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Laro sa baga
Tagalog
- GenresNovels
533 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1991
About the author
Edgardo M. Reyes
21 books79 followersEdgardo M. Reyes is a Filipino male novelist. His literature first appeared in the Tagalog magazine, Liwayway. His novels include Laro sa Baga, and Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag. He is also the one of the authors of the critically-acclaimed anthology.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 31, 2012
This is my 3rd book by Edgardo Reyes who recently passed away. Since he is one of my favorite local authors, I stopped all the books that I was reading to give way to this. I am his fan. This is my humble tribute to him.
Laro sa Baga (Playing With Fire) is a story of a young man called Ding who is physically blessed, i.e., tall, good-looking, well-endowed yet emotionally unstable, i.e., immature, self-centered, irresponsible and childish. Although he is just a high school graduate, he gets employed and earns money because of his artistic side: he is a portraitist, copywriter, design artist, clothes designer and even an interior decorator. He loves having sex with good-looking and curvaceous women especially those with nice, clean, rosy feet (he has foot fetish). He only wears briefs in bed when he sleeps at night.
The story basically revolves around the women who he loves. There is his godmother Ninang Carmen whose sensitive parts he touched when he was sleeping beside her and he was still an "innocent" child. His childhood friend, orphan Dee, who he devirginized when she was just 13. His employer, the mysterious Castillian beauty and a single parent, Mama who used him as drinking buddy when she could not sleep in her hotel room almost every night. This employer also left her a child, Teng who Ding took care from childhood until the time that she was devirginized by his landlord's son. There is his lawful wife, Sesmi who was a child rape victim and who because of that traumatic experience got crazy and attempted to castrate Ding when their marriage was going down the drain. Also, there is the weed-user lounge singer Edith who was about to come home from Japan as overseas entertainer when Ding decided to leave her. There are many other girls - waitresses, sauna bath attendants and bar girls - who had flings or one-night stands with Ding but they are too many to mention here.
What I really liked about this book were the storytelling and the short witty dialogs that were also the ones that made me enjoy his two other books - my earlier reads - Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag and Mga Uod at Rosas. However, I am not giving this 5 stars (the rating that I gave to "Kuko") because of the theme. I am not squeamish about sex in novels and I know that Reyes wrote the story that used to be serialized in a daily (newspaper) to earn a living. You see, at some point during the Martial Law era here in the Philippines (1972-1983), President Marcos used sex to divert the attention of the suffering masses. Filipinos languished in poverty but escaped to the fantasy world by going to movies showing uninhibited sex scenes called pene (short for penetration) or read dailies with stories full of explicit and disturbing sex details accompanied by photos showing bare women and men.
I also enjoyed the playful stream-of-consciousness that Reyes employed especially in the scenes where Ding was in trouble or lost. For example, he made my day this morning while reading the part where he was, for the last time, got caught by her Ninang Carmen looking at her crotch. His Ninang Carmen told him to leave and as he was already a grown up man at 30, he felt disappointed and utterly sad because his godmother used to do that to him when he was still a child. He said to himself: "Kidlat, nasaan ka? Hinahamon kita!" (Lightning, where are you? I challenge you!). The line reminded me of the komiks heroes that I used to read when I was a child. Well-delivered punchlines. Very entertaining.
Edgardo Reyes, you will sorely be missed by us - your fans! Godspeed, sir.
Laro sa Baga (Playing With Fire) is a story of a young man called Ding who is physically blessed, i.e., tall, good-looking, well-endowed yet emotionally unstable, i.e., immature, self-centered, irresponsible and childish. Although he is just a high school graduate, he gets employed and earns money because of his artistic side: he is a portraitist, copywriter, design artist, clothes designer and even an interior decorator. He loves having sex with good-looking and curvaceous women especially those with nice, clean, rosy feet (he has foot fetish). He only wears briefs in bed when he sleeps at night.
