January 16, 2017
First off, I grabbed this book because of the cover and the title. I was looking forward to sad, depressing and heart-wrenching stories but instead I got better stories.
I enjoyed the mix of the stories in this collection- sci-fi/dystopian story, a magical/fantasy/horror one and other weird stories that would make you think. I loved Stations because of its setting and the sci-fi-ish feel to it and I liked the code "the Kalapati is free". Weird but Idk, it has some patriotic feel to it.
Tabula rasa was weird. I was confused at the ending. I have some thoughts but I don't want to put them here because maybe they will spoil the readers. But ugh frustrating for me haha :D
Hunger was again, another weird story. For me it feels like she wasn't really a manananggal but being one was just a metaphor for something that she feels, craves and wants. Or maybe it's the guilt?
Honesty Hour was wicked, WICKED, I say! I hate Lying Larry blasting through the radio being all douchy and acting all high and mighty.
I want more of The Nameless Ones!
I loved the mystery in August Moon. At first I thought she was the other girl. But then...
Instructions on How to Disappear is a story any one can relate to on loving and losing someone.
Really enjoyed this book!
I enjoyed the mix of the stories in this collection- sci-fi/dystopian story, a magical/fantasy/horror one and other weird stories that would make you think. I loved Stations because of its setting and the sci-fi-ish feel to it and I liked the code "the Kalapati is free". Weird but Idk, it has some patriotic feel to it.
Tabula rasa was weird. I was confused at the ending. I have some thoughts but I don't want to put them here because maybe they will spoil the readers. But ugh frustrating for me haha :D
Hunger was again, another weird story. For me it feels like she wasn't really a manananggal but being one was just a metaphor for something that she feels, craves and wants. Or maybe it's the guilt?
Honesty Hour was wicked, WICKED, I say! I hate Lying Larry blasting through the radio being all douchy and acting all high and mighty.
I want more of The Nameless Ones!
I loved the mystery in August Moon. At first I thought she was the other girl. But then...
Instructions on How to Disappear is a story any one can relate to on loving and losing someone.
Really enjoyed this book!
October 18, 2022
This is a collection of short stories of different genres. This is my second time reading this. This is not one of my favorite collections, but it's still decent.
BARGAINS ⭐⭐⭐
It's okay.
STATIONS ⭐⭐.5
A mediocre sci-fi.
THIS SIDE OF THE LOOKING GLASS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Probably the best story in this collection.
TABULA RASA ⭐⭐⭐
'Salright.
HUNGER ⭐⭐⭐
A nice little horror story. This story made me realize that I hate stories told in 2nd POV.
CAPTURE ⭐⭐⭐
'Salright.
HONESTY HOUR ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It would have been perfect with better dialogue.
THE NAMELESS ONES ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A good fantasy story. Is it really fantasy? Not sure.
AUGUST MOON ⭐⭐⭐.5
A cliche type of story, but still pretty good.
EYES AS WIDE AS THE SKY ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I loved it.
INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DISAPPEAR ⭐⭐⭐
It's okay.
OVERALL ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.5)
BARGAINS ⭐⭐⭐
It's okay.
STATIONS ⭐⭐.5
A mediocre sci-fi.
THIS SIDE OF THE LOOKING GLASS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Probably the best story in this collection.
TABULA RASA ⭐⭐⭐
'Salright.
HUNGER ⭐⭐⭐
A nice little horror story. This story made me realize that I hate stories told in 2nd POV.
CAPTURE ⭐⭐⭐
'Salright.
HONESTY HOUR ⭐⭐⭐⭐
It would have been perfect with better dialogue.
THE NAMELESS ONES ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A good fantasy story. Is it really fantasy? Not sure.
AUGUST MOON ⭐⭐⭐.5
A cliche type of story, but still pretty good.
EYES AS WIDE AS THE SKY ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I loved it.
INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DISAPPEAR ⭐⭐⭐
It's okay.
OVERALL ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.5)
September 17, 2016
The best thing in this book is the cover design.
October 3, 2017
My friend actually owned a copy of this book and one day she borrowed one of mine, Animal Farm, so we traded books for a day. At the start I didn't know what to make of it, and on an urge flipped through because I was the kind of reader that actually liked spoilers. And damn I was hooked. I wanted to know what happened because what the heck was happening. I read the first story and proceeded to the second story and that was the time I realized that it was a collection. A freaking collection and I was never to know what happened because it was just that. But still I read and read and it was so mind numbing because I wanted more, more. I finished the book and felt as if the greed that most of her characters felt was mine to carry now. Overall, I recommend it. But beware, those who enter her books rarely leave without a piece untouched.
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