Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Noli Me Tángere (Latin for Don’t Touch Me) is a novel written by José Rizal, one of the national heroes of the Philippines. Originally written in Spanish, the book is more commonly published and read in the Philippines in either Tagalog or English.
Crisóstomo Ibarra, the mestizo son of recently deceased Don Rafael Ibarra, is returning to San Diego in Laguna after seven years of study in Europe. Capitan Tiago, a family friend, bids him to spend his first night in Manila where Tiago hosts a reunion party at his riverside home on Anloague Street. Crisóstomo obliges. At dinner he encounters old friends, Manila high society, the new curate of San Diego, and Padre Dámaso, San Diego’s old curate at the time Ibarra left for Europe. Dámaso treats Crisóstomo with hostility, surprising the young man who took the friar to be a friend of his father.

I will be reading this one.

I'm kind of 1/2 way - not familiar with this author but am really pleased to read it - I really like the voice of how it tells the story

I just downloaded this one to my e-reader and very much looking forward to it as it sounds like something entirely out of my usual reading comfort zone!

My husband (Filipino) says Jose Rizal is a huge hero in the Philippines. Monuments, image on a coin, park in Manila named after him, etc. He had a short life. He was executed by firing squad at 35 years old for rebellion, sedition and conspiracy.

Blueberry wrote: "My husband (Filipino) says Jose Rizal is a huge hero in the Philippines. Monuments, image on a coin, park in Manila named after him, etc. He had a short life. He was executed by firing squad at 35 ..."

Yeah, I read about this, incredibly brave!!!

I really liked how he told this very complicated story - I appreciate it came up here, otherwise I would have missed a really good read :))

Glad you enjoyed it.

It has taken me a while to get into the story, but now at about 15% of the book, the action is starting after many of the characters have been introduced, including the hero and his enemy, the priest Damaso.

After 18 chapters, I realize just how corrupt the society and the Organized Church was. The poor people were exploited and often abused.

Chapter 18 - neat.

I thought the opening scene was quite something, but once I got a sense of who is who and their motivations, it was a shock to see the picture that was drawn.

I liked how Rizal shows us there is more than one hero, though I am not sure if this is the right word, as their heroics also come from a need to survive.

I have finished the book and feel that it showed a society that had many injustices and corruption. It was not an easy read because of the theme, but I can see why it is considered an important book in the Philippines.

Rosemarie wrote: "I have finished the book and feel that it showed a society that had many injustices and corruption. It was not an easy read because of the theme, but I can see why it is considered an important boo..."

Yeah, some of the themes were tough but somehow (the way I read it) I thought Rizal ended it with a note of hope