The Philippine Online Chronicles

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Multi-awarded scriptwriter and playwright Ricky Lee surprised many with the release of his first novel, Para kay B (O Kung Paano Dinevastate ng Pag-ibig ang 4 Out of 5 sa Atin). Lee said writing prose is his first love and so to reacquaint himself with an old flame, the writer went on hiatus for three years to simultaneously write 3 novels.

First one is the sweetest

Like any Pinoy romance novel, Para kay B is ready to catch its readers. With his first novel, Lee opts to deal with the most universal theme: love. With its imaginative style of using Taglish and expressions mimicking actual conversations, Lee's novel shows the Pinoy how they fall in love.

The novel is a collection of five short love stories about five women, Irene, Sandra, Erica, Ester and Bessie, only one of which is supposed to have a happy ending. The stories tackle different threads-childhood's first romance, unrequited love and forbidden affairs.

The characters were real and unforgettable, lovable and imperfect.

Mix of magic and reality

Para kay B is a very visual novel. The female characters and their descriptive passages on how they look, smell and taste the world could be easily transmitted into film. Funnysexy.ph blogged that while reading, he envisioned the story "as a motion picture, complete with crane shots, background music and even fades to black."

A reader found the language "conversational and colloquial." The exchanges of words are what people normally hear and use everyday. The situations are familiar, but exciting. In addition, the five female characters and the protagonist, Lucas, are all witty. There are several situations where these characters somehow warn the readers to proceed with caution, to hold their breaths and be ready for what will happen next.

Para Kay B showcases stories about different facets of love. According to the blurb, "Sa limang taong iibig, isa lamang ang tunay na liligaya sa piling ng kanyang minamahal [Of five people who will fall in love, only one will truly fin happiness with her beloved]." Lee is effective in making the characters come alive even in the most absurd or ridiculous situation. The interconnection of the stories has preserves the reader's attention, and at the same time makes a satisfying read. The book is provocative, making the readers wish that it could go on and on. There are outpourings of ideas that challenge readers to think by presenting contradictions and letting you to decide on what you will believe in.

Overall, the construction, manifestation and mystery of love was illustrated in the story. Using the formula demonstrated by the author, four out of five will be heart-broken. While it may sound cynical, it illustrates the challenges of love. The women in the novel have been hurt and refuse to love again. They are scared so they either choose not to love or they are just simply incapable of loving.

Several readers who blogged about their reactions found the novel amusing. Blogger funnysexy.ph said, "Mr. Ricky Lee unknowingly posed a challenge to me. That someday I write a book on love, too."

Pop novel

Lee admits that he really wanted a big launch to create a buzz, not for personal gain but because he "wants Filipinos to know that there is something they can read and enjoy." More than fulfilling a personal dream, he says, he chose to write a novel to encourage Filipinos to read more local authors. "Filipiniana remains just a section in most bookstores and libraries," he notes sadly in an interview.

Lee also knows that despite his best intentions, there will always be critics who might not like his novel at all. "The reviews are all biased, whether positive or negative," he explains, "but as much as I care about the critics, I try not to care about what they say. What's important is that I'm able to do what I want to do."

Proceeds from sales of the book will go to the Philippine Writers Studio, a newly established foundation that will help writers in their creative, financial, and health-related needs. Para Kay B (O Kung Paano Dinevastate ng Pag-Ibig ang 4 Out of 5 Sa Atin) is now available in all bookstores and is being distributed by Anvil Publishing, Inc.


Book jacket taken from the official Anvil Publishing website. It is believed that use of book covers for evaluatory purposes qualifies as fair use under Philippine copyright law