The EX Commandments and Other Post Break-Up Stories

Type: Prose
Genre: Short Story
Author: Carmelle Hyacinth Penetrante
Year Published: 2006
Publisher: PSICOM Publishing Inc. (Philippines)

__________________________________

Book Overview

This book, as the title suggests is a compilation of stories about girls who had just experienced a break-up. The five stories show the different ways of females in handling a heartbreak. Some are funny, crazy and there are also some that are touching and heart-warming. So, I picked two stories to review...

_______________________

The Ex Commandments


This short story is divided into ten parts. Actually, I think it's more of a mini-novel. Anyway, each part is about the commandments that the protagonist, Jenni has thought of in dealing with her break-up with ex-boyfriend, Joe.

The first commandment up to the ninth are very much realistic. Overspending, confiding with friends, denying what happened, and throwing away relationship-related things. If you are a girl, certainly you've done a thing or two in those nine commandments that Jenni has listed. Or perhaps, you even did them all.

However, when you reach the tenth commandment, that's when you realize that this literary piece is truly fiction. The tenth commandment is about seeking revenge. And, Jenni's idea of sweet revenge is burning her ex's car.

As you read the last part, you will notice that it seems as though what you are reading is a material for a film. Everything in that part is detailed and very cinematic. You could even imagine yourself as Jenni trailing away gracefully while the flames devour her ex's F150.

Well, even if it was a biased narration (but justifiable since the idea of the book is a collection of girls' post break-up stories), it was a nice story. Something that you would let a brokenhearted woman read that won't make her cry even more. In fact, she might even smile and think if she has done all those commandments.

___________________________

Sleepless in Makati


Unlike the Ex Commandments, this story was narrated from the point of view of the two main characters, Jen and Jeff.

The two characters were batchmates during high school. They had a thing before but they were too young to make it work. After seven years, they met again in a coffee shop. Both of them single again because of finished relationships.

Jen's relationship with her boyfriend ended after she discussed wedding gowns over breakfast. It was the same for Jeff. However, the reason for Jeff's break-up with his girlfriend was because he never had time for the girl.

And so, they spent hours coping up with each other in the coffee shop until they realized that they seem to click well. At the end, they ended up with each other. Jeff is still the same workaholic guy and Jen still the same dominant woman. But, they accepted each other's attitude so there was no conflict.

So, this is the light part (and definitely the last in the process of recovering from a break-up) of those post break-up stories. When the girl has decided not just to move on but to move forward and welcome a new love. And though "Sleepless in Makati" is somehow a story that lacks in sweet moments, it was still able to justify the whole theme of the book.


To sum up, the author, Penetrante, was able to showcase what girls are going through after a break-up in a realistic manner. Her choice of situations and conversations were able to connect pretty well with the reader especially if you are a female. For male readers, reading this book will truly enlighten you and let you understand why your ex girlfriend acts weird after your break-up. Somehow, this is like a guide book for both men and women. It tells females how to recover from the incident and it tells the males how to handle their ex girlfriends.

By the way, if you wish to grab a copy of the book and can't find it in the bookstores, get it here.