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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
It's 100% better when you don't read this as a school requirement. Trust!
I believe every country needs a books a good and as a powerful as Noli
Finished this just in time for the 29th Anniversary of the EDSA Revolution, and I could say that reading the book for the third time (the first time in English) made me realize that a lot of our ideas regarding freedom, religion, and the state needs to be articulated and, in a way, purified.
challenging
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
I def need to read Cliffs Notes for this one cause I found it hard to follow and understand all of the references and symbolism, but it’s a beautifully written book nonetheless. Reading a part of Filipino history was poignant and the weight of this book was not lost on me.
The story was interesting enough, although it felt a bit disjointed at times and didn't flow super well. One gripe I have is that the characters didn't seem too well developed. The introduction of the book was good and gave some context to the story. Overall a decent book—good enough that I read the whole thing, but not quite compelling enough to really draw me in.
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
BOOK REVIEW
"Noli Me Tangere" or "The Social Cancer" by Jose Rizal
"Noli Me Tangere" is a novel by the Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal, first written in many various parts of Europe such as Leipzig, Berlin, Paris, Ghent etc. and published in its finality in Berlin in the year 1887. This novel is a landmark in both Philippine history and Philippine Literature because it gave a voice to bewildered Filipinos suffering. This novel was censored by the Spanish colonial government, and a reason for Rizal's execution was for "betraying" the Colonial government.
For this novel's plot, it follows the tale of a Filipino mestizo Juan Crisostomo Magsalin Ibarra (Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin, for the archaic Filipino name structure) as he is at massive odds with the religious friars of the barrio of San Diego while he tries to liberalize the Barrio by establishing a school for boys, writing letters to those in authority. A more romantic subplot of this novel is Ibarra's romance with his childhood sweetheart Maria Clara delos Santos, and his rather intimate friendship with Elias, a mysterious odd turned even as an ally to Crisostomo while escaping the brutal Spanish authorities.
The main reason for this novel's titling in English "The Social Cancer" that is because apart from actually following the story of Crisostomo Ibarra, we follow the stories of many bereaved Filipinos in this novel, eerily mirroring real-life stories.
MY THOUGHTS:
This is by far the most important Filipino novel and my top 10 novels of all time, as well as my top 10 novels for 2021. Man, reading this story in English and I forgot which translation I actually read, Wattpad did have the complete text of the Noli, well, I probably read the Derbyshire translation.
This story is tragic on so many levels, Basilio and Crispin not being able to reconcile because of brutal Spanish Authorities around. Also, Sisa, oh Sisa! I really felt bad for her, she and her family deserved so much better.
Crisostomo Ibarra is a great protagonist, in my opinion. He did get things done, trying to enlighten those around him, and his relations with Maria Clara, Elias, and finally Pilosopo Tasyo or in English, Old Sage Tasyo.
Man these characters really had to go through a lot of Torment to example a point. Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you Philippine Society, where those who are knowledgeable of the social condition and those who have solutions are shamed and those who reek of stupidity and entertainment thrive.
Man, when you realize the Sabong (Fighting of Roosters in a match, a form of Gamble) was given more attention than what is happening in the Philippines is so disheartening, man.
I won't forget this novel, I had to read this novel again a year after pleasurably reading this novel, this time for school. Man, the crocodile scene and Ibarra saving Elias, Maria Clara and Crisostomo in the balcony and finally, the big damned revelation that the Crooked priest Damaso is the real biological father of Maria Clara is so much of painful plot, I admire Rizal for writing a timely novel for a nation that doesn't, unfortunately, read.
"Noli Me Tangere" or "The Social Cancer" by Jose Rizal
"Noli Me Tangere" is a novel by the Philippine National Hero Jose Rizal, first written in many various parts of Europe such as Leipzig, Berlin, Paris, Ghent etc. and published in its finality in Berlin in the year 1887. This novel is a landmark in both Philippine history and Philippine Literature because it gave a voice to bewildered Filipinos suffering. This novel was censored by the Spanish colonial government, and a reason for Rizal's execution was for "betraying" the Colonial government.
For this novel's plot, it follows the tale of a Filipino mestizo Juan Crisostomo Magsalin Ibarra (Juan Crisostomo Ibarra y Magsalin, for the archaic Filipino name structure) as he is at massive odds with the religious friars of the barrio of San Diego while he tries to liberalize the Barrio by establishing a school for boys, writing letters to those in authority. A more romantic subplot of this novel is Ibarra's romance with his childhood sweetheart Maria Clara delos Santos, and his rather intimate friendship with Elias, a mysterious odd turned even as an ally to Crisostomo while escaping the brutal Spanish authorities.
The main reason for this novel's titling in English "The Social Cancer" that is because apart from actually following the story of Crisostomo Ibarra, we follow the stories of many bereaved Filipinos in this novel, eerily mirroring real-life stories.
MY THOUGHTS:
This is by far the most important Filipino novel and my top 10 novels of all time, as well as my top 10 novels for 2021. Man, reading this story in English and I forgot which translation I actually read, Wattpad did have the complete text of the Noli, well, I probably read the Derbyshire translation.
This story is tragic on so many levels, Basilio and Crispin not being able to reconcile because of brutal Spanish Authorities around. Also, Sisa, oh Sisa! I really felt bad for her, she and her family deserved so much better.
Crisostomo Ibarra is a great protagonist, in my opinion. He did get things done, trying to enlighten those around him, and his relations with Maria Clara, Elias, and finally Pilosopo Tasyo or in English, Old Sage Tasyo.
Man these characters really had to go through a lot of Torment to example a point. Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you Philippine Society, where those who are knowledgeable of the social condition and those who have solutions are shamed and those who reek of stupidity and entertainment thrive.
Man, when you realize the Sabong (Fighting of Roosters in a match, a form of Gamble) was given more attention than what is happening in the Philippines is so disheartening, man.
I won't forget this novel, I had to read this novel again a year after pleasurably reading this novel, this time for school. Man, the crocodile scene and Ibarra saving Elias, Maria Clara and Crisostomo in the balcony and finally, the big damned revelation that the Crooked priest Damaso is the real biological father of Maria Clara is so much of painful plot, I admire Rizal for writing a timely novel for a nation that doesn't, unfortunately, read.
One day I'll re-read this. I was in a very different place when I had to read this, and it will probably read differently now.