Rating: 
Summary: Finally! I've been waiting for a book like this!
Review: I'm an insatiable fan of Asian American literature, and while I could empathize with Chinese American, Korean American, and Japanese American authored-books, there was never a book that I could TRULY relate to. Yes, there were Jessica Hagedorns and Bino A. Realuyos, but I could never relate to them the way I can relate to Mrs. Holthe's style of storytelling. For the first time, a book by a Filipino American like myself has been written about a time in history that I've often longed to know more about. Her style of telling this story is so genuine - it gives you a sense of the way of thinking of Filipinos, of their sense of pride. She doesn't omit the Tagalog or the Spanish, and she translates each phrase to include non-Filipinos, non-Tagalog speaking and non-Spanish speaking readers. As a journalist, I know much about the political and American angle of World War II, but you will never read about what the people of the Philippines went through during that time. I can't stress enough how long I've been waiting for a novel like this. Thank you Mrs. Holthe!
Rating:
Summary: insight into a philppine family
Review: It doesn't matter what kind of book you are looking for- this is the best one to pick up. Not only does it have the suspense of a mystery but the author combines originality as well as the true story to make a fantastic piece of work. I think this is the best book i have ever read.. the plot and characters were so well developed that I couldn't put the book down. pick the book up... I know you will like it!!
Rating:
Summary: Marvelous! A great first opus!
Review: Marvelous! Can't wait for her next work...For a first novel, Ms. Holthe's "When the Elephants Dance" is a marvelous piece of work. I did get a bit irritated by the misspelled and mis-phrased Tagalog words and statements, some details on fauna, and also the lapses in time judgment (crossing over to Coron, Palawan and back to Manila in less than a day). For that, I fault the editors. Nonetheless, I consider those trivial in the face of great storylines and lyric and magical narratives of the allegorical stories. I grew intimate with each of the narrators and the stories they both told and heard.
I wish the novel never ended. When I finished the book, I felt that that world was gone and I had to say goodbye to my new friends and lovers. I hope Ms. Holthe continues to write and I eagerly await her second opus. I think her first novel is just heralding whatever comes next. She's got a remarkable voice, and with "When the Elephants Dance," Tess Uriza Holthe is just clearing her throat.
Rating:
Summary: must read
Review: Ms. Holthe's does a wonderful job making each narration come alive within the reader's imagination. This is a must read. She covers a wide spectrum of Filipino history and traditions, in a well written manner. I've suggested this books to others and they too agree, it's one of a kind.
Rating:
Summary: Moving and Magical
Review: Ms. Uriza Holthe hit on a wonderful chord with this book. The book allows you to feel the entire spectrum of emotions while at the same time teaches you about history that was never told. It is about time someone shed light on what WWII did to other countries and their people. It is, after all, called "World War" for the reason that the world was involved and affected. The stories told by the characters in her book are so moving and so magical. They will transport you to a world so unknown to us, Westerners. The book is a multi-sensory experience: it will make you smell, feel, hear, touch, see everything that the characters do. It is like stepping into a country and a century where Spain, the US and Japan all meet in one place - the Philippines.
Rating: 
Summary: shameless
Review: Okay this is a real entertaining read, baby, a real best sellor, and a lot of Americans will learn about the Philippines so it is good that way. But you can tell it wasn't written by a Filipino from the Philippines. I wouldn't bother writing this review but the book jacket implies it is the best book written on the Philippines. What an insult to Filipino authors! What about Sionil Jose, Jose Rizal, Haggerdorn! I doubt the publisher has read every Philippine book written and must therefore have a very low regard for Philippine literature (typical American Arrogance), and the author is shameless for signing off on this and disrespecting her predicessors and elders. Since she has fooled the Americans, I will answer this claim. First. Has nobody noticed that these Filipino narrators keep defining simple Filipino terms even when they are speaking to a room full of Filipinos? 'Ate' must have been defined at least three times. As if the Filipinos did not know big sister. Also Mestizo. Every Filipino knows Mestizo! Second. The Spaniard's section should have been cut. Sorry but no Filipino from the Philippines would believe that interaction betweent the Spaniard and his servants. All the contemporary US style heavy handed political debates are silly. The idea that a Spanish Filipino, even then, wouldn't know salamat (thank you) is ridiculous. One of the peasants he debates so rapidly and fluently accuses the Spanish of repressing Filipino natives by not teaching them Spanish. If these many peasants don't know Spanish, and the Spaniard(implausibly) doesn't know a single word of Tagalog, then how do they have these rapid, erudit political arguements, and how does he communicate with his servants? The author seemed to have forgotten what language they were supposed to be speaking as she wrote it and her US editors didn't even notice! Also, one of these revolutionary peasants argues with the Spaniard about the Catholic religion and even says who is to say that the God of Catholicism and native Filipinos are not the same? Sorry, but this is a New Age notion, and the New Age San francisco movement hadn't reached the Philippines in 2002 yet alone 1870. I am glad a lot of Americans will learn about my country but this author is shameless in her claims.
