Sonata was only the second Filipiniana book I’ve read. Unfortunately, there isn’t always much to choose from in the bookstores I visit, and if there are, they’re usually philosophy books or books with cartoons on the cover.

It was the story of a writer with a difficult relationship with her family. Ultimately, it showed the love between a parent and a child. There were a lot of scenes in the book that pulled my heartstrings, but the thing I love most about it is its lack of bias between the two main characters.

It told the story of a traditional patriarch from a different generation who did all he could to reach the daughter he obviously loves. It also told the story of the ambitious, misunderstood daughter who wanted freedom and the approval of her parents despite her pride.

There are a lot of unspoken things inside a family. There were a lot of unspoken things in the novel itself which made the art even more beautiful.

It is the first Lualhati Bautista book I’ve read, but it certainly won’t be the last.