The story basically revolves around the women who he loves. There is his godmother Ninang Carmen whose sensitive parts he touched when he was sleeping beside her and he was still an "innocent" child. His childhood friend, orphan Dee, who he devirginized when she was just 13. His employer, the mysterious Castillian beauty and a single parent, Mama who used him as drinking buddy when she could not sleep in her hotel room almost every night. This employer also left her a child, Teng who Ding took care from childhood until the time that she was devirginized by his landlord's son. There is his lawful wife, Sesmi who was a child rape victim and who because of that traumatic experience got crazy and attempted to castrate Ding when their marriage was going down the drain. Also, there is the weed-user lounge singer Edith who was about to come home from Japan as overseas entertainer when Ding decided to leave her. There are many other girls - waitresses, sauna bath attendants and bar girls - who had flings or one-night stands with Ding but they are too many to mention here.
What I really liked about this book were the storytelling and the short witty dialogs that were also the ones that made me enjoy his two other books - my earlier reads - Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag and Mga Uod at Rosas. However, I am not giving this 5 stars (the rating that I gave to "Kuko") because of the theme. I am not squeamish about sex in novels and I know that Reyes wrote the story that used to be serialized in a daily (newspaper) to earn a living. You see, at some point during the Martial Law era here in the Philippines (1972-1983), President Marcos used sex to divert the attention of the suffering masses. Filipinos languished in poverty but escaped to the fantasy world by going to movies showing uninhibited sex scenes called pene (short for penetration) or read dailies with stories full of explicit and disturbing sex details accompanied by photos showing bare women and men.
I also enjoyed the playful stream-of-consciousness that Reyes employed especially in the scenes where Ding was in trouble or lost. For example, he made my day this morning while reading the part where he was, for the last time, got caught by her Ninang Carmen looking at her crotch. His Ninang Carmen told him to leave and as he was already a grown up man at 30, he felt disappointed and utterly sad because his godmother used to do that to him when he was still a child. He said to himself: "Kidlat, nasaan ka? Hinahamon kita!" (Lightning, where are you? I challenge you!). The line reminded me of the komiks heroes that I used to read when I was a child. Well-delivered punchlines. Very entertaining.
Edgardo Reyes, you will sorely be missed by us - your fans! Godspeed, sir.
March 31, 2013
Heto ang laro na mahirap laruin. Nakakapagpapawis. Nakakaubos ng hininga. Nakakapaso. Pero siguradong mag-eenjoy kang talaga.
Isang laro na hindi para sa mga bata. Isang laro na delikado para sa mga matatanda. Isang laro na pwedeng pang-isahan, pang-dalawahan o pang-tatlohan man. Isang larong hindi nangangailangan ng rules, ng referee o ng mga audience. Isang laro na kung hindi mo mapagbubuti ng maigi, maaaring maging kapalit nito ay ang iyong sariling kaligayahan.
Gaya ni Conrado Matias o mas kilala sa palayaw na Ding. Isang beterano, apyok pagdating sa ganitong laro ng buhay. Bata pa lang ay kinakitaan na ng mga potensyal. Base sa kanyang pisikal na pangangatawan, isa siya sa pinakapipitagang manlalaro ng kanyang larangan. Certified Chick-magnet. Bolero ng bayan. Batikan sa pagpinta ng mga larawan. Suki ng mga bagong club sa kamaynilaan. Masasabing idolo talaga ng mga kalalakihan,.... Noon yun, nung hindi pa siya nalintikan ng mga kamalasan.
Maraming masasamang epekto ang pakikipaglaro sa baga. Sa mga taong mahal mo, sa mga taong nagmamahal sa'yo, sa mga taong nakapaligi sa'yo at lalong lalo na sa sarili mo.
Marami rin ang tumututol sa ganitong uri laro sa mga kadahilanang moral.
Pero bakit sa kabila ng mga tumututol at masasamang epekto nito ay marami pa rin ang gumagawa nito. Mapa-lalaki, mapa-babae, nilalaro ito.
Alam kaya nila ang mga kakaharapin nila kung sakaling malulong sila rito? Alam kaya nila ang mga magiging bunga nito?
Sana alam nila. Sana talaga.
Babala : Huwag lalaruin kung hindi marunong. Mas mabuting magpatulong sa nakakatanda.
