Noli Me Tangere (Large Print Edition): Huag Acong Salang?in Nino Man

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Noli Me Tangere (Large Print Edition): Huag Acong Salang?in Nino Man

4.11 of 5 stars 4.11 · rating details · 2,503 ratings · 163 reviews

This is a pre-1923 historical reproduction that was curated for quality. Quality assurance was conducted on each of these books in an attempt to remove books with imperfections introduced by the digitization process. Though we have made best efforts - the books may have occasional errors that do not impede the reading experience. We believe this work is culturally importan...more

Paperback, 650 pages

Published October 11th 2007 by BiblioBazaar (first published 1887)

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Aug 02, 2012 K.D. Oliveros rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to K.D. by: TFG 100

Shelves: tfg-100, tagalog, local, asian, about-philippines, book-club, borrowed, drama, favorites, historical-fiction, pinoy, saddest, tragicomic

This book is the most important literary work in the Philippines. One hundred twenty-six (126) after it was written, its message is still relevant to us Filipinos. I have also read a lot of other books written by local authors and, for me, the quality of Rizal’s writing is still unsurpassed.

"Noli Me Tangere" (Touch Me Not) is a novel of the National Hero of the Philippines, Dr. Jose Rizal. The Latin title came from the Holy Bible, John 20:17 “Touch me not, for I have not yet ascended to my fathe...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Louize rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: tfg-f2f

Dr. Jose Rizal wrote two novels in an attempt to stir the Filipino’s thoughts and emotions; and with great hope that freedom may be obtained in a peaceful way – without the violence that had claimed many heroic lives. Noli Me Tangere is the first, followed by El Filibusterismo.

We’ve read this, a long time ago, back in High School. Compulsory reading does not usually reap good harvest; but once the seed was planted, it stays within. We had a very passionate teacher, and she loved Dr. Rizal. She s...more

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Sep 03, 2012 Angus rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: book-of-the-month, philippine-lit, reviewed-and-blogged, the-classics-club

Original post at Book Rhapsody.

***

1896 Revisited

Back in junior high school, I borrowed my cousin’s red textbook with Jose Rizal’s portrait on the front cover for my Filipino class. It is not his biography, but yes, there are biographical notes that are part of the book’s introduction. We are to read this book, Noli Me Tangere, for the remaining months of that school year. Prior to that, we tackled various literary works in Filipino. These are classic plays and short stories, such as Ang Kuwento...more

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Jan 08, 2011 Gianne Kris rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

after reading this book, the events one will remember will be the little events that took place. the events that reflects the events, condition, and treatments received by the Filipinos during the prior to/and during his time.

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Oct 26, 2012 Dante rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, imaginative-lit, novel, filipiniana

I enjoyed this novel a lot. It's a real page turner.

And this is surprising for me. We were required to read this in high school (I think it's still required reading in all Philippine schools, public and private, but I may be wrong). Jose Rizal is one of our national heroes, and perhaps the greatest. But back then I thought it was dry and boring. During Filipino class, my mind wandered elsewhere. As a result, I failed to appreciate it.

What is the story about? (Spoilers ahead!)

Basically, Noli Me T...more

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Apr 27, 2008 Thierry Lao rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Noli Me Tangere..."Touch me not"...Oh yeah, there's a lot of meaning into that. One of the best ways to know the true meaning behind this peculiar and odd title is to read the whole enervating book. But another way is to read the appendix at the back. Probably when you get the book, the first thing you do to keep you going on is to read the appendix first. I don't know with other versions but my version's got an appendix at the back, which includes Chapter "X". Going into the book, certainly, th...more

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Aug 28, 2011 Mia Claire rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: filipiniana, favorites, classics

At last! After so many days, I’ve finally finished “The Social Cancer” (English Translation of Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere by Charles Derbyshire). This book made me proud that I’m a Filipino. However I guess the fact that I read it in English isn’t very nationalistic… But it’s not that I’m going to leave out the Tagalog Version. Of course, I’m going to read it since I’m already in my third year high school and at this point students study Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere. I’m just saving the Tagalog Version...more

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May 09, 2012 Angélica rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Angélica by: Required reading for HS Filipino, PI 100 class

