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Jessica Hagedorn was born in Manila and now lives in New York. A novelist, poet, and playwright, her published works include Toxicology, The Gangster of Love, and Dogeaters, which was a finalist for the National Book Award. She also edited both volumes of the groundbreaking anthology Charlie Chan Is Dead: An Anthology of Contemporary Asian American Fiction.
Manila Noir
by Hagedorn
eBook
$15.99
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ISBN-13:
9781617751769
- Publisher: Akashic Books
- Publication date: 06/11/2013
- Series: Akashic Noir Series
- Sold by: Barnes & Noble
- Format: eBook
- Pages: 280
- File size: 10 MB
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Fresh noir from one of the most intense, congested, and overpopulated cities in the world.
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Publishers Weekly
While certain cities in past Akashic volumes might appear to lack an obvious noir element, Manila (like Mexico City, which shares many of the same problems) practically defines it, as shown by the 14 selections in this excellent anthology. As Hagedorn points out in her insightful introduction, Manila is a city burdened with a violent and painful past, with a long heritage of foreign occupation. The specters of WWII (during which the city suffered from U.S. saturation bombing), and the oppressive 20-year reign of dictator Ferdinand Marcos live on in recent memory. The Filipino take on noir includes a liberal dose of the gothic and supernatural, with disappearance and loss being constants. We read of families splintered by violence, drugs and desperation, mothers and fathers forced to leave their families to find work abroad. There's also the economic colonialism of call centers, a major form of employment in Manila. Sabina Murray's "Broken Glass," Lourd de Veyra's "Satan Has Already Bought U," and F.H. Batacan's "Comforter of the Afflicted" are among the stand-outs, along with Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo's superb graphic story, "Trese: Thirteen Stations." (June)From the Publisher
"Held closely to their breasts by the stories are messy, edged lives flaring out in seemingly random directions. But the 14 stories themselves are all elegant and smooth, like a bladed weapon concealed in a jacket. They strike suddenly but thoroughly, leaving you wounded. Embedded in each story is a deep acceptance of the fantastically flawed life in the big city and a step out of the ordinary...Manila Noir is a masterfully crafted anthology that reminds us that, if you truly love your city, you embrace its darkness as much as--if not more than--its brightness."
--Inquirer (Philippines)
"Excellently crafted and woven together, Jessica has compiled a series of short stories that exhibit the perfect setting and story for noir. Wonderful!"
--FMAM Magazine
"This Southeast sampler is unique, possessing an overall gritty tone. Each slice of supernatural splendor pulls the reader in with their nontraditional heroes...Ultimately, readers get a strong taste of the real Manila and all her dark secrets, wanting more of while being slightly afraid of what she might do next. Manila is the perfect place for noir scenes to occur, and it is easy to get sucked into its deadly nightshade of doom."
--Criminal Class Press
"[Manila Noir] is among the most moving, effective and altogether noir entry in the entire series."
--Bookgasm
"In...Manila Noir, the latest addition to Akashic Book's series of original noir anthologies, poet, novelist, and artist Jessica Hagedorn writes of how ghosts of past occupations, buried secrets, corrupt political dealings, crime, and inequality have shaped the fabric of the Philippine capital city."
--The Margins
"It is Manila itself--its heat and throb, its particular melange of Asia and America, its poverty and wealth, its diverse neighborhoods, the iconic pan de sal--that is the main protagonist in the collection as a whole...every reader--even those with weak stomachs or no particular affinity for noir--is likely to find some that are intriguing, enjoyable or eye-opening."
--Asian Review of Books