America Is Not the Heart

A Novel

By: Elaine Castillo

Narrated by: Donnabella Mortel

Named one of the best books of 2018 by NPR, Real Simple, Lit Hub, The Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, The New York Post, Kirkus Reviews, and The New York Public Library

"A saga rich with origin myths, national and personal . . . Castillo is part of a younger generation of American writers instilling literature with a layered sense of identity." --Vogue

How many lives fit in a lifetime?

When Hero De Vera arrives in America--haunted by the political upheaval in the Philippines and disowned by her parents--she's already on her third. Her uncle gives her a fresh start in the Bay Area, and he doesn't ask about her past. His younger wife knows enough about the might and secrecy of the De Vera family to keep her head down. But their daughter--the first American-born daughter in the family--can't resist asking Hero about her damaged hands.

An increasingly relevant story told with startling lucidity, humor, and an uncanny ear for the intimacies and shorthand of family ritual, America Is Not the Heart is a sprawling, soulful debut about three generations of women in one family struggling to balance the promise of the American dream and the unshakeable grip of history. With exuberance, grit, and sly tenderness, here is a family saga; an origin story; a romance; a narrative of two nations and the people who leave one home to grasp at another.

An instant favorite

Amazing story, fantastic voice acting. Made me feel so much closer to my roots and my family, as well as grateful for everything I have and lost. 11/10 will pick up a physical copy and read/listen again.

Stories of Me

To read your culture in a novel is precious. As a first-gen American born Filipino-American, visibility is something I crave for daily. I appreciate the beautiful layers of Elaine Castillo’s novel more than words can say. Maraming salamat, Elaine.

amazingly accurate

I grew up in Fremont driving through Milpitas every day to go to school in Palo Alto during the same period of time in the book. the accounts of locations, streets, buildings are all so accurate. the reader was on point with all the accents. wonderful story that hit the heart of this filipino mastisa born in the east/south bay.

Good story and well read by the performer.

I love listening to these stories by someone has a good accent, so the context is understood. However, there is a typo in the book or the reader misspoke. In the 2nd story, the reader says “Toyota Corona”. Instead of “Toyota Corolla”. Is that a “Pilipino thing” or a Audible mistake? Lol!

Bay Area Fil-Ams Represent

Donabella’s narration does a great job of bringing every character in this book to life. Author Elaine Castillo also writes the experiences of Filipinos in America and Filipino-Americans in the Bay Area beautifully. Loved how grounded the stories of each character were in the history and circumstance of the Philippines after Marcos and the Bay during the mobile DJ scene.