Shelves: classics, favorites, historical, realism, filipiniana, reviewed

Recently read this for my PI 100 class. The classic Tagalog makes for a challenging read because of the vocabulary (my Filipino vocab is sadly lacking), but I promised to myself to read at least Noli, Fili, and Sucesos. The essential Rizal, as my PI 100 prof puts it. I now understand (or at least I have a teensy bit clearer idea) why Claro M. Recto wanted to pass the Rizal Law. I would've wanted students to read about his ideas too, especially with the way the Philippines is going...
The anticler...more

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May 17, 2013 Jovy Yaplito rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is one of the most (or the MOST, if i may say so) significant book in the Philippines, not just due to the fact that it was written by our national hero Jose Rizal when he was in Germany. It was originally written in Spanish, then was translated to different languages including Tagalog. The publication of this book is the precursor of our country's revolution for independence from the 377 years of Spanish rule. This is one of the greatest example of "the pen is mightier than the sword" mant...more

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Mar 24, 2013 Nick D rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Noli Me Tangere" is one of those rare books that can truly be called revolutionary in any sense other than style. Jose Rizal's critique of Philippine society under the Spanish crown and Catholicism is blistering. This is one free thinker who wrote what he thought. And paid for it--no doubt this novel was accounted part of the political career that got him shot. It reads very much like a twentieth century novel struggling to escape from a nineteenth century one. All the much-used devices of the...more

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Feb 27, 2013 Jr Bacdayan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Noli Me Tangere, Rizal's first and most famous novel is a book that exposes the inequities of the Spanish Catholic priests and the ruling government. He successfully captures the essence of our country's culture and practices during the time. Rizal also depicted nationality, he did this by emphasizing the qualities of Filipinos: the devotion of a Filipina and her influence on a man's life, the deep sense of gratitude, and the solid common sense of the Filipinos under the Spanish regime. The work...more

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Oct 30, 2012 Lex rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary, filipino-books

This book was made by our National Hero, Jose Rizal back when he was in Germany. It was made when the Spaniards are currently wrecking havoc in our land, Philippines. Rizal chose to do his own battle by writing a novel instead of arms.

Noli Me Tangere revolves around in Crisostomo Ibarra. He was a good man. He came back to Philippines after studying in Europe. Long story, so I'll just shorten it. His father was accused and then went to jail. It's just because of Padre Damaso. >:( But Ibarra di...more

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Sep 15, 2012 Despair Speaking rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction-without-magic

For those who aren't Filipinos or aren't familiar with Filipino culture, I'll give you a little summary about the story of Noli Me Tangere and why it was of great significance to the Filipino people.

The Philippines had been under Spain for 300 years. And during those times, it's obvious that the vast majority of the Filipino people hadn't been treated kindly. It's not because the Spaniards were just plain cruel and evil, it's just the way it is. Colonizers are usually not kind to those who had o...more For those who aren't Filipinos or aren't familiar with Filipino culture, I'll give you a little summary about the story of Noli Me Tangere and why it was of great significance to the Filipino people.

The Philippines had been under Spain for 300 years. And during those times, it's obvious that the vast majority of the Filipino people hadn't been treated kindly. It's not because the Spaniards were just plain cruel and evil, it's just the way it is. Colonizers are usually not kind to those who had originally lived in the land. They usually see them as lower, inferior. I've long accepted that and understand why. ANYWAY, Rizal had been born in the Spanish regime and wrote this book that portrays the life of Filipinos then. Now you can probably see why we see Noli Me Tangere as a historical writing because, in a sense, it is. With that cleared up, let's head to the story.

