Spot Shelf: Arguelles’ Asinkrono Breaks the "Rules" of What a Novel Should Be

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(SPOT.ph) Ishmael Reed, the author of the satirical and experimental novel Yellow Back Radio Broke-Down, once articulated, "No one says a novel has to be one thing. It can be anything it wants to be, a vaudeville show, the six o’clock news, the mumblings of wild men saddled by demons." This signifies that a novel isn't constrained to a singular identity; it possesses the liberty to adopt any form it wishes. This very assertion and sentiment resonate in Mesándel Virtusio Arguelles’ Asinkrono: Isang Nobela.

Arguelles is a renowned poet in the Filipino language, having published a prolific portfolio of 19 poetry books, some of which have been translated into English. In 2020, he released the poetry collection Atra: Mga Tula 1999–2019.

Asinkrono marks his debut novel. The book received acclaim as a finalist in the 40th National Book Award's Filipino novel category.

Spanning 10 chapters, each section adopts diverse forms such as screenplays, memoirs, dialogues, prose poems, short stories, inspired compositions, blog entries, story outlines, and more.

"Asynchronistic" as a Novel Form

Traditionally, readers perceive a novel as an extensive prose narrative that introduces fictional characters and events in a structured, often sequential fashion. The emphasis lies heavily on character growth, intricate plotlines, and thematic investigation, typically spanning beyond the length of a novella. This is marked by the comprehensive exploration of the human experience and the innovative incorporation of language and narrative methods.

The asynchronistic style of Asinkrono unfolds in diverse forms, with each section succeeding the other, resembling distinct segments of a journey that guide readers to a theme, specific situations, or a gradually receding impression.

Asinkrono weaves together a series of episodic stories: one features a narrator enamored with both art and snakes who stumbles upon news of a snake with feet found in Isabela, intertwined with the recollections of a former girlfriend, Alex, hailing from the same place ("Apokalipsis"); another recounts how a snake was discovered when a teacher confined a naughty boy in a room for an entire day ("May Tumawag sa Pangalan Ko"); and yet another delves into the narrator's father, who supported their family through jueteng, his struggles while growing up, and the societal stigma attached to involvement in illegal gambling ("Juetenggate: Barya").

The narrator-poet reflects on his life, encompassing memories that have accumulated over time, some of which they eventually manage to forget ("Cause Impota"); an alternate Noel transforms into a gambling financier in "Juetengate: Habol-hinga"; and a series of love stories unfurl among characters who navigate their paths in Japan—one involves a Filipina marrying a Japanese man ("Some Other Time"), while another follows a Filipina returning to the Philippines from Japan to meet her common-law partner's family ("Cherry Blossoms: Outline of a Short Story").

Derived from a blog account yet penned in the format of a screenplay, "Diyalogo" centers around two individuals in a hospital room, namely Rene and Reny. While Rene composes blog entries on a laptop, he engages in conversations with his guest, Reny, encompassing subjects of literature and the arts. The dialogues exchanged between these two characters serve as a conduit for insights into the interplay between human existence and the sway of society upon it, along with the symbiotic nature of this relationship.

Within these eight chapters, a narrator interacts with recurring names, each assuming distinct roles in every story. The narrator and their experiences stand as the sole consistent elements throughout the novel.

Additionally, two works translated by Arguelles are integrated into Asinkrono as chapters. Chapter 6 ("Nananatiling Napupukaw") originates from Samuel Beckett, and Chapter 8 ("Puting Puwang") is credited to Paul Auster. These contributions likely influenced Arguelles' writing, particularly in shaping his novel. This consistency in form mirrors his use of "white space" across the entire narrative. The use of white spaces not only echoes the narratives but also aligns with the narrator's persona.

Why You Should Read Asinkrono: Isang Nobela

Arguelles isn't the first author to tread the experimental path, diverging from the conventional expectations of a novel's form and content. In terms of form, it can take on any shape it desires, as long as it weaves into a singular event. In Asinkrono, the author's experiences are interwoven naturally into the main characters.

Conformists might not find Arguelles' offering appealing, as it boldly strays from the conventional novel's archetype. However, for those who are explorative and open to unconventional thinking, Asinkrono is an explosive masterpiece waiting to be explored. It will stretch readers' creativity and their capacity to interlace and connect each strand of character and narrative they bring to the table.

And because Asinkrono doesn't adhere to a traditional writing style, readers are also granted the freedom to approach it unconventionally. With its flexible structure, the novel unveils numerous possibilities not just in terms of how a novel should be crafted, but also in the fluidity of its storytelling.

Asinkrono: Isang Nobela (De La Salle University Publishing House, 2021) by Mesándel Virtusio Arguelles is available through a Google Form,  Solidaridad Bookshop in Manila, and DLSU Publishing House for P480.

Rita T. dela Cruz is a science writer and editor at a government research institute. She finished BS Development Communication from UPLB and MA Filipino (Malikhaing Pagsulat) from UP Diliman. Her first book, Solo Flight: Mga Kuwento (Balangay Books,  2021) is available on Lazada for P556.

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