Isang laro na hindi para sa mga bata. Isang laro na delikado para sa mga matatanda. Isang laro na pwedeng pang-isahan, pang-dalawahan o pang-tatlohan man. Isang larong hindi nangangailangan ng rules, ng referee o ng mga audience. Isang laro na kung hindi mo mapagbubuti ng maigi, maaaring maging kapalit nito ay ang iyong sariling kaligayahan.
Gaya ni Conrado Matias o mas kilala sa palayaw na Ding. Isang beterano, apyok pagdating sa ganitong laro ng buhay. Bata pa lang ay kinakitaan na ng mga potensyal. Base sa kanyang pisikal na pangangatawan, isa siya sa pinakapipitagang manlalaro ng kanyang larangan. Certified Chick-magnet. Bolero ng bayan. Batikan sa pagpinta ng mga larawan. Suki ng mga bagong club sa kamaynilaan. Masasabing idolo talaga ng mga kalalakihan,.... Noon yun, nung hindi pa siya nalintikan ng mga kamalasan.
Maraming masasamang epekto ang pakikipaglaro sa baga. Sa mga taong mahal mo, sa mga taong nagmamahal sa'yo, sa mga taong nakapaligi sa'yo at lalong lalo na sa sarili mo.
Marami rin ang tumututol sa ganitong uri laro sa mga kadahilanang moral.
Pero bakit sa kabila ng mga tumututol at masasamang epekto nito ay marami pa rin ang gumagawa nito. Mapa-lalaki, mapa-babae, nilalaro ito.
Alam kaya nila ang mga kakaharapin nila kung sakaling malulong sila rito? Alam kaya nila ang mga magiging bunga nito?
Sana alam nila. Sana talaga.
Babala : Huwag lalaruin kung hindi marunong. Mas mabuting magpatulong sa nakakatanda.
April 9, 2012
This is worth every penny and one of the best in Filipino novels. Despite the adult theme, the book has an excellent narration all through out, there never was a boring moment, and I cried from time to time. Dami kong luha dito sa libro na to. D:
June 11, 2012
Too sexual, but allegorical in a way.
If you just read between the lines, you'll decipher that the story implies that whatever you are during your childhoood, most probably, it will be who you are when you grow up and it will affect your every decision in life.
Ding, who grew up with such strong sexual desires, thought he could get pleasure in life by involving in sexual activities. Because of that, he even dragged his childhood friend, Dee, into this problem of his. He took Dee's virginity in her 2nd year of High School while the former stopped studying and made paintings for a living.
I was so frustrated for Dee. She wasted her beauty and innocence for this sex addict. She let herself be involved in his devious and conniving ways. Well, at first, she wouldn't approve, but she eventually gave in. Which is so sad because that's what's happening nowadays. Girls are giving in to temptations because of pressure and lack of judgement and you know.. just going with the flow, letting their emotions/feelings take them to wherever it wants to take them.
Ding.. Gaaad. Can I use bad words here? Haha! This guy is such a ... goodness! Can't even think of an adjective. It's so sad to know that it exists, sexual desire, at such a young age. How old is he back then? 3? 5? Maybe it's because of the fact that he's living with a bunch of girls in the dorm, but is that enough to make him want to become involved on sexual things at such a young age? He even harasses his aunt while they're sleeping. Okay. Thinking of this guy makes me feel like shit. He ruined a lot of lives. Especially Dee's.
It's such a tragic story. Almost everything revolves around sexual desires, which tells us that too much of it is really not good. It could either ruin your life make you lose your mind. Or maybe those two are just the same. Haha!
As for the book, a big kudos to Sir Edgardo Reyes. This is really moving. It's because of this book that made me give more importance to the value of chastity. Reading this book will really make you feel a fair amount of disgust for that thing they do for pleasure. This is such an eye-opener. It depicts the disadvantages of being a sex addict and the tragedies that may come afterwards. The story is very well said. Very straight forward. Thank you again, amazing author!
If you just read between the lines, you'll decipher that the story implies that whatever you are during your childhoood, most probably, it will be who you are when you grow up and it will affect your every decision in life.
Ding, who grew up with such strong sexual desires, thought he could get pleasure in life by involving in sexual activities. Because of that, he even dragged his childhood friend, Dee, into this problem of his. He took Dee's virginity in her 2nd year of High School while the former stopped studying and made paintings for a living.
