Sherds (novel)

Sherds
Book cover for F. Sionil José's novel Sherds
AuthorF. Sionil José
LanguageEnglish
PublisherSolidaridad Publishing House
Publication date
2007
Publication placePhilippines
Media typePrint

Sherds (“fragments of pottery” or "potsherds") is a 2007 short novel or novelette written by Filipino National Artist for Literature[1] and multi-awarded[2] author F. Sionil José. According to Elmer A. Ordoñez, a writer from The Manila Times, in Sherds José achieved “lyrical effects”, specially in the novel’s final chapters, by putting into “good use” Joseph Conrad’s and Ford Madox Ford’s so-called progression d’effet (literally "progression of the effect"). Sherds is the latest and last novel by José. According to The Atlantic National Correspondent James Fallows, the novel is dedicated to the author’s wife Teresita José.[3] The novel, which can be read in one sitting,[4] was described by Li-an de la Cruz-Busto, a reporter for Sun.Star Davao as “very light but candid and insightful”,[5] a description that complements The Manila Times reporter Perry Gil S. Mallari’s calling José’s Sherds as an “easy read and a guaranteed page-turner”. A novel composed of twelve chapters with a "tight and palpable" narrative pacing, Sherds deals with topics related to "personal conscience, greed and the position of art" in social class struggle, thus serving as a cogitation on "what is wrong" with the Philippines as a nation.[1] José wrote Sherds while he was in Japan.[1]

  1. ^ a b c Mallari, Perry Gil S. Sherds: The latest novel of National Artist for Literature Francisco Sionil José Archived 2011-07-23 at the Wayback Machine, Fragments of Truth, Book Review, Life & Times, The Manila Times, January 9, 2009, archives.manilatimes.net
  2. ^ Commencement Speaker - Francisco Sionil Jose, Foundation Time Community Page, negroschronicle.com
  3. ^ Fallows, James. Frankie José, The Atlantic, March 5, 2009, theatlantic.com
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference MTimes1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ De la Cruz-Busto, Li-an.Busto: Instant fan, Choices, Sun.Star Davao, January 17, 2009, sunstar.com.ph