Women of Tammuz

by Azucena Grajo Uranza

The novel traces the convoluted lives of several Filipinos - mostly women - through the last halcyon days preceding WWII, on to the grim years of the Japanese Occupation. The story ends with the liberation of Manila.

“In the grand tradition of Rizal and Nick Joaquin, Azucena Grajo Uranza uses our troubled history as the matrix of her fiction. Women of Tammuz traces the convoluted lives of several Filipinos—mostly women—through the last halcyon days preceding World War II, on to the grim years of the Japanese Occupation. The story ends with the liberation of Manila. More than a novel on the war, this novel portrays evocatively the courage of ordinary Filipinos as they persevere through tragedy. A must read for those who despair, and those who don’t.”—F. Sionil Jose, National Artist

482 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book depicts several families and follows them through the Japanese occupation in Manila. It was very interesting to see what like could have been like for them during that time, and how people sacrificed in a variety of ways to help the Nationalistic cause, or how others became more selfish and used the chaos for their own gain. There were many characters introduced throughout the book so I found it difficult to keep everyone straight.