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![Don Quijote de la Mancha I [With MP3] by Miguel de Cervantes](https://cdn.thestorygraph.com/kvhw6thtu7bpnhvxd1ocgvxncu5w)
3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
Ok, so this isn’t a “4 stars as in I think everyone should read it” sort of rating but dang I 1. enjoyed reading this and 2. felt so accomplished finishing it. Definitely more on the character-building side of things vs. any sort of compelling plot. Overall I feel lucky to have gotten to know DQ & Sancho and delighted by their exploits which is I think completely the point.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Language was too antiquated, made it tough to understand.
slow-paced
All tell, very little show that makes the book drag on
challenging
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I changed my rating and opinion of this book the second time through. It is far more complex and nuanced than I thought at first, and it deserves to be read more than once. Initially it appears to be a comic story about an eccentric idealist; on further inspection, it turns out to be a slyly incisive description of human identity, how we become the people we choose to be, how we achieve and fail ourselves and the world. And how others, and the world, fail us. The remarkable thing about all this is that it's hilarious.
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It was a bit of a haul, but I finished it. What I really admire about this book is how it can be read and enjoyed on several levels -- the surface level is satirical comedy that is almost slapstick at times and seems completely harmless. Beneath this is a slippery world of symbolism that reflects a dim view of several institutions, among them the Church and perhaps even Christianity itself. But the characterizations are memorable -- classic, of course -- and the book moves along nicely even though the tone gets to be a little monotonous after a while. This was one of the few readings that I bailed on in college, so I can now take that blot off my moral transcript.
-------
It was a bit of a haul, but I finished it. What I really admire about this book is how it can be read and enjoyed on several levels -- the surface level is satirical comedy that is almost slapstick at times and seems completely harmless. Beneath this is a slippery world of symbolism that reflects a dim view of several institutions, among them the Church and perhaps even Christianity itself. But the characterizations are memorable -- classic, of course -- and the book moves along nicely even though the tone gets to be a little monotonous after a while. This was one of the few readings that I bailed on in college, so I can now take that blot off my moral transcript.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After 24 hours of listening to the audio book, with 13 hours to go, I can finally DNF this one. And I feel relieved already.
TL;DR: This book could have been 500 pages, and it would have been so much better!
First of all, this book can be highly entertaining! Although it was written 400 years ago, the irony and wit shines through. The first half was a breeze. I would find myself anticipating the next chapter, curious to know what would happen next.
Ultimately, the book's biggest downfall is its repetitiveness. I realized that I enjoyed the book most when the focus was not on Don Quixote. Cardenio, Anselmo and Fernando, Zoraida - all of these characters were the truest sources of entertainment. The author's writing shone best when he was weaving their stories in and out, one chapter after another, with Don Quixote becoming a secondary character in his own history.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end (unlike this book, which drags on!) and the first part closed on a high.
The second part then became ALL about Quixote and Sancho, none of whom I particularly care about. It was too tedious to read of Quixote's meaningless episodic adventures, and so sadly, with only 13 hours to go, I accepted that this just isn't a book I care to listen to until the end.
(Also, the windmills scene is highly overrated.)
TL;DR: This book could have been 500 pages, and it would have been so much better!
First of all, this book can be highly entertaining! Although it was written 400 years ago, the irony and wit shines through. The first half was a breeze. I would find myself anticipating the next chapter, curious to know what would happen next.
Ultimately, the book's biggest downfall is its repetitiveness. I realized that I enjoyed the book most when the focus was not on Don Quixote. Cardenio, Anselmo and Fernando, Zoraida - all of these characters were the truest sources of entertainment. The author's writing shone best when he was weaving their stories in and out, one chapter after another, with Don Quixote becoming a secondary character in his own history.
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end (unlike this book, which drags on!) and the first part closed on a high.
The second part then became ALL about Quixote and Sancho, none of whom I particularly care about. It was too tedious to read of Quixote's meaningless episodic adventures, and so sadly, with only 13 hours to go, I accepted that this just isn't a book I care to listen to until the end.
(Also, the windmills scene is highly overrated.)
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes