’Does It Matter What the Dead Think’ is an accomplished collection of short stories dealing with the subjects of growing-up, migration, family, poverty and religion. Mostly set in the
Philippines and Australia, these stories deal with aspects of life which are often difficult, told in an open and insightful manner. ’Father’ opens with the narrator Balong, a young child,
being beaten by his father for being ungrateful towards his mother. After treating his son’s wounds that evening, the father leaves on a military expedition from which he does not return. The
story touchingly addresses Balong’s confusion over why he is beaten and what he should be feeling for his dead father:＂In a minute,＂ I said. I supposed I had to join them now. Did God punish
him because he was too hard on me? I should not be thinking that way; he was my father. He made me. God wanted me to love him. But how? I did not know if I would feel all right standing there
next to him, gazing at his dead body with our family. Would I forgive him for hurting me?＂This is an engaging piece that, along with ’G’day Welcome to Australia’ and ’Chrislam’, displays the
author’s ability. The narratives of each story are well constructed and the strong central characters hold the reader’s attention so that we are fully engaged with the wider issues being
discussed. Through detailed description of atmosphere and place, we are afforded an enlightening and enjoyable read.What the readers say:‘What I like most about the stories of Erwin Cabucos are
his characters who, even when they are in Australia, are Filipino through and through. They are touching in their simplicity and tenacity to improve their lot. They treasure the notion of the
Family. ’Cabucos’ stories are well grounded in contemporary history, so that after reading his work, one has a better understanding of the Filipino-Australian experience, and of Filipino
experience in Muslim Mindanao.’ -Cecilia Brainard, author of When the Rainbow Goddess Wept, University of Michigan Press, USA.The stories appeared in the magazines and anthologies in Australia,
the Philippines and America, including: ’Salu-Salo: an Anthology of Philippine-Australian Writings’, ’A La Carte: Food and Fiction’, and ’Growing-Up Filipinos.’Does It Matter What the Dead
Think: Short Stories is 5x8 inches in dimension, 188 pages thick. Available on Amazon.com with an ISBN 13-978-1536928020 and ISBN 153692802x.Author Erwin Cabucos teaches Secondary English in
Brisbane, Australia. Born and raised in the Muslim region of Southern Philippines, he came to Australia on a scholarship. He graduated Psychology from Notre Dame University, Philippines and
English Education from the University of New England, Australia. His email address is
[email protected]
