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bookbelle5_17's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Review of Noli Me Tangere (Touch me Not)
By: Soledad Lacson-Locsin
Crisostomo Ibarra returns to the Philippines after he hears his father has died in prison. He’s ready to learn about his Mother Land after being away for so long and wants to marry his childhood sweetheart Maria Clara. Things get complicated when the Indigenous people of the Philippines want Ibarra’s help to fight against the Spanish Government, who are currently running the Philippine Islands.
Reading Noli Me Tangere was my first step to immersing myself in my Filipino culture and I had a good time with it, though it is a tragic story. Rizal explores what happened when the Spaniards took charge of the Philippines and how there was a group of oppressed natives of the Philippines who weren’t fairly treated by the government. For the Philippines their Catholic religion is important and rules them. We have three Padres who run things, Padre Damaso, Padre Siblya, and Padre Sibya and each is corrupt and tyrannical in different ways. Damaso rules with an iron fist but hides behind God. Crisostomo Ibarra’s journey is relatable in the sense that he wants to understand where he comes from and naively believes that his government is what is good for the people. The Elias points out his privilege and how fortunate he is when Crisostomo argues for the government. He doesn’t have the same experiences Elias has had. I admire Maria Clara’s loyalty to Ibarra and her decision to join the convent while he was in Europe. The extra subplots show the problems between the Filipino people and the Spaniards. Rizal addresses the reader sporadically explaining things to them such as the chapter explaining a holiday known as the Fiesta, which happens in November. He also wrote the novel in present tense, which is a tense that is normally awkward for me to read but worked for me in this case. This addressing to the audience and present tense immersed me in the world and brings the reader into this time in history.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Racism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Classism
carolshere's review against another edition
challenging
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? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Torture
Minor: Rape