I was so frustrated for Dee. She wasted her beauty and innocence for this sex addict. She let herself be involved in his devious and conniving ways. Well, at first, she wouldn't approve, but she eventually gave in. Which is so sad because that's what's happening nowadays. Girls are giving in to temptations because of pressure and lack of judgement and you know.. just going with the flow, letting their emotions/feelings take them to wherever it wants to take them.
Ding.. Gaaad. Can I use bad words here? Haha! This guy is such a ... goodness! Can't even think of an adjective. It's so sad to know that it exists, sexual desire, at such a young age. How old is he back then? 3? 5? Maybe it's because of the fact that he's living with a bunch of girls in the dorm, but is that enough to make him want to become involved on sexual things at such a young age? He even harasses his aunt while they're sleeping. Okay. Thinking of this guy makes me feel like shit. He ruined a lot of lives. Especially Dee's.
It's such a tragic story. Almost everything revolves around sexual desires, which tells us that too much of it is really not good. It could either ruin your life make you lose your mind. Or maybe those two are just the same. Haha!
As for the book, a big kudos to Sir Edgardo Reyes. This is really moving. It's because of this book that made me give more importance to the value of chastity. Reading this book will really make you feel a fair amount of disgust for that thing they do for pleasure. This is such an eye-opener. It depicts the disadvantages of being a sex addict and the tragedies that may come afterwards. The story is very well said. Very straight forward. Thank you again, amazing author!
September 1, 2012
Sex ang bumabalot sa akda ni Edgardo M. Reyes, mas kilala sa mga nobelang "Maynila sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag," at "Mga Uod at Rosas." Si Ding, ang bida ng akda, ay may tinatagong pagnanasa simula pa ng kaniyang pagkabata sa kaniyang Ninang, at nang lumaki ay nangakong siya lamang ang nanaisin hanggang tumanda. Ngunit sa pagbibinata ay nilamon siya ng libog sa ampon ng Ninang niya na siyang pumutol sa kanilang ugnayan. Provocative at masasabing pulp fiction ang dating ng nobela patungkol sa sex na siyang maikukumpara sa mga kwentong tabloid ngunit sa pagbuo ng Reyes ng konstraksyon ng pagiging lalaki ay makikita ang machismo sa 21st Century Filipino, imaheng paiba sa ibang era. May ginawang pelikula ang Regal sa direksyon ni Chito Rono na gusto kong mapanood, ngunit walang kopyang mahahanap. Notoryus ang pelikula sa eksenang kinutsilyo ang ari ng aktor na si Carlos Morales.
March 25, 2012
I read this for my college book report in Filipino. Our professor assigned adult themed Filipino novels, I have no idea why. This one was quite a story.
August 3, 2016
Unang akda ni Edgardo Reyes na nabasa ko. Napanalunan ko lang 'to sa raffle ng ka-book club ko. Nakakapaso nga ang librong 'to, dahil eto ang larong mahirap laruin. Nakakadarang. Nakakalulong. Isang laro na kapag hindi mo nalaro nang maigi, maaari mong ikapahamak. Isang laro na nag-uumapaw sa kamunduhan, kapilyuhan, at kapangahasan.
Magaan ang daloy ng prosa ng akdang ito. Maganda at malalim ang characterization, lalo na ng bidang si Ding. Mapaglaro ang dayalogo. Para sa akin, pinapahiwatig ng nobela na ito na kung ano ang mga naranasan mo noong pagkabata ay makakaapekto sa mga desisyon mo sa pagtanda.
Delikado ang maglaro ng baga, lalo na kung hindi mo alam kung paano ito kontrolin, kung kelan "sige pa" at kelan "tama na."
Magaan ang daloy ng prosa ng akdang ito. Maganda at malalim ang characterization, lalo na ng bidang si Ding. Mapaglaro ang dayalogo. Para sa akin, pinapahiwatig ng nobela na ito na kung ano ang mga naranasan mo noong pagkabata ay makakaapekto sa mga desisyon mo sa pagtanda.
