Nick Carbo has us see New York through the eyes of a Filipino immigrant with such candor, humor, and savvy that it's amazing to me that this book hasn't been optioned for a movie! Or maybe it has? It's poetry to be sure but it's also a screenplay, a novel, a multi-genre cyber cartoon. Carbo enlarges world poetry and what it can do!

I would never have purchased this book, nor would I have even become familiar with the (frickin' awesome!!!) work of Carbos without my needing the book for a class... some classes really are worthwhile!! I recommend (highly) ANYTHING by Nick Carbos.

I've just discovered Nick Carbo. Thank God. Thank God.

I am so happy to see this collection of Filipina (!) writers. Way to go! Now it's time to see these individual writers produce their own books so that we will have more to show the world. It is very encouraging to know that there are many writers of Filipino background out there. Get busy! I highly recommend this collection to those of you who simply love to read.

This is the best anthology of Filipino writing I've seen so far. The editors Tabios and Carbo deserve medals for bringing us such rich, diverse, exciting women poets & writers. I love Jessica Zafra's story, I was gripped by Cristina Pantoja-Hidalgo's stunning story, I was overwhelmed by all the fantastic poetry, especially "Marcelina" by Jean V. Gier. All women will understand the stories these Filipinas have to tell. Highly recommended!

Finally, after a hundred years of neglect, Filipina women have this book where their own voices can be heard. The stories are poignant and laden with sensuous sentences. The poems brim with profound beauty. There are recognizable Filipina authors like Jessica Hagedorn, Evelina Galang, and Linda Ty-Casper but there is also a fair representation of younger talent like Lara Stapleton and Gina Apostol. Such a treasure trove of familiar elegant voices and new vigorous word-smiths from the Philippines as well as Filipina-Americans.

This book was not what I expected, expecially after reading the previous reviews. The poetry is excellent but very cerebral! It is a Filipino version of what you study in Humanities in college.

This book is a must read for those trying to understand the assimilation of Filipino's into the American society. At times the works were rather deep, but after a bit of study, it is a total delight. I must say a lot of the material is not "easy reading" but it is all worth the effort.

Returning A Borrowed Tongue gathers the work of prominent poets who are Filipino or Filipino-American. The established writers, Gemino Abad, NVM Gonzalez, Jessica Hagedorn, are presented along with new voices like Jaime Jacinto. It sounds trite but I laughed, I cried, I read some of them over and over and wanted to talk to the poets themselves! Get this book if you have one drop of Filipino blood in you. Or even if you don't.

I had to buy this book for class and I didn't like the poems in it. Put me to sleep.

I thought this was an amazing first book of poetry! Carbo covers cultural issues with humor and grace. His detail to Filipino and American pop culture is astounding as his Spanglish phrases and tagalog references. I strongly recommend this book.

Very few poets have the voice of confidence and authority Nick Carbo displays in his first book. He uses images of his native homeland that are both beautiful and disturbing, and yet he tempers every poem with a wry sense of humor that makes every insight sharper. We can't look away.