The story opens with the arrival of Crisostomo Ibarra who had studied for a few years overseas and had just returned. A family friend by the name of Captain Tiago hosted a party for him. There, he is insulted by Father Damaso merely because he was annoyed of his food, but Ibarra ignored the belittling comments. He merely excused himself to do an important task. The next day, he visits his love, Maria Clara. They talk and tease each other a bit. The happy-happy feeling he had due to that meeting was ruined though by his discovery of his father's death AND the manner of how it happened. Ibarra was furious when he found out but he was not a vengeful person by nature. He decided to build a school instead, which was what his father had planned in doing before his death. Things start to really pick up when Ibarra meets Elias whom he saved from an alligator (or was it a crocodile - I cannot remember anymore). It's their relationship that sets the standard for Noli Me Tangere. Oh, and just for you to know, it's not THAT kind of relationship. They are both very straight, thank you very much. Elias is a rebel and he's trying to make Ibarra see that they should fight and Ibarra is against it. Okay? Good, I just want to make that clear. Let's not have any misunderstandings. In any case, Ibarra is accused of being the leader of the rebels even though it's actually Elias who is leading the resistance.

I had read this during high school (it was required for Filipino class; in fact I just finished having a minor class in college about Rizal) and was rather surprised that I actually enjoyed it. Although I find Tagalog kind of hard to understand, I managed and could see that Jose Rizal was truly a talented author. His characters were really realistic and well-developed, especially Elias and Ibarra. Scholars of Rizal say that they are pictures of the contrasting ideas for a better future for the Philippines at the time: Elias is for the rebels who want the Philippines to be free from Spain's rule while Ibarra is for the intellectuals who believe Philippines should aim to become a part of Spain and be therefore Spain's equal and friend.(less)

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Aug 31, 2012 Artchil rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Filipino Intellectuals

Shelves: filipino-novels

For a book supposedly considered as the spark of the Philippine Revolution of 1896, it was too intellectual for the people who actually launched that revolution. Its leader, Emilio Aguinaldo even confessed of having not read this book. Well, the fact that it was considered as such should mean most of its readers did not found the time to understand it a bit more.

It was clearly a critique of not just the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines or the Spanish government in the archipelago, but al...more For a book supposedly considered as the spark of the Philippine Revolution of 1896, it was too intellectual for the people who actually launched that revolution. Its leader, Emilio Aguinaldo even confessed of having not read this book. Well, the fact that it was considered as such should mean most of its readers did not found the time to understand it a bit more.

It was clearly a critique of not just the Roman Catholic Church in the Philippines or the Spanish government in the archipelago, but also a critique of native identity: Captain Tiago, Doña Victorina, Maria Clara, etc. have weaknesses that Rizal wanted his countrymen to cure. Minus one star for failing to emphasize this theme as it was hidden in too much attack against Spanish impositions. I surmise, that Rizal find it necessary for these weaknesses be addressed before any kind of revolutionary movement can exist.

Interesting how the story revolves around brick by brick of Philippine Creole experience, and the town of San Diego and its relationship with the Ibarra family are akin to actual history especially in late 18th and early 19th century Philippines when the Philippine Creole/Spanish Mestizo rose to stamp the label "Filipino" to anyone born in the archipelago. The plot involving Ibarra mirrors the fate of Father Jose Burgos, the Creole secular priest whose death ignited a violent reaction that ended with the Philippine version of the Reign of Terror.

The novel was too intellectual for the common bloke, and its stand against violent revolution was covered in revolutionary rhetoric. The second half of the novel created a shroud that was to be called "El Filibusterismo" in Rizal's second novel. Elias is an interesting character. He appeared to have no face in the novel, seemingly he is nowhere and everywhere. In the end he sacrificed childish emotion rather than reformist hopes. Rizal was hoping that the transformation towards a revolutionary spirit be delayed by a realization that violence can never cure another form of violence. Nobody understood the message it seemed.

4 out of 5 for the failure to convey the message and the resulting revolution it supposedly catalyzed.

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Jan 24, 2011 RE de Leon is currently reading it · review of another edition Recommends it for: Filipinos who want to appreciate Rizal in a translation that captures his satiric humor

Recommended to RE by: Ilia Uy, Tina Matanguihan

Shelves: filipiniana, filipino, history-asia, novels, history-philippines, translations, colonial-experience, hispanic-era-philippines, rizaliana

The Bookmark/Locsin Translation of Noli Me Tangere (aka "The Social Cancer") is my 200th BookReads book! :D

I've sorta been adding random picks from my shelves all this time (and logging in all the new acquisitions), but I've made a tradition of marking the hundred-multiple marks by picking special books. And for 200, it's good ol' Pepe.