Delikado ang maglaro ng baga, lalo na kung hindi mo alam kung paano ito kontrolin, kung kelan "sige pa" at kelan "tama na."
July 28, 2015
Nasa hayskul ako noon, huling bahagi ng 80s, nang pasilip-silip kong binabasa sa Liwayway ang nobela-seryeng Laro sa Baga ni Edgardo M. Reyes. Pamagat pa lang, talagang nakaka-curious na sa isang kabataang nasa bukana pa lang ng kamunduhan, at nanunulay sa gitna ng kamalayan at kahalayan. Ibang sarap y’on na may kahalong hiya (takot) para sa isang (gaya kong) inosente, promdi at Katoliko. NBSMoNB?
September 14, 2012
too sexual but interesting
March 30, 2011
Read this! If you can understand Filipino... I don't know if this book has English translations. Just try to check! Tragic. Almost cried.
March 1, 2021
Pangalawa na itong librong nabasa ko na gawa ni Edgardo M. Reyes (una ang Sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag). Ito ay tungkol kay Ding, at ang kanyang paglalakbay simula pagkabata hanggang adult. Naka-emphasize sa sexual escapades ni Ding.
Ang nagkukwento ay si Ding. So, point of view nya ang naririnig syempre.
Kasaysayan ito ng pagkamulat sa kanyang sekswalidad. Simula sa kanyang Ninang Carmen, kababata na si Dee (na ampon ni Ninang Carmen), maraming flings o di kaya ka-one night stand (di ko na maalala ang mga pangalan sa dami), si Mrs. Duran (aka Burong Pampanga lol) na nagregalo sa kanya ng sportscar na hindi nakapangalan sa kanya ang rehistro hahaha, asawa nyang si Emy (via Shotgun wedding) na kumutsilyo sa kanyang titi, at si Edith ang huli nyang karelasyon (na nagturo rin sa kanya kung paano mag”damo” at magtableta).
Maliban sa mga babae na nabanggit ko sa itaas, pinakita rin sa kwento ang kanyang relasyon sa iba pang babae sa kanyang buhay gaya na lang kanyang Nanay, kay Victoria (si Mama, medyo friends with benefits pero mas bff sila), at kay Teng (ampon ni Ding, anak ni Mama).
Natagalan ako sa pagtapos ng libro kasi sa kalagitnaan, tinigil ko muna. Nakakasawa yung pagigung macho ng tagakwento sa storya. Well, lalaki. Tapos martial law era pa. Sobrang patriarchal ang boses ng nagkukwento. Na parang GGSS ba. Na hulog sya ng langit sa mga babaeng nagdaan sa kanya ganon.
Wag pala nating kalimutan ang mga naging katulong ni Ding sa buhay na pagkatapos syang tulungan at pagpasensyahan, tinapon na lang nung wala ng pakinabang hay. (Hello, Mang Romy, Gil, Butch, Junkie at Nardong Putik, isama na rin nating si Kuya Celo).
Kahit nakakainis si Ding, narealize kong patapon ang buhay nya kung wala ang mga babae sa buhay nya. Dahil nga kung hindi namatay, nabaliw, o kaya yaw na sya makita. Kaya, go girls! Nadidiskaril buhay nila kung walang babae sa tabi nila. At least for Ding ha.
Ang nagkukwento ay si Ding. So, point of view nya ang naririnig syempre.
Kasaysayan ito ng pagkamulat sa kanyang sekswalidad. Simula sa kanyang Ninang Carmen, kababata na si Dee (na ampon ni Ninang Carmen), maraming flings o di kaya ka-one night stand (di ko na maalala ang mga pangalan sa dami), si Mrs. Duran (aka Burong Pampanga lol) na nagregalo sa kanya ng sportscar na hindi nakapangalan sa kanya ang rehistro hahaha, asawa nyang si Emy (via Shotgun wedding) na kumutsilyo sa kanyang titi, at si Edith ang huli nyang karelasyon (na nagturo rin sa kanya kung paano mag”damo” at magtableta).
Maliban sa mga babae na nabanggit ko sa itaas, pinakita rin sa kwento ang kanyang relasyon sa iba pang babae sa kanyang buhay gaya na lang kanyang Nanay, kay Victoria (si Mama, medyo friends with benefits pero mas bff sila), at kay Teng (ampon ni Ding, anak ni Mama).
