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Reviewed by P. Rosenthal for Readers' Favorite
Be amazed, perplexed, and inspired. Zarla: Memoir of a Peculiar Filipina by Eli Launluna is based on the author’s life experiences. The heroine, Zarla, was born in Quezon City, Philippines, and is the oldest of two surviving children. Economic hardship and culture dictate that her parents sustain their extended family; therefore, money is tight. Consequently, her mother leaves the family to work abroad as a nurse before Zarla turns five. Zarla is forced to become self-reliant as she faces the harsh realities of life in the Philippines. But even after her family reunites in Glasgow, Scotland, Zarla's inner turmoil continues to haunt her. Her inner struggles reach a breaking point when she turns eighteen. Will she fall victim to her tortured past or will she persevere?
Eli Launluna's Zarla: Memoir of a Peculiar Filipina is a journey of self-discovery and resilience. The title of the book warns readers that they are about to read something unusual. Launluna explains that she intends to portray a character who thinks differently. Since the book is based on her childhood, Launluna tells Zarla's story with a sense of urgent honesty. Zarla's raw struggle to find her identity is sad and rings true throughout the book. The memoir embraces themes of family, jealousy, defiance, and emotional turmoil, all of which are highly relatable. One of the most notable passages reads: ". . . I don’t know why . . . we still segregate ourselves from one another through our skin color in this day and age when I think the separation ought to be between the ones who propagate the decay of humanity and the ones who strive towards the progress of humanity." Fans of coming-of-age stories will enjoy this emotional memoir.