I've been thinking for a while that I ought to do a four-way translation review of Noli, since enjoying it is infamously translator-dependent. The four key trans...more The Bookmark/Locsin Translation of Noli Me Tangere (aka "The Social Cancer") is my 200th BookReads book! :D

I've sorta been adding random picks from my shelves all this time (and logging in all the new acquisitions), but I've made a tradition of marking the hundred-multiple marks by picking special books. And for 200, it's good ol' Pepe.

I've been thinking for a while that I ought to do a four-way translation review of Noli, since enjoying it is infamously translator-dependent. The four key translations being: Derbyshire, Guererro, Locsin/Bookmark, and the new Penguin/International edition. I now have copies of the three newer translations, and I'm hoping F.Sionil Jose's La Solidaridad Bookstore will still have copies of the Derbyshire translations.

A note on these translations: if you are NOT a Filipino, then I highly recommend you read the Penguin edition instead of any other. That translation was specifically 'written' with a modern international audience in mind, and will be the most helpful if you're not familiar with the specifics of the place and era that serve as a setting for the book; a familiarity of that setting is something Filipinos will often take for granted, so they may recommend the Locsin or Guerrero translations to you. Do yourself a favor: go for Penguin.

For Filipino readers, however, the Locsin translations are said to be an exceptional translation, notable for being able to capture the humour of the novel. Until now, I've had a greater appreciation of Rizal's sequel, El Filibusterismo. Noli seeming too melodramatic. I'm hopeful Locsin will give me a new appreciation of the novel Rizal considered far superior between the two.

I should add one more thing before closing this pre-reading note: I am thankful to Goodreads for the fact that I recognized this edition as the Locsin edition at all! I'd kept hearing that the Locsin translations were pretty good, and went around bookstores asking for them. (They are now rare.) Because of Goodreads Philippines meetings, I finally realized that the Locsin editions of Noli were the ones I thought of as the "Bookmark" editions. I had noticed the publisher, but not the translator. As it turned out, they were available in a second hand book shelf I knew about in La Union. I promptly marched over and picked up my copy of the "Locsin/Bookmark" Noli and Fili.

And now I'm about to start reading Rizal. See you when I get to the the back cover. :D

RE de Leon
Beginning Noli Me Tangere by Jose P. Rizal (trans. Soledad Lacson-Locsin)
Agoo, La Union
23.43 PM January 24, 2011(less)

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Nov 16, 2012 Izia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Jose Rizal will not be the Jose Rizal we know today if it wasn't of this book: Noli Me Tangere or Touch me not in English.

Everyone in the Philippines knows about this book as it is a required reading on our 3rd year in High School. So even those who will rather eat their brains than read books, know Maria Clara, Crisostomo Ibarra and the ever popular, Padre Damaso.

To say that this book is a phenomenom is an understatement. This book alone fueled the desire of the Filipinos for Freedom during the...more Jose Rizal will not be the Jose Rizal we know today if it wasn't of this book: Noli Me Tangere or Touch me not in English.

Everyone in the Philippines knows about this book as it is a required reading on our 3rd year in High School. So even those who will rather eat their brains than read books, know Maria Clara, Crisostomo Ibarra and the ever popular, Padre Damaso.

To say that this book is a phenomenom is an understatement. This book alone fueled the desire of the Filipinos for Freedom during the Spanish occupation. If you haven't read this book, you may wonder how a single book ignited a national revolution? How can Filipinos at that time, risked their lives just to read this contraband? What's so special about this book?

Let me tell you why...
This book is a lovestory. Jose Rizal was a genius to write a story about love. Because really, who can resist a love story? He could've written something more direct, like a story about brothers, or friends.. But he wrote a love story. Why? Because admit it! No one can resist a lovestory. Nothing can fuel desire more than love. And nothing can cause anger more than tragedy.
Create two characters who can't be together because of how unfair society is, because of the cruelty of those in power, add up a list of supporting characters with problems of their own plus a list of unfortunate events... Voila! You have a masterpiece.