Natagalan ako sa pagtapos ng libro kasi sa kalagitnaan, tinigil ko muna. Nakakasawa yung pagigung macho ng tagakwento sa storya. Well, lalaki. Tapos martial law era pa. Sobrang patriarchal ang boses ng nagkukwento. Na parang GGSS ba. Na hulog sya ng langit sa mga babaeng nagdaan sa kanya ganon.
Wag pala nating kalimutan ang mga naging katulong ni Ding sa buhay na pagkatapos syang tulungan at pagpasensyahan, tinapon na lang nung wala ng pakinabang hay. (Hello, Mang Romy, Gil, Butch, Junkie at Nardong Putik, isama na rin nating si Kuya Celo).
Kahit nakakainis si Ding, narealize kong patapon ang buhay nya kung wala ang mga babae sa buhay nya. Dahil nga kung hindi namatay, nabaliw, o kaya yaw na sya makita. Kaya, go girls! Nadidiskaril buhay nila kung walang babae sa tabi nila. At least for Ding ha.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2019
Ayon sa anthology niyang Sa Aking Panahon, dalawa sa pinahahalagahan ni Edgardo Reyes sa anumang kuwento ay ang simula at wakas. Aniya, ang simula ang nagse-set ng impression at/o mood, na magtatakda naman ng interes ng mambabasa para magpatuloy. Malaki ang epekto ng simula sa excitement o boredom na mararamdaman ng mambabasa. Sa usapin naman ng wakas, ani Reyes, kayang bawiin ng magandang wakas ang anemikong kabuuan ng kuwento, at sisirian naman ng anemikong wakas ang napakaganda sanang kabuuan. Sang-ayon ako roon. At evident naman sa mga kuwento ni Reyes ang paniniwala niyang iyon. At ang panimulang talata ng Laro sa Baga ang pinakapaborito kong entrada ni Reyes sa lahat ng kuwento niya, mapanobela man, maikling kuwento, o sanaysay. At satisfying enough naman ang ending.
Ang pinakakapuna-puna sa anumang kuwento ni Reyes ay ang narrative voice, tone, at dialogue. Sa usapin ng narrative voice, madalas na nangingibabaw ang sarili niya talagang boses kaysa sa characters (hal. ang madalas niyang paggamit ng term na “pride chicken”). Sa tono naman at dialogue, madalas na nagiging pormal sinasabi ng characters, inconsistent sa katauhan ng mga ito.
Ang isa pang kapuna-puna—at least sa nobelang ito—ay ang kakulangan ng description sa setting. May sapat na character description sa kuwento, na minsan pa nga’y humihigit pa, pero kulang na kulang ang description sa setting. Isang dahilan siguro kung bakit ayun agad ang kakulangang napansin ko ay dahil sa kasalukuyang pagsusulat ko ay iyon ang tinatrabaho ko, dahil nasabihan nga ako ng isang kaibigan na magaganda na raw ang lahat sa mga kuwento ko, may kakulangan lang sa setting. Ang isa pang posibleng dahilan ng kakulangang iyon ay dahil nasa first person ang POV narration, na inestablish naman sa unang chapter—na dapat ang bidang si Ding ang mismong magkuwento ng sarili niyang kuwento para hindi maiwasan ang anumang kahipokrituhan ng censorship. Pero hindi rin. Triple ang haba ng nobelang ito kumpara sa mas kilalang Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag at Mga Uod at Rosas (na parehong napakaganda), pero ito pa ang may kinulang.
Naiintidihan ko kung bakit naka-italicize ang mga English words, dahil mas classic nga ang nobela kaysa contemporary. Pero bilang revised edition naman na ito at reprinted relatively recently, sana’y hindi na ganoon; nakaka-distract kasi sa pagbabasa; parang laging ine-emphasize ang English wordsm kahit hindi naman. Pero props sa consistency sa tamang paggamit ng gitling.
