markmywurd's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It's complicated to review. It's a really important text which contextualizes a period of history and is oftentimes very profound. It's also written in the classical style and is very obtuse and difficult to follow at times.
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I read this classic from the Phillippines in a slow but steady fashion over the course of three weeks as part of a group readalong organised by @ktlee.writes and @booknerdkat. They did a great job and I’m grateful for their efforts. It’s not a book I’d have picked up - or even known existed - had it not been for the readalong.
Noli Me Tangere is set during the Spanish colonial period and looks at issues such as race, class, gender, religion and governmental power, all within the context of nineteenth century colonialism. There was a large cast of characters to become familiar with and the novel was a bit of a slow burn at first, but the ending was action-packed. The power historically utilised - and abused - by the Catholic Church never ceases to surprise me and it’s depiction in this book was no exception. So much arrogance and malevolence by the priests. The book did an excellent job highlighting the economic, social and political issues in the Phillippines during the colonial period and showed how difficult it was to institute change due to opposition from entrenched interests. I love learning about different parts of the world through fiction and this classic certainly delivered.
Noli Me Tangere is set during the Spanish colonial period and looks at issues such as race, class, gender, religion and governmental power, all within the context of nineteenth century colonialism. There was a large cast of characters to become familiar with and the novel was a bit of a slow burn at first, but the ending was action-packed. The power historically utilised - and abused - by the Catholic Church never ceases to surprise me and it’s depiction in this book was no exception. So much arrogance and malevolence by the priests. The book did an excellent job highlighting the economic, social and political issues in the Phillippines during the colonial period and showed how difficult it was to institute change due to opposition from entrenched interests. I love learning about different parts of the world through fiction and this classic certainly delivered.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, and Torture
indukisreading's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kl_lovesbooks's review against another edition
5.0
REVIEW WILL COME SOON. BUT YES I AM FINISHED FINALLY
qwteb's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't actually read the whole unabridged edition but only the concise edition for high school students of our Filipino subject. It's actually interesting, I may return reading it again.
sittingwishingreading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
misspalah's review against another edition
3.0
“Because you can be happy elsewhere, because you are not made for suffering, because you would hate your country if some day you were to find yourself outcast for her sake, and to hate one's own country is the greatest of misfortunes.”
― José Rizal, Noli Me Tángere (Touch Me Not)
.
.
I don’t think i will be able to review this book because honestly i struggled to finish the book. I didn’t know whether it’s the translation, abundance of characters or the over detailings in plot, i just can’t seem to place the major issue of the book. However, i learned a lot from the book despite these issues. That itself is already a reward of persevering the book and not DNF it. Aside from knowing that this literary work depicted Spanish colonisation in the Philippines, i got to know about the term ‘Indio’ which meant ‘foolish, not smart or poor’. Back then, The Spaniards used this degrading term to refer to Filipinos. The novel has a lot of symbolism and considering that this is a translated literature, one MIGHT miss it especially if you are not filipino or natives to the language which is Tagalog BUT if your country suffered the same fate like The Philippines - being colonised and were forced to bow to this foreign invader, you can easily comprehend on what Jose Rizal trying to accomplish in his writing. He saw that revolution is the only way to overthrow the Spaniards. I may have trouble keeping up with characters in the book but i believe each character either Ibarra, Sisa and even Elias play a significant role in fighting for the country’s freedom. I have a hard time believing the love between Ibarra and Maria Clara and it pains me to say that i dislike female characters in the book as they can either be way too emotional or over-religious or a little bit of both. I think majority of the readers are aware that major themes of this novel is corruption, abuse of power, patriotism and self sacrifice. Written from the perspectives of the colonised, i can’t help but to feel frustrated, angry and insulted on the audacity of those Friars and Spaniards. Overall, this might be the shortest review i wrote as i believe this book required re-read and perhaps, an in-depth discussion and analysis with any readers from the Philippines who have read the book. Perhaps, their POVs might connect the dots on what i felt is missing from the book. Undeniably, this is an important work especially for post colonial literature. I don’t have to recommend it. You know that you have to read it given the subject matter.
― José Rizal, Noli Me Tángere (Touch Me Not)
.
.
I don’t think i will be able to review this book because honestly i struggled to finish the book. I didn’t know whether it’s the translation, abundance of characters or the over detailings in plot, i just can’t seem to place the major issue of the book. However, i learned a lot from the book despite these issues. That itself is already a reward of persevering the book and not DNF it. Aside from knowing that this literary work depicted Spanish colonisation in the Philippines, i got to know about the term ‘Indio’ which meant ‘foolish, not smart or poor’. Back then, The Spaniards used this degrading term to refer to Filipinos. The novel has a lot of symbolism and considering that this is a translated literature, one MIGHT miss it especially if you are not filipino or natives to the language which is Tagalog BUT if your country suffered the same fate like The Philippines - being colonised and were forced to bow to this foreign invader, you can easily comprehend on what Jose Rizal trying to accomplish in his writing. He saw that revolution is the only way to overthrow the Spaniards. I may have trouble keeping up with characters in the book but i believe each character either Ibarra, Sisa and even Elias play a significant role in fighting for the country’s freedom. I have a hard time believing the love between Ibarra and Maria Clara and it pains me to say that i dislike female characters in the book as they can either be way too emotional or over-religious or a little bit of both. I think majority of the readers are aware that major themes of this novel is corruption, abuse of power, patriotism and self sacrifice. Written from the perspectives of the colonised, i can’t help but to feel frustrated, angry and insulted on the audacity of those Friars and Spaniards. Overall, this might be the shortest review i wrote as i believe this book required re-read and perhaps, an in-depth discussion and analysis with any readers from the Philippines who have read the book. Perhaps, their POVs might connect the dots on what i felt is missing from the book. Undeniably, this is an important work especially for post colonial literature. I don’t have to recommend it. You know that you have to read it given the subject matter.
qqjj's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I wanted to read this due to the historical and cultural importance, and for that I'm glad I persevered. However, so many characters and winding plot lines were challenging to follow. I'd just get everyone sorted out and then Rizal would leave that thread and introduce a whole other group to follow. The points made by the author about the Catholic church's abuse of power and Spanish colonialism were important, but overly drawn-out. I got it, but he just kept on and on and on and that was tedious.