What's so amazing about this book are the symbolisms. It is not a book that shouts: "Hey you, Filipinos! Spaniards are bad people! Go ahead and rebel against them!". Nope. This book doesn't shouts.. This book creeps inside you, it whispers at the corners of your heart until it aches. The messages are subtle but has a great impact. The story is hearbreaking but engaging. The characters are flawed but real. Very real.

This book is so special to me as it is one of the Filipino Books I can consider a masterpiece and a book worth to be read not just by Filipinos but other nationalities as well. I just want to say how proud I am that this book was written by a Filipino.

5 star because I'm feeling patriotic.(less)

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Jul 19, 2012 Margaret rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: for-school, awesome-author, reviewed, proudly-pinoy, intense-plots, part-of-a-series

I read this back in high school. It was required for all 3rd year students to finish the part 1 masterpiece of Jose Rizal, our Philippine National Hero.

I am very proud to be pinoy because of this book. This (and El Filibusterismo) is the only tagalog/Philippine book that I've read that have inspired millions of Filipinos and have raised awareness on Philippine History.

It's a story based on true events and I think that makes it a more awesome book. A lot of events in the book really happened in...more

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Feb 22, 2012 Harry Rutherford rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: around-the-world, south-east-asia, pacific

Noli Me Tangere is described on the back cover as ‘The novel that sparked the Philippine revolution’. Which sounds a bit hyperbolic, but apparently the publication of the novel in 1887 was an important moment; even more so, Rizal’s subsequent execution for rebellion, sedition and conspiracy.

So it’s a political novel, an unusually early example of a colonial novel written from the perspective of the colonised. In this case, the main representatives of colonial power are from the church rather tha...more Noli Me Tangere is described on the back cover as ‘The novel that sparked the Philippine revolution’. Which sounds a bit hyperbolic, but apparently the publication of the novel in 1887 was an important moment; even more so, Rizal’s subsequent execution for rebellion, sedition and conspiracy.

So it’s a political novel, an unusually early example of a colonial novel written from the perspective of the colonised. In this case, the main representatives of colonial power are from the church rather than the civil authorities. That’s not unique; religion has often been an important tool of empire and post-colonial novels are full of priests and nuns and, above all, church schools. But the Philippines does seem to have been an extreme case, where the religious institutions were more powerful than the civil authorities.

Which means that the book is peopled with villainous friars — cruel, vindictive, scheming, manipulative, hypocritical, lustful, oleaginous — and it reminded me of those early gothic novels which always seemed to have sinister, black-hearted monks in them. Especially since it’s never shy of a bit of melodrama.

In fact, it’s a rather lumpy mixture of melodrama, satire and long, wordy political discussions, and I can’t say all of it held my attention equally. I liked it most when it was at its most exaggerated — ferociously satirical or floridly gothic — and I found it fell a bit flat when it aimed for genuine sentiment.

A mixed bag for me, then. Bits of it are genuinely brilliant, though. There’s a scene with gravediggers at work in a badly over-crowded cemetery which is wonderfully morbid, for example; and a grotesque portrayal of an ageing Filipina who is so determined to marry a Spaniard and be ‘Spanish’ herself that she marries a useless, feckless man whose only quality is that in the Philippines his nationality gives him an ersatz respectability, then insists on only speaking broken Spanish.

Noli Me Tangere is my book from the Philippines for the Read the World challenge.
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Jan 07, 2013 Mona rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ma. Soledad Lacson-Locsin's translation intent was to preserve as much as possible Jose Rizal's style of writing from the original Spanish to English. She also restored the chapter on Elias and Salome, and the Song of Maria Clara. For these two main reasons I think it's important to read this 1996 edition (Centennial of Rizal's Execution, and of the Philippine Revolution).

I must confess the last time I read an English translation of the Noli Me Tangere, it was over 20 years ago (Guerrero's, as a...more Ma. Soledad Lacson-Locsin's translation intent was to preserve as much as possible Jose Rizal's style of writing from the original Spanish to English. She also restored the chapter on Elias and Salome, and the Song of Maria Clara. For these two main reasons I think it's important to read this 1996 edition (Centennial of Rizal's Execution, and of the Philippine Revolution).

