Penguin Does The Noli

I'm pulling the following out of my comments, since you (and you, and you, and especially you) probably missed it. This was in reference to my neurotic obsession (see last paragraph here, if you like) with Harold Augenbraum's take on my story in his review of Contemporary Fiction by Filipinos in America:

At 11:56 AM, Anonymous said...

Actually, I remember your story very well and how much I enjoyed it.

Harold Augenbraum

At 1:53 PM, ver said...

If you are truly Mr. Augenbraum, I thank you kindly.

If you are a literary practical jokester then...well, I also thank you kindly.

There, that works out.

At 6:52 AM, Harold Augenbraum said...

I actually am Harold Augenbraum and did indeed reply to your blog entry. I used to review for Manoa, where that review appeared, when I was director of The Mercantile Library of New York. I have a love for Filipino-American literature (and some Filipino literature) that stems from reading N.V.M. Gonzalez's short stories, Ninotchka Rosa, etc. and I have just handed in a translation of Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere for Penguin, which will be published next year.

At 6:53 AM, Harold Augenbraum said...

Sorry, a typo on Ninotchka Rosca's name.

Harold

At 12:52 PM, ver said...

Excellent news about your translation of the Noli! I will spread the word.

Thanks for dropping by again!

###

So I'm sitting here quite uplifted by finding a non-Filipino who not only loves Filipino/Fil-Am literature, but who works to move it from the periphery to the center. Because, really, have you ever met a Filipino who didn't enjoy the spotlight?

*pausing for a moment while you think about that*

Here is Mr. Augenbraum's address at last year's National Book Awards gala. My favorite line from this speech is, "...By the way, I don't classify states as red or blue, they're either literary or not." Hahahahahahahahaha!

And finally, is it okay to refer to Noli Me Tangere as "The Noli?" Because that's what I do, but I'm sure I can stop if I really try...