The Human Zoo

A blistering new novel that follows a Filipino American journalist's return to dictatorship-ruled Manila to research her book on tribes from a "cracklingly original" (Elle) and "singular" (New York Times Book Review) author, PEN Faulkner award-winner, Sabina Murray.

Filipino-American Christina "Ting" Klein has just travelled from New York to Manila, both to escape her imminent divorce, and to begin research for a biography of Timicheg, an indigenous Filipino brought to America at the start of 20th century to be exhibited as part of a "human zoo." It has been a year since Ting's last visit, and one year since Procopio "Copo" Gumboc swept the elections in an upset and took power as president. Arriving unannounced at her aging Aunt's aristocratic home, Ting quickly falls into upper class Manila life--family gatherings at her cousin's compound; spending time with her best friend Inchoy, a gay socialist professor of philosophy; and a flirtation with her ex-boyfriend Chet, a wealthy businessman with questionable ties to the regime. All the while, family duty dictates that Ting be responsible for Laird, a cousin's fiancé, who has come from the States to rediscover his roots.

As days pass, Ting witnesses modern Filipino society languishing under Gumboc's terrifying reign. To make her way, she must balance the aristocratic traditions of her extended family, seemingly at odds with both situation and circumstance, as well temper her stance towards a regime her loved ones are struggling to survive. Yet Ting cannot extricate herself from the increasingly repressive regime, and soon finds herself personally confronted by the horrifying realities of Gumboc's power.

At once a propulsive look at contemporary Filipino politics and the history that impacted the country, The Human Zoo is a thrilling and provocative story from one of our most celebrated and important writers of literary fiction.

Author: Sabina Murray
Publisher: Grove Press
Published: 08/08/2021
Pages: 304
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 9.06h x 5.83w x 1.10d
ISBN: 9780802157508

Review Citation(s):
Library Journal Prepub Alert 03/01/2021 pg. 62
Publishers Weekly 06/07/2021
Library Journal 07/23/2021 pg. 1
Shelf Awareness 08/20/2021

About the Author

SABINA MURRAY grew up in Australia and the Philippines and is currently a member of the MFA faculty at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She is the author of Valiant Gentlemen, Tales of the New World, A Carnivore's Inquiry, Forgery, Slow Burn, and The Caprices, which won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction.