Title: Beyond Forgetting
Author: Frank A. De La Rosa
Publisher: Shunduay LLC
ISBN: 978-1734964554
Genre: Non-Fiction, Memoir, History
Pages: 127
Reviewed by: Arthur Thares
Hollywood Book Reviews
Memoirs are one of the most intimate and overlooked art forms in literature. They are both a link to a more general history and a personal story, giving readers an all-encompassing view into world events through the eyes of an author. The pitfall of memoirs is they can feel a little disconnected if you have no interest in the author or the event. However, an extraordinary memoir such as this one can take even the uninteresting details and turn them into something enjoyable for readers.
From the beginning, readers can tell this is a reflective book which relies more on the heart than it does on the action. Author Frank A. De La Rosa could have easily embellished his youth in the Philippines and the Japanese occupation of his city, but he instead shares stories of everyday life under Japanese occupation – none of them paint the Japanese in a good light, but they are also not harrowing. Beyond his stories of youth in the Philippines in WWII, De La Rosa always takes some time to explore later parts of his life in a sweet way which seems more like a note to his kids and grandkids than it does a memoir.
The book is a quick read at only 127 pages, but that is all De La Rosa needed to tell his story. For the most part, his stories are light-hearted and fun, but the book has more than just stories; it is like a window into Filipino culture, which is fun for those who like to learn about and explore other cultures. Though De La Rosa is not a native English speaker, he has mastered the language as this is a well-written and easily digestible book.
If you are obsessed with the human condition and learning about other people and cultures, you will love this book. It is part history, part legacy, and all heart. Beyond Forgetting is the perfect book to enjoy on a plane ride or back and forth on your daily commute, and when you are done, you will feel a little closer to the author and the world as a whole.