Colors of Influence Reviews

People in poverty get entangled in unscrupulous webs of deceit. Details of a murder become part of the intricate narrative, and justice is a character waiting in the sidelines. In Accidents Happen: Stories, Philippine National Book Award winner F.H. Batacan weaves the themes of class and gender inequalities with setting and atmosphere. These elements enhances tension and immerses the reader in the intimate world of the crime, accidental or otherwise. Having lived in Manila through my mid-teens, I am familiar with the sociopolitical dynamics of corruption, paternalism, and patriarchy that make horrendous acts possible. I commend Batacan’s exceptional skill at fictionalizing the crude realities of life in the Philippines, from a small-town murder to unnamable exploitation that goes both ways. It is hard to ignore the violence and brutality exacted by male characters in the stories. Men who use their physical strength to commit violence: from a two-hundred-pound man who uses his strengt...

Gerry Oh’s The Power of Simple Aspirations is an inspiring and practical guide for readers seeking a more fulfilling life. The book's key themes include resilience, emotional well-being, and financial planning, which are essential tools for staying motivated and overcoming setbacks. Throughout the book, Oh’s writing style is clear, organized, and engaging. He balances practical advice with motivational anecdotes, making complex ideas easy to grasp and apply. His structured approach — offering specific guidance for youth, young adulthood, midlife, and later years — ensures readers feel supported wherever they are on their journey. Oh’s ability to blend emotional intelligence with pragmatic financial tips is particularly impressive, offering readers a comprehensive roadmap to personal and professional success. The Power of Simple Aspirations highlights a global and multicultural perspective. I appreciated learning about diverse traditions such as Japan’s Ikigai, which emphasizes ...

Healing requires a continuous process of self-examination, most effective when paired with honesty and humility. South Korean writer Baek Sehee shares a revealing memoir documenting conversations with her psychotherapist. Sehee offers an intimate and probing look at one young woman’s journey toward emotional wellness as she unabashedly documents her reflections on her feelings and reactions to everyday bouts with self-esteem. We learn about coping skills for dealing with various challenges in friendships, family, and work relationships. Sehee’s memoir is a testament to her courage. She candidly shares her experiences of surviving a car accident, leaving a job, and confronting harsh reviews of her work. Her bravery in sharing these personal experiences is inspiring and deeply resonating. As an Asian American, I found her insights into the societal pressures that women face in a Westernized society, such as unrealistic beauty standards, particularly enlightening. The struggle to me...

In her debut poetry collection, Burn After Reading, Jessica Ciencin Henriquez invites readers to fully engage with the complex emotions surrounding loss, change, and grief. She encourages us to embrace the pause and uncertainty that precede transformation. Henriquez employs various poetic forms to create a tender and intimate experience of life’s transitions, forging a deep connection with her readers. The structure of the collection reflects the stages of a firestorm, moving from “Ignite” to “Ashes,” as the poet explores themes of shame, suffering, and love. Visual poetry employs fragmentation and “white space.” Henriquez applies this technique to generate pauses, silence, and emphasis, reflecting the ebb and flow of emotions during tumultuous periods of upheaval. The poems in each section portray the transformative journey that comes from experiencing destruction while also capturing the grace and promise of emergence. From the loss of a love to reflections on a child awakenin...

Kwesi could not find comfort in the swimming pool. While other children played and enjoyed themselves, Kwesi had never learned how to swim. During a game of oware, Nana (his grandmother) noticed that something was bothering him. Kwesi admitted that he felt sad about not being able to swim. Nana then told him about the water spirit Mami Wata, a symbol of strength and nurturing in West Africa. Inspired by this newfound knowledge, Kwesi became determined to conquer his fear of the water, with Nana by his side for support. Writer Kobina Commeh shares a poignant story of resilience and courage across generations in the picture book Kwesi and Nana Ruby Learn to Swim . Inspired by his childhood in Ghana, where he encountered tales of Mami Wata, a half-woman, half-fish figure, Commeh sheds light on the painful history of racial segregation in the United States that prevented many generations of Black Americans from learning to swim. Brazilian illustrator Barbara Quintino beautifully brin...

A young doctor tends to an older couple burdened by physical ailments. The husband and wife engage in a daily ritual of petty bickering. Friends from college maintain their connections over the years, gradually revealing underlying issues. The characters in Anu Kandikuppa’s short story collection, The Confines: Stories, are trapped in moral stagnation, emotional paralysis, and stifling societal expectations—both imposed by others and self-inflicted—making the ordinariness of their lives feel unbearable. This collection features twelve thought-provoking stories that explore the cultural expectations, taboos, and hierarchies that impact the Indian diaspora in both the United States and India. As part of the Filipino diaspora, I found the characters in Kandikuppa’s stories to be relatable and often pitiable. For instance, there is a woman who spends much of her time longing for unrequited love. On the other hand, some characters are truly despicable, such as a grown man who remains s...

Faith and reverence from the perspective of Black church is a powerful force that has shaped the struggle of a people who defied all odds to live triumphantly. In The Wounds are the Witness, womanist theologian Dr. Yolanda Pierce draws upon the sordid history of Black enslavement, struggle for racial equality, and the persistent fight for justice. Rooted in her upbringing and lifelong service in the Pentecostal tradition, Pierce’s essays center memory of Black life in the United States, bearing witness to the survival of the Black spirit amid unspeakable dehumanization during the Jim and Jane Crow era to modern-day acts of violence on Black bodies. Pierce draws upon her own lived experiences, deep reading of scripture, the theological legacy of Howard Thurman and Pauli Murray, and allegories of Toni Morrison and Zora Neale Hurston, all of which underscore the role of faith in the fight for racial justice. As a non-Black immigrant woman of color and an advocate for racial justice, ...