Sa huli, sa kabila ng mga kapuna-punasa nobela, bawing-bawi naman sa kuwento. Hindi nauubusan ng kuwento si Reyes. Laging may eksena kada page; ang daming side stories na bumubuhay kahit sa mino characters. At sa mga sub-stories na ito iniipit ni Reyes ang moral lessons ng kuwento. Realidad ng buhay ang laging tema ni Reyes, mapa-usapin mang ng pag-ibig, trabaho, pamilya, pagkakaibigan, atbp. Sa Kuko ng Liwanag, nangingibabaw ang usapin ng kasakiman; sa Uod at Rosas, ambisyon; at dito sa Laro sa Baga, sekswalidad. At sa lahat ng iba pang kuwento ni Edgardo Reyes, swabe lagi ang delivery ng anumang gusto niyang ituro sa mundo bilang manunulat—mastered niya ang golden rule na “Show, don’t tell.”
Ang pinakakapuna-puna sa anumang kuwento ni Reyes ay ang narrative voice, tone, at dialogue. Sa usapin ng narrative voice, madalas na nangingibabaw ang sarili niya talagang boses kaysa sa characters (hal. ang madalas niyang paggamit ng term na “pride chicken”). Sa tono naman at dialogue, madalas na nagiging pormal sinasabi ng characters, inconsistent sa katauhan ng mga ito.
Ang isa pang kapuna-puna—at least sa nobelang ito—ay ang kakulangan ng description sa setting. May sapat na character description sa kuwento, na minsan pa nga’y humihigit pa, pero kulang na kulang ang description sa setting. Isang dahilan siguro kung bakit ayun agad ang kakulangang napansin ko ay dahil sa kasalukuyang pagsusulat ko ay iyon ang tinatrabaho ko, dahil nasabihan nga ako ng isang kaibigan na magaganda na raw ang lahat sa mga kuwento ko, may kakulangan lang sa setting. Ang isa pang posibleng dahilan ng kakulangang iyon ay dahil nasa first person ang POV narration, na inestablish naman sa unang chapter—na dapat ang bidang si Ding ang mismong magkuwento ng sarili niyang kuwento para hindi maiwasan ang anumang kahipokrituhan ng censorship. Pero hindi rin. Triple ang haba ng nobelang ito kumpara sa mas kilalang Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag at Mga Uod at Rosas (na parehong napakaganda), pero ito pa ang may kinulang.
Naiintidihan ko kung bakit naka-italicize ang mga English words, dahil mas classic nga ang nobela kaysa contemporary. Pero bilang revised edition naman na ito at reprinted relatively recently, sana’y hindi na ganoon; nakaka-distract kasi sa pagbabasa; parang laging ine-emphasize ang English wordsm kahit hindi naman. Pero props sa consistency sa tamang paggamit ng gitling.
Sa huli, sa kabila ng mga kapuna-punasa nobela, bawing-bawi naman sa kuwento. Hindi nauubusan ng kuwento si Reyes. Laging may eksena kada page; ang daming side stories na bumubuhay kahit sa mino characters. At sa mga sub-stories na ito iniipit ni Reyes ang moral lessons ng kuwento. Realidad ng buhay ang laging tema ni Reyes, mapa-usapin mang ng pag-ibig, trabaho, pamilya, pagkakaibigan, atbp. Sa Kuko ng Liwanag, nangingibabaw ang usapin ng kasakiman; sa Uod at Rosas, ambisyon; at dito sa Laro sa Baga, sekswalidad. At sa lahat ng iba pang kuwento ni Edgardo Reyes, swabe lagi ang delivery ng anumang gusto niyang ituro sa mundo bilang manunulat—mastered niya ang golden rule na “Show, don’t tell.”
October 2, 2014
First non-academic book I've read. My roommates and I simultaneously read this novel chapter by chapter on our dorm room. Great drama and characterization justifying its dark contents with heavy erotic actions. The ending was darker than I expected but was strangely satisfying. Needless to say, fifteen year-old me was wildly entertained.
February 18, 2017
ANO BA TO UGH
Currently reading
September 30, 2014
Read
January 9, 2019aasdasdsaasdasassasaasadasararadafarqfafasasgwytwrgwgwsgwfwefewqqerqerqwreqwrqwrqwqwrqwe
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