I must confess the last time I read an English translation of the Noli Me Tangere, it was over 20 years ago (Guerrero's, as a university text). There were many things I had forgotten about in the novel that were revealed to me anew in the Locsin translation. There were scenes that struck me as gossipy, some that were emotionally gripping, some that were poetic, some that were passionately idealistic.

The language can be at times simple and direct, at other times meandering, with long, long compound sentences. I suppose this is like reading other classics (whose texts have not been modernized extensively) where the dialogue is necessarily somewhat archaic. It kind of impedes the narrative flow sometimes, but that is the character of Spanish in those times. (I still have to read Charles Derbyshire's 1912 translation, which I hear focuses more on telling the story cohesively in English, rather than hewing closely to Rizal's style.)

The characters are all quite interesting, with the exception of Maria Clara, who functions mostly as a symbol of passivity. For me the most interesting character is not the hero Crisostomo Ibarra, but the helmsman Elias, followed closely by Padre Damaso, and then the social climber Dona Victorina de De Espadana. My favorite chapter is the one where Padre Damaso and Padre Sybila jostle for the seat at the head of Capitan Tiago's table, and Padre Damaso is sulking because he has received the measly chicken neck in his serving of tinola. The most heartbreaking scene for me, would be where the brothers Crispin and Basilio are at the belltower, discussing how they would be able to go home to their mother, when Crispin has been accused of theft at the convent. The novel ends a bit too abruptly for me.

There is a difference when you read the Noli for enjoyment as fiction, as opposed to reading it as a required text as history. I was able to enjoy reading this particular book. I am actually going to read the Charles Derbyshire 1912 translation "The Social Cancer" sometime next (it is available on Project Gutenberg), just to compare. Then when I find my copy of the Guerrero translation I will try reading that again. Right now I'm giving this translation 3 stars, but may alter my rating once I've been able to compare the other translations in the future.

I find it easier to read the Noli Me Tangere in English than to read it in Filipino (as required in high school). This reading brings me closer to an appreciation of Jose Rizal as a Renaissance man and National Hero. If I am challenged enough, then I will try reading the Virgilio Almario 1996 Filipino translation one day.

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Sep 28, 2012 Michael Gerald rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The last time I read the Noli Me Tangere was in high school, for the prosaic reason that it was required. While that in itself was already a learning experience, reading it after more than 10 years gives one fresh thought to reflect on it again. And read slowly I did, forced by circumstance of battling an illness.

More than 100 years since Rizal wrote this novel, the Philippines had been through years of upheaval, years of progress, and the growing pains of a still young independent nation. So mu...more The last time I read the Noli Me Tangere was in high school, for the prosaic reason that it was required. While that in itself was already a learning experience, reading it after more than 10 years gives one fresh thought to reflect on it again. And read slowly I did, forced by circumstance of battling an illness.

More than 100 years since Rizal wrote this novel, the Philippines had been through years of upheaval, years of progress, and the growing pains of a still young independent nation. So much has changed. But so much has also remained. Cases in point:

When people judge a person by his or her material wealth and gossip about them and the person, then people are still acting like the tortoises Rizal used as an analogy;

When pretentious people and social climbers continue to build and hold up facades to be in the "in" crowd;

When people fawn over "celebrities" with a slight hint of mixed Filipino and foreign nationality just because they were "successful" in a foreign show or contest, and then shower them with accolades and commercial endorsements, but ignoring natural-born Filipino talent with equal or even greater skills. No wonder they flock to the Philippines. In their own countries, they are relatively obscure;

When people abuse religion for their own personal agenda and forget that their faith should not just be in words but, more importantly, in their actions;

When people wallow in insecurity and rivalry and instead of pouring their energies and skills to improve society , actually seek to destroy it;

When people engage in vices that destroy their lives, their families, and endanger society.

One might get the impulse to try to get into the pages of the novel and beat the hell out of characters like Damaso, Pedro the inveterate gambler husband of Sisa, Dona Victorina, Dona Consolacion, and the other scum in the story. Dear reader, there is no need. Take a look around. The Damasos, Pedros, Dona Victorinas, and Dona Consolacions are still with us today, albeit in different clothes.(less)

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Sep 25, 2010 Lianne rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I know not a lot of book reviewers tend to review the books from centuries ago. Yes, I know, I love young adult fiction. But believe me, this one is as good as anything out there.
Note, thought, that you have no idea about the Philippine history, then you might not like this as much as I do. But as you continually read on, everything gets interesting. You might as well pick up a few bits of Philippine history in it. The narrations are very descriptive, so I don't see the huge problem about that.