Rating:
Summary: A compelling and engrossing read
Review: People who know me know that I read a great deal --and try to read good, worthwhile thought provoking books that take me to places I haven't been or periods I am unfamiliar with,,,and that I love to recommend books that I have been impressed with --well, When The Elephants Dance fits all of the above -- it is compelling, highly thought provoking and is just so well written....that you can literally feel and taste and experience the hardships that the Filipinos endured during the Japanese occupation...the mythical and magical stories told by the members of the extended family thrown together in an attempt at survival are breathtaking and I felt emotions that I don't ordinarily experience with a book, any book..it is simply put a wonderful story that should be read by many.
Rating: 
Summary: Over-hyped, under-edited
Review: Surely there is a better book to show us what life in the Phillipines was like at the end of World War II. This book has the ingredients of a great novel: the terrors of war, an exotic location, great historic events, old family wounds, ancient myths. The first section is the best conceived and executed; there is power in the story of a 12 year-old who is captured and tortured. After that the writing grows flabby, descriptions trite. The moral of the stories told by various narrators is stated too explicitly, often in a preachy tone, as if the author feared we wouldn't "get it." There is too much explanation of why a character is saying what he does or why an action was taken, instead of letting words and actions grow naturally from character and plot. The dialogue is dull; yes, it sounds like people talking, but it sounds like they're trying to move a plot along. All these failings make the reader too aware of the author back there manipulating things. A good editor could probably have cut the flab and toughened the sinew of this book. Unfortunately it is what it is: a coulda-been.
Rating: 
Summary: Another Dimension of Philippine-American History
Review: Tess Uriza Holthe's When The Elephants Dance: A Novel is yet another form of literature that uses history as the backdrop of the story, but it is also folklore that helps to define the identity and ancestry of many Philippine-Americans and Filipinos. I first encountered this book a few years ago while taking a graduate course in history that blended history and literature. This was one of those books that stood out from all the other literatures I read in the course in that it appeared remotely related to the majority of literature that was assigned in the class -- World War I and II history, and American writers who had been affected by the war. Despite that fact, Holthe's When Elephants Dance was a refreshing narrative that mildly looked at the Pacific front by concentrating on one small region in the Philippines and taking an account from her own family's experience, and incorporating it within her semi-autobiographical narrative.
When Elephants Dance is a fictitious tale that allows the reader to imagine the struggles and the truimphs that many had to endure during World War II as a result of Japanese occupation. The unique thing about Holthe's narrative is the folktales and the larger than life characters and catastrophes that Filipinos experienced, such as earthquakes and volcano eruptions. These experiences with natural disasters help to understand and define Filipino identity -- rituals, religious symbolism or superstition as well as Philippine culture where food tends to be a significant center. Holthe presents much imagery in her storytelling as well as how she allows the characters in the book share stories with one another to either distract, or console them from the imminent danger they faced during wartime.
This is an interesting book that I recommend to any curious bibliophile who likes to enhance their reading selection. It isn't a definitive novel about Philippine history, however, it is a novel that adds another dimension to Philippine or Asian American literature. It may enhance your knowledge of a people that has a significant importance to American or Philippine history, or it may open your mind to the experiences, be it fictitious or real, that man faces during difficult times.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely gripping mix of war horror and Filipino stories
Review: The author does an excellent job of painting the grotesque picture of Luzon in the final days of the Japanese occupation. The details are graphic, horrifying, but don't scar you so much you close the book. It is a delicate balance the author maintains throughout. Sensibilities are not spared, and yet you would feel comfortable about giving the book to a 13 year old who could aspire to the bravery of Bartoy, or the caring shown by Alejandro; two boys in the story who rise to the occasion while grown men around them flail in cowardice and selfishness. You truly feel for the family and their friends. You become emotionally attached to them, at times screaming for the Amerikanos to hurry up and bring an end to the Japanese carnage and wholesale slaughter of innocents. You say to yourself, "...if I could only jump into the story to help..." A restlessness builds within you, you want to do something about these injustices; you want to save these people. Interwoven into this realistic fiction of World War II are stories that range from mythic to personal journeys. Each story has a lesson, teaches the reader about another aspect of Filipino culture and helps the characters deal with the increasingly brutal challenges from the Japanese. The last part, a few pages related by the tragic Domingo, and then the final closing by Alejandro are gut-wrenching. You eyes will water - at the very least. Holthe has achieved the goal that eludes most authors, to evoke a strong emotional response and attachment in her characters. This is a great read...do yourself a favor and read this book.
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