About
Author: Miguel Syjuco (Philippines)
Genre: Experimental
Setting
Place: Philippines
Time: 1930s-2000s
My Rating (see what this means)
My Subjective Rating: 3
My ‘Objective’ Rating: 2.58
Introduction
The first thing I did as I started to read the prologue to Ilustrado by Miguel Syjuco was google Salvador Crispin, a Philippine literary figure who dies in the story – because he seems almost real. He wasn’t the only character I had to google. Filipino historical figures – both real and fictional make appearances in the book – blurring the boundaries of fiction and reality.
That makes Ilustrado not an easy book to read. It follows a complicated narrative structure with non-linear story-telling, multiple story arcs as well as numerous narrative instruments (points of view, styles) jumbled together in a innovative messy novel.
At the heart of this masquerade of a murder/suicide mystery is a story of the one/two protagonists trying to deal with their life choices and the politics of Philippines providing an inescapable backdrop to the same. The great thing about the book – the ending remains unpredictable. But while the book remains fairly readable despite its experimentations, not all narrative choices work all the time.
Synopsis and Review
Salvador Crispin (CS) is found dead (it remains unclear whether it’s a murder or suicide) while he was working on his seminary work – The Bridges Ablaze (TBA). His mentee Miguel Syjuco (MS) – who shares a name with the author – decides to write a biography for CS – while also trying figure out what happened to the missing TBA manuscript.
As mentioned in the introduction – several narrative instruments are used – and these change every couple paragraphs. To give an example –
Narrative instruments used in the book –
- Miguel Syjuco (Author) writing this book
- Salvador Crispin (CS) writing ‘The Bridges Ablaze’
- Passages from CS’ memoirs in the book – ‘The Antiplagiarist’
- Passages from CS’ other novels – Kaputol Triology, Manila Noir etc.
- Miguel Syjuco (MS – narrator) writing about CS’ life (3rd person)
- MS recounting his own life, recent interactions with CS (1st person)
- A 3rd person omniscient narrator writing about MS’ life
- Excerpts from the MS’ biography of CS – ‘Eight Lives Lived’
- CS’ columns for the Manila times, Interview with the Paris Review etc.
- MS remembering his childhood
- Contemporary news articles, online coverage etc.
- MS’ communication with CS – emails, letters etc.
- Others
- This includes an entirely parallel story of one Erning Isip
- CS’ sister’s diary
- Conversational playwright
So say chapter 3 jumped between the following – KH(C)JFGDMaHFFDFH(C(Mb))DGF in about 30 pages. Poof!!
Creative – Certainly. Innovative – Sure. Necessary – I don’t know. For instance – after a few chapters, I didn’t really pay attention if D (Passages from CS’ other novels) meant anything to the story – or were just there. The constant jumping around also made it difficult to get really invested in any particular story arc. That is not to say – they weren’t charming in places – for instance – reading a situation from MS’ first person immediately followed by an impersonal third person was often instructive. Neither does the story get boring despite the slowness.
The backdrop of the Philippines political and literary world was also well executed. The good blurring of real and imaginary never goes to waste – though again makes the reading experience slightly more challenging than perhaps required.
All in all – did I like reading the book. I would say – yes. Would I read it again – maybe not.
Picture Credits:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilustrado
- https://depositphotos.com/vectors/entangled.html
- https://www.philippinedailymirror.com/report-filipinos-among-top-politically-engaged-worldwide/