With Para kay B, the aim was to reintroduce Filipino literature in general and Ricky Lee in particular to a younger generation--without appearing too "juvenile."
Para kay B is Lee's first novel. He is more renowned for his screenwriting, with works ranging from landmark films like Himala, Moral, Lucia and Curacha, camp classics The Secrets of Pura and Nights of Serafina, to more popular movies like Forever, So Happy Together, and among my personal faves, Labs Kita, Okay Ka Lang?. However, he is also a very accomplished writer offscreen, with a strong background in fiction and journalistic reportage. His novel, fast-paced and written in highly engaging vernacular prose, signalled a long-overdue return to his passion for literature.
The challenge was to make a cover that would feel contemporary and be visually interesting to a broad audience, while maintaining Lee's committed sensibilities. As a "pop" novel, another challenge was to be able to use kitschy elements--like handwriting, love themes, pink and flowers--without being cheesy overall.
Para kay B is Lee's first novel. He is more renowned for his screenwriting, with works ranging from landmark films like Himala, Moral, Lucia and Curacha, camp classics The Secrets of Pura and Nights of Serafina, to more popular movies like Forever, So Happy Together, and among my personal faves, Labs Kita, Okay Ka Lang?. However, he is also a very accomplished writer offscreen, with a strong background in fiction and journalistic reportage. His novel, fast-paced and written in highly engaging vernacular prose, signalled a long-overdue return to his passion for literature.
The challenge was to make a cover that would feel contemporary and be visually interesting to a broad audience, while maintaining Lee's committed sensibilities. As a "pop" novel, another challenge was to be able to use kitschy elements--like handwriting, love themes, pink and flowers--without being cheesy overall.
(from Karl Castro's description of the project)
"Pantay-pantay ang ibinibigay na karapatan sa lahat ng tao upang lumigaya, o masaktan, o magpakagago, pero kapag sumara na ang mga pinto, nawasak na ang mga puso, nawala na ang mga kaluluwa at ang bilang ay umabot na sa zero, goodbye na. Pero, the memory of that one great but broken love will still sustain you, tama nga na mas matindi ang mga alaala.” — Para Kay B
