| This remarkable first novel follows the struggle of Ben Lucern, a young Filipino American priest who must come tn terms with his bifurcated notion of home as well as his own religious commitment. Ben s first visit to the city of Ccbu in the Philippines, for his mother s burial, becomes the occasion of his corruption when he is confronted with the manipula rive wiles of two enigmatic women, his powerful Aunt Clara and her glamorous young business associate, Ellen. Ben is inherently corruptible, but his moment of truth is advanced by what he sees as a perversion of Catholicism,namely the crucifixion as a means of bargaining with God. Despair, guilt, and their religious corollary, the need for redemption, follow Ben back to Seattle, where he attempts to unravel his existential dilemma. Peter Bacho s vision is darkly comic, and he refuses to sentimentalize his demand- ing material. He conveys his vision well, balancing aphoristic meditations with the oblique revelations of funny, vivid, believable dialogue. His complex and timely message is underscored with skill- ful irony; even the denouement has an ambiguous twist, raising as many ques- tions as it answers. |
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