B...more

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Feb 10, 2013 Patrick rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I give this book 4 stars because of interesting philosophical points it raises such as should a colonized society demand reform from its colonizers or should it concentrate on bettering the population first before demanding a whole sale reform, for the rebels is armed struggle ever justified even if it targets civilian population the most in order to galvanize them against the colonizers, do the sins of the father translate to the sins of the sons? For example, should southern white people have...more

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Nov 07, 2012 John Molina rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I just wrote a review but it erased. Overall I found the book a bit perplexing at times, but the overall power of the text persuaded me in the end to give this book a higher score. Damn you goodreads, I had written like half an essay on the book. Anyhow, I do recommend this book.

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Jul 17, 2012 kyle added it · review of another edition

I don't see the translation I read but this will have to do. What an interesting find. Rizal, who apparently ever Filipino has read, appears almost completely unknown outside his native land. I vacillated as I read this from finding it an interesting lesson in history to a fully engaging read. In a sense this is a Victorian novel, complete with all of the sentimentality found in one, but set in the 19th century Philippines. The characterization was as such somewhat broad at times, but the story...more

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Apr 24, 2013 Stephen rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 19th-century, philippines

It is possible that the translation I read--the century old THE SOCIAL CANCER written by Charles Derbyshire and available on Project Gutenberg--may have interfered with my appreciation for this novel, the supposed masterpiece of Filipino literature. Translation back then, except when done by poets or writers who were themselves exceptional artists, tended to be less graceful. Derbyshire's translation is certainly not graceful. Word choice is often unnatural. Characters speak more like symbols fr...more

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Mar 17, 2013 Eddy Allen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arts-and-historical

In more than a century since its appearance, José Rizal's Noli Me Tangere has become widely known as the great novel of the Philippines. A passionate love story set against the ugly political backdrop of repression, torture, and murder, "The Noli," as it is called in the Philippines, was the first major artistic manifestation of Asian resistance to European colonialism, and Rizal became a guiding conscience—and martyr—for the revolution that would subsequently rise up in the Spanish province.

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Aug 30, 2012 Bennard rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

from The Book Hooligan

"I die without seeing the dawn brighten over my native land! You, who have it to see, welcome it — and forget not those who have fallen during the night!" - Elias

I know of two anecdotes regarding Rizal's poem, Mi Ultimo Adios. The first anecdote is about how US Congressman Henry A. Cooper recited Rizal's final poem to the US Congress as a part of his effort to lobby for the self-government of the Philippines. This moved the US Congress to such a degree that they passed a bi...more from The Book Hooligan

"I die without seeing the dawn brighten over my native land! You, who have it to see, welcome it — and forget not those who have fallen during the night!" - Elias

I know of two anecdotes regarding Rizal's poem, Mi Ultimo Adios. The first anecdote is about how US Congressman Henry A. Cooper recited Rizal's final poem to the US Congress as a part of his effort to lobby for the self-government of the Philippines. This moved the US Congress to such a degree that they passed a bill known as the Cooper Act which granted, among many things, the US Bill of Rights to the Philippines; and allowed the Philippines to send two representatives to the US Congress. The second anecdote is about how Rosihan Anwar, an Indonesian journalist, translated the poem into Indonesian and subsequently read it over radio for all Indonesians to hear. Then, during the Indonesian National Revolution, Indonesian soldiers recited the poem before going into battle to serve as their inspiration. Some of them may not have known Rizal, but they recognized that the poem transcended the author and was one of their sources for bravery.

Rizal is a very monumental figure in the history of anti-colonialism not only in the Philippines but in Asia as well. He is the contemporaries of Sun Yat Sen of China and Rabindranath Tagore of India. Although he did not advocate open revolution, which he considered a shortcut to independence ("Why independence, if the slaves of today will be the tyrants of tomorrow?"), he still advocated for independence through reforms and assimilation with Spain. He believed that if, little by little, we acquire the dignity of people worthy of independence then we will become worthy of being a free nation.

