The Hand of the Enemy

by Kerima Polotan

hand

139 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1962

About the author

Kerima Polotan-Tuvera was a Filipino author. She was a renowned and highly respected fictionist, essayist, and journalists, with her works having received among the highest literary distinctions of the Philippines.[1] Some of her stories have been published under the pseudonym Patricia S. Torres.

Reviews

[Mona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kerima Polotan-Tuvera won a Stonehill Award in 1961 for this novel.

Polotan's writing is blunt, and mostly spare, until you reach those dramatic scenes where she builds up the atmosphere. Then you get the full force of her generation's vocabulary, which has emotional impact, and yet dates the narrative. She uses a word like "befouled", where newer writers would say "tainted". I like her writing style - it's very clear-eyed and realistic for the time period.

There is a description of office politics worthy of the tv series "Madmen" (same era). There is also the air of romantic-tragic disconnection similar to Wong Kar-Wai's movie "In the Mood for Love". But there is no soft-focus in this novel.

On the surface it's an easy read. The main characters, married couple Emma and Doming Gorrez, start married life with such promise. The realities of moving from their sleepy Northern town to the big city create conflict. The lives of the parallel characters, estranged couple Rene Rividad and his wife Norma, provide significant contrast. The Hand of the Enemy turns out to be not that easy a read, given the sense of impending doom one feels in several situations. Even the characters themselves sense that impending doom, and are somehow unable to escape it. One keeps hoping for a kind of fairy-tale redemption for any one of the protagonists, but it is not forthcoming because they all remain true to their essential character. Stubborn, proud yet loving wife. Husband corrupted by ambition. Unrequited cuckold. Needy, loose-moraled wife. You can sense tragedy about to happen but can't look away.

[Rise]

Private grief was laminated in The Hand of the Enemy. But as with the best works of grief literature, the personal and the political (historical) were intertwined. Set in the postwar period of 1950s to 1960s, the novel was the story of two marriages and their dissolution. The title was so ambiguous it could be applied to any enemy, and to either of the two hands.

Blog post at this link: http://booktrek.blogspot.com/2015/08/...

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

i want to read this book

[Jonah Leigh Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love tires everyone out.

[chantalcovarrubias · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cautionary tale about the pitfalls of power.

Emma leaves Manila after the death of her father and a broken engagement. While living a simple and quiet life as a high school teacher in Pangasinan, she meets Domingo and they get married.

I found this particularly interesting because Domingo ends up embroiled in the world of PR and political corruption, putting their relationship to the test as their conflicting morals drive a wedge between them.

This hits close to home for two reasons: 1) I worked in PR and am now in advertising, which is why I found Doming's sentiments about the nepotism in our industry relatable, especially how it can all feel like a pointless, unjust rat race at times. 2) My biggest fear is to end up with a partner who makes questionable, unethical decisions. I would rather be alone than put up with a dishonorable person. I cannot respect or stand by someone who puts their personal gain before anything/everything else.

Another must-read for Filipinos!

[Joselito Honestly and Brilliantly · Rating 3 out of 5]

First published when I was just a toddler learning to walk, when a 9 to 5 employee earned 200 pesos a month (the cost of a decent meal at a mall now) and when a Senator still salivated with a 25,000-peso bribe (perhaps what a Senator gives to his driver now as a Christmas bonus).

I liked it when the author went bitching about the rich ("a knowledgeable, well-informed impostor who spouted the kind of froth that passed for profundity"; "the smooth banalities of the wealthy, out-foxing each other") and the fact that her English was faultless and neat. The love story, however, was bland and the dialogues of the lovers or would-be lovers can make one blush in embarrassment for their corniness.

[Nicole Tantoco · Rating 3 out of 5]

the feeling of hopelessness and despair in this novel does not let up. not very well-written in some parts; i felt my version lacked careful editing. the plot in general is sort of interesting but it gets weighed down by such heavy, miserable characters!

[Miguel · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Life—is the enemy. A man has wounds it cannot heal, a woman has wants it cannot give, and everyone burns with a fatal fever."

This one felt all over the place and unfocused. Only enjoyed the last part for its peak telenovela melodrama and Rene Rividad.

[Arjiel]

its good to read

[Kl]

where can I buy the book?

[Marixpedition · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was intensifying. A work that brings you back to history and life in reality.

[Nelven Esquilona · Rating 5 out of 5]

ok.

[Rohana Monzon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a surprisingly easy read with engaging characters and plot, narrated with a flowing style. However I feel unhappy with the sudden end.