Weight Of The Sun & Other Stories

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Average customer rating 4.5 (4 comments)

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This compilation of short stories is a haunting experience through the collective consciousnesses of men in different stages of their own lives. The Weight of the Sun and Other Stories, written by Geronimo Tagatac, incorporates the experiences of both young and older men who confront similar challenges as a result of their culture and personal hardships. He states in the Introduction that most of the stories are about the fictional Guerrero family, as the stories “cover a period of seventy two years, beginning in 1929. Jacinto and his son Mateo appear more than once.” There are twenty-four stories total, and Tagatac presents a variety of themes throughout the narratives he writes in this collection. Tagatac expertly enters several different perspectives in the many short stories presented. He is able to realistically portray the attitudes of a father with a young son, as well as the life of a war veteran, the challenges of cultural boundaries, and the experience of grief. Most of all, Tagatac illustrates the beauty of language spoken through the voice of people with sometimes little in common, but each with much to offer the reader. Though this is a collection of short stories which spans across a large period of time, there is still a sense of connection and a clear delineation of plot as Tagatac introduces different characters and new story developments. In one story entitled “Back in the World,” Tagatac uses a stream of consciousness style as he presents a war veteran who is struggling to relate to his past life as a student. The main character consistently drifts in and out of memories of the battles he faced in Vietnam, and it unclear of which reality this character truly belongs in. In “Agency,” Tagatac presents a starting representation of office dynamics and confrontation with ideas about culture and personal beliefs. Another notable story in the text is entitled “Departures,” and the main character comforts the ex-boyfriend of the main character’s previous girlfriend. This story also encompasses themes of the experiences of young adults living in the period of the Vietnam War. Ultimately, Tagatac weaves a compelling narrative that relies on the voices of the many characters he presents. His main focus on culture, the experience of youth, and relationships of family allow for compelling development of re-occurring characters in this compilation. Tagatac’s language is powerful as he confronts difficult themes of abuse and death, but the shining potential of the young adults in the collection balances his exploration of negative experiences. The Weight of the Sun offers a profound glace into the lives of Tagatac’s characters and leaves the readers with reactions to each story that will continue to resonate strongly even after the collection is complete.

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A wonderful collection of short stories that deal with the themes of race, culture, coping with war, coming of age, and the value of life. This would be a great resource to use in a highschool or college level class.

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The Weight of the Sun by Geronimo Tagatac is a collection of interconnected short stories with a predominantly melancholy tone, brilliantly portraying characters who experience trauma from child abuse, loneliness, abandonment, broken dreams, and the senseless violence of war. The author poignantly expresses the universal truth of human emotions and needs. It is appropriate that some of the stories involve ghosts, such as “What Comes After Nineteen,” in which a woman picks up a hitchhiker after noticing that he’s a ghost; even without ghosts the stories are haunting.

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Geronimo Tagatac has a gift--a thoughtful, descriptive voice using words that evoke a thousand pictures. He relates the humble beginnings of immigrants as they find their way to the US through honest, hard farm labor. They retain a tenuous connection to their families (Philippine and work camp) holding onto the most basic and important values--simple shining truths and the love of parents for their children. Tagatac poignantly shares the experience of second generation children finding their way in their new country: feeling different than and separate from the more privileged American children to which everything seemingly comes so easily; the pull of books and education--and the bridge it can build between the two cultures. Tagatac's words instantly immerse the reader in the world he paints, allowing you to be a personal witness to the actions and feelings of the characters as they occur. Touching, evocative, thoughtful, a reminder and lasting impression of the important things in life. Katherine L