A Surplus of Sadness: But Wait There's More...
By (Author) Jov Ortua Almero
Penguin Random House SEA
Penguin Books
28th November 2023
Singapore
Paperback
224
Width 1mm, Height 1mm, Spine 1mm
1g
There's no shortage of sadness. There's no blaming those who succumb to omnipresent gloom. It's today's pervasive emotional climate. However, there's also enough laughter to go around. At least laughter that comes with a knowing wink, in camaraderie with the many prone to sadness's. This collection of 19 short stories hopes to make you laugh. That is- Despite the planet heating up. Despite the constant threat of fascism and disinformation. Despite empires disguised as good guys. Despite neoliberalism's false promises and the ruthless competition it demands. Despite the persistent clout of capitalism, unrelenting in its dominion over life, over happiness. Despite, perhaps, a lack of exercise . . . By the end of the book, laughter finds a purpose, a place in the collective, aware of its rightful target. From sadness to laughter to indignation. But wait there's more. Cheers.
Jov Almero writes from the Philippines. He received a BA in Development Communication from Ateneo de Naga University and an MA in Creative Writing from the University of the Philippines Diliman. His first book, a novel in Tagalog called Isang Dekadang Resty, was published in 2021 by UP Press. It was a finalist for the 22nd Madrigal Gonzales Best First Book Award.