02 Mar / Dogeaters by Jessica Hagedorn [in What Do I Read Next? Multicultural Literature]
Rio, a feisty young schoolgirl, comes of age in turbulent Manila during the final dictatorship in the Philippines. Her world is populated with American films and movie starts, soda shops, political corruption and turmoil, and a never-ending list of eccentric relatives.
Interspersed through the text are historical excerpts, including random paragraphs from a racist 1946 history book, various newspaper articles, and gossip columns. The effect of the so-called “truth” of history makes for an interesting juxtaposition with the “fictionality” of the novel.
A finalist for the 1990 National Book Award, Dogeaters is considered one of the most important classics of APA literature.
Review: “Asian American Titles,” What Do I Read Next? Multicultural Literature, Gale Research, 1997
Readers: Adult
Published: 1990