Review of Ituy
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Christiana Henry
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Review of Ituy
[Following is a volunteer review of "Ituy" by Taylor Willingham.]
The awesome story of the book Ituy majors on a character called Taylor Willingham who is sent on a Mormon mission to the Philippines. He is entering a whole new world, don't you think? With this 1776 map in hand, he is trying to deal with not just the geographical environment but also the culture of the Cagayan Valley. The whole journey is explained in the book, from the beginning in Penablanca to the crazy stories in the highlands and all points in between.
Taylor is out there sharing his religion but he must go through some very terrible times that cause him to doubt everything. It's not only about spirituality but maturing and discovering your true self when all the comforts of home are taken away. Taylor has gone through a lot at the end, but he has learned some important life lessons. This book is a delightful story from a missionary viewpoint touching heavy themes of spirituality and journey to the unknown.
I dislike that I thought this was going to be an action-packed novel but was delivered with slowed down and serious pondering with not as much action. It may become very boring and not everyone's cup of tea if they're hoping for a fast-paced adventure. Taylor Willingham works great expressing respect for Filipino culture. He's interested and cautious not to walk on toes, which is incredibly good to see since other novels might get it wrong and be offensive. By the way, this book digs into culture with wide arms, helping me learn about it in a manner that seems genuine and intimate.
The uniqueness of this book is the closeness that the author builds with both the natives and his fellow missionaries. These relationships come with such warmth that they become the theme of the narrative. The contacts with the Igorot people, in particular, are shown with a respectful interest and a willingness to learn, which exceeds just surface-level participation. I like the author's realistic picture of human connection which I believe positively impacts the story and keeps one glued till the final page.
I gave this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars, it loses a star because the slow and contemplative pace may not be for everyone. But altogether, it's a terrific book that offers you a true peek into what it's like to be a missionary and the Filipino way of life. I recommend this book to anybody who's interested in learning about foreign cultures. If you're up for a novel that's more about the trip than the goal, this book might be a wonderful selection for you. The book was exceptionally well-edited and error-free.
******
Ituy
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The awesome story of the book Ituy majors on a character called Taylor Willingham who is sent on a Mormon mission to the Philippines. He is entering a whole new world, don't you think? With this 1776 map in hand, he is trying to deal with not just the geographical environment but also the culture of the Cagayan Valley. The whole journey is explained in the book, from the beginning in Penablanca to the crazy stories in the highlands and all points in between.
Taylor is out there sharing his religion but he must go through some very terrible times that cause him to doubt everything. It's not only about spirituality but maturing and discovering your true self when all the comforts of home are taken away. Taylor has gone through a lot at the end, but he has learned some important life lessons. This book is a delightful story from a missionary viewpoint touching heavy themes of spirituality and journey to the unknown.
I dislike that I thought this was going to be an action-packed novel but was delivered with slowed down and serious pondering with not as much action. It may become very boring and not everyone's cup of tea if they're hoping for a fast-paced adventure. Taylor Willingham works great expressing respect for Filipino culture. He's interested and cautious not to walk on toes, which is incredibly good to see since other novels might get it wrong and be offensive. By the way, this book digs into culture with wide arms, helping me learn about it in a manner that seems genuine and intimate.
The uniqueness of this book is the closeness that the author builds with both the natives and his fellow missionaries. These relationships come with such warmth that they become the theme of the narrative. The contacts with the Igorot people, in particular, are shown with a respectful interest and a willingness to learn, which exceeds just surface-level participation. I like the author's realistic picture of human connection which I believe positively impacts the story and keeps one glued till the final page.
I gave this book a rating of 4 out of 5 stars, it loses a star because the slow and contemplative pace may not be for everyone. But altogether, it's a terrific book that offers you a true peek into what it's like to be a missionary and the Filipino way of life. I recommend this book to anybody who's interested in learning about foreign cultures. If you're up for a novel that's more about the trip than the goal, this book might be a wonderful selection for you. The book was exceptionally well-edited and error-free.
******
Ituy
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