His views regarding this can be found in his novel, Noli Me Tangere(Touch Me Not) which tells the story of Ibarra, a bright young man, who dreams of a Philippines that is educated and dignified and who has resolved to play a part in changing his country by building a school in his hometown. Along the way, we met numerous characters who support Ibarra wholeheartedly; support him in the open but oppose him secretly; and oppose him directly. The narrative is basically about what precipitated Ibarra's downfall.

However, there are a lot of other characters in Noli who experienced, in varying degrees, what will happen to Ibarra at the time of the book's end. There is Sisa who was robbed of her sanity because of the burden of losing her two sons; there is Elias who lost everything before he was even born due to his ancestor's unjust misfortune; there is the schoolteacher who is openly mocked even if he is doing what is best for his students; there is Don Anastasio perhaps the only enlightened man in the whole town yet he is considered as crazy; and many more. The book, then, is more about the injustices suffered by those who have done nothing to merit such misfortune and those who only seek to do good. And then there are those who live a comfortable life because either they are ignorant of the injustices in the system or because they are evil.

Noli Me Tangere is more of a social commentary than a novel. The static characters, the sometimes confusing narrative, and the overabundance of words are among its flaws. But Rizal does not need to be a master writer in writing Noli Me Tangere because the novel is a work intended for the awakening of the Filipino people against the shadows of tyranny. Noli Me Tangere, if it were written today, would not be about the Palanca Award or the Man Asia Literary Prize. It would be to affect social change and revive Filipino nationalism, pride, and dignity.

And, even if it has flaws, Noli Me Tangere is still an enjoyable read because of how it portrayed Spanish-era Philippines. From the pretentiousness of Indios who wants to become Spaniards to the love dance of Ibarra and Maria Clara; and the politics among the friars, the government, and the people. The dynamics between the characters, although most of them are static, are funny, heartbreaking, and lovely sometimes all at the same time.

For all the years that have passed since its publication, Noli Me Tangere still remains relevant. We are still beset with social injustice and inequality that Rizal must be rolling in his grave right now. The social cancer has not yet been eradicated but I know that, just like Rizal, every decent Filipino in the country right now is hoping for the day that our national hero's dream will be fully realized and such a dream will come closer within our grasp if we, even in our own small way, do our part.(less)

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Mar 26, 2013 Beatrice Villaflor rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I hated taking this up as a subject back in my highschool. The main thing is because the teachers taught ONLY in their judgement and view. However, once I took the time of actually reading it for my own pleasure and without the pressure of conformity, this book is by far, still one of my favorite literature in the world. I say that not because this is written by a fellow countryman, but of the details and heart that you can feel with every characters and their own set of morals.

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Mar 23, 2012 Issa Bonifacio rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, politics

Both an allegorical work of fiction and an important historical document of a revolution in the making. Written in the late 19th century and translated from its original Spanish, the story is melodramatic in tone and didactic in form. But for all its narrative stumbles, one senses the keen sense of urgency in communicating the subversive ideas that saw Rizal executed for treason against the Spanish crown. Read in the context of the Filipino struggle for independence, subsequently denied by US im...more

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Mar 16, 2011 Erwin Magbanua rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I think more Filipinos should actually read this, just to sort of see how far we've come and how little we haven't. (I wish more Filipinos would read, PERIOD, but that's another story) It's fun just to read the kinds of day-in-the-life passages of late 19th century Manila, but it's also great to see the kind of internal debate that was going on with Rizal in how best to approach fighting for the freedom of Filipinos. Rizal is a hero for very good reason, and reading this gives you a sense of the...more

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About José Rizal

José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda was a Filipino polymath, nationalist and the most prominent advocate for reforms in the Philippines during the Spanish colonial era. He is considered the Philippines' national hero and the anniversary of Rizal's death is commemorated as a Philippine holiday called Rizal Day. Rizal's 1896 military trial and execution made him a martyr of the Philippine...more

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Ang Liham ni Dr. Jose Rizal sa mga Kadalagahan sa Malolos, Bulakan

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