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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
12/18/24 - I just finished a re-read of Don Quixote. This time I read the Edith Grossman translation, and I really enjoyed it. I don’t have a whole lot to add to my original review below so I’ll just leave it at that. 4 stars.
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Original review below:
Review of part 1- Finished on 10/5/16
I am listening to an audiobook version of Don Quixote from my local library. I haven't listened to very many audiobooks, but this narrator is really good compared to other ones I've listened to. So, I recommend this audiobook version by Tantor Media read by David Case.
The novel of Don Quixote by Cervantes is a philosophy in and of itself. The protagonist, Don Quixote of La Mancha, sets out as a Knight Errant to bring chivalry and honor back to his world. Unfortunately for him, the world wasn't ready for his "noble" quest!
Don Quixote, as a character, is obviously well read and intelligent. However he has "book smarts" but not "street smarts". He kept getting into situations and I lost count how many times Don and his trusty sidekick Sancho Panza got their asses kicked by people they came across. He does have some good qualities- he is smart (but not very wise), perpetually optimistic (he never gets down on himself or on his quest for chivalry), and the fact that he wants to make his world a better place is admirable. The main things that are lacking in his character are common sense and he seems to objectify women as something to be revered for their beauty, but nothing else. He has a chauvinistic view of women that is unnerving to me. The primary complaint that I have with part 1 is that the women characters are all portrayed as weak and unintelligent creatures that are incapable of helping themselves, and we all know none of that is true!
There are some hilarious parts in this book. Everyone knows about Don Quixote tilting at windmills, but there is so much more that Cervantes provides us in this story that I was literally laughing out loud. The relationship between Don Quixote and Sancho Panza and when Sancho is laughing at him to his face are some of the funniest passages I've come across. This novel definitely gets the gold star for the humor. It pokes fun at the proverbial stories of Knights and chivalry but also actually bolsters them by showing the reader what is so good and endearing about them. Who doesn't love a story of a noble knight righting the world's wrongs, helping those in need, and saving "damsels in distress"? Don Quixote is the preeminent cheerleader for stories of chivalry and knighthood.
I plan to listen to the audiobook version of the 2nd part by the end of this year, and will update my review and rate the entire novel when I am completely finished.
Review of part 2 - finished on 11/13/16 -
Part 2 is a lot more of the same. The whole book is a series of adventures (and misadventures) of Don Quixote and his squire Sancho Panza, except this time they are often manipulated by a Duke and Duchess who set up Don and Sancho mainly just to mess with them. The Duke and Duchess' mess with the unsuspecting protagonists so badly that it makes the reader wonder if they are even more crazy than Don Quixote.
There are humorous parts throughout part 2 that had me laughing out loud. Don Quixote is so strong in his convictions that it blinds him to what he is really seeing and what is actually going on around him.
I did like the friendship and comradeship of Don and Sancho as they grew tighter as the story went along. At first I thought Cervantes would leave their relationship more as boss and servant than actual friends but there is a part kind of late in the story when Sancho leaves Don to govern an island and they both realize how much they miss and lean on each other.
Another interesting literary technique that Cervantes uses is a "story within a story". Throughout the book, Don and Sancho come across someone who has read about them and Cervantes even included a character/narrator named after himself that interjects the author's thoughts about how the story of Don Quixote would be viewed by critics and readers.
This story was published 400 years ago and it still has themes that resonate today. Don's goal in life is to make his world a better place, but unfortunately, his method of going about it left a lot to be desired.
This book is extremely long, and I ask myself whether I would recommend Don Quixote? While it is not for everyone because it is so long, the plot is pretty linear and it does have some everlasting themes, and enough humor to make it worthwhile in my opinion.
—————————————————————————-
Original review below:
Review of part 1- Finished on 10/5/16
I am listening to an audiobook version of Don Quixote from my local library. I haven't listened to very many audiobooks, but this narrator is really good compared to other ones I've listened to. So, I recommend this audiobook version by Tantor Media read by David Case.
The novel of Don Quixote by Cervantes is a philosophy in and of itself. The protagonist, Don Quixote of La Mancha, sets out as a Knight Errant to bring chivalry and honor back to his world. Unfortunately for him, the world wasn't ready for his "noble" quest!
Don Quixote, as a character, is obviously well read and intelligent. However he has "book smarts" but not "street smarts". He kept getting into situations and I lost count how many times Don and his trusty sidekick Sancho Panza got their asses kicked by people they came across. He does have some good qualities- he is smart (but not very wise), perpetually optimistic (he never gets down on himself or on his quest for chivalry), and the fact that he wants to make his world a better place is admirable. The main things that are lacking in his character are common sense and he seems to objectify women as something to be revered for their beauty, but nothing else. He has a chauvinistic view of women that is unnerving to me. The primary complaint that I have with part 1 is that the women characters are all portrayed as weak and unintelligent creatures that are incapable of helping themselves, and we all know none of that is true!
There are some hilarious parts in this book. Everyone knows about Don Quixote tilting at windmills, but there is so much more that Cervantes provides us in this story that I was literally laughing out loud. The relationship between Don Quixote and Sancho Panza and when Sancho is laughing at him to his face are some of the funniest passages I've come across. This novel definitely gets the gold star for the humor. It pokes fun at the proverbial stories of Knights and chivalry but also actually bolsters them by showing the reader what is so good and endearing about them. Who doesn't love a story of a noble knight righting the world's wrongs, helping those in need, and saving "damsels in distress"? Don Quixote is the preeminent cheerleader for stories of chivalry and knighthood.
I plan to listen to the audiobook version of the 2nd part by the end of this year, and will update my review and rate the entire novel when I am completely finished.
Review of part 2 - finished on 11/13/16 -
Part 2 is a lot more of the same. The whole book is a series of adventures (and misadventures) of Don Quixote and his squire Sancho Panza, except this time they are often manipulated by a Duke and Duchess who set up Don and Sancho mainly just to mess with them. The Duke and Duchess' mess with the unsuspecting protagonists so badly that it makes the reader wonder if they are even more crazy than Don Quixote.
There are humorous parts throughout part 2 that had me laughing out loud. Don Quixote is so strong in his convictions that it blinds him to what he is really seeing and what is actually going on around him.
I did like the friendship and comradeship of Don and Sancho as they grew tighter as the story went along. At first I thought Cervantes would leave their relationship more as boss and servant than actual friends but there is a part kind of late in the story when Sancho leaves Don to govern an island and they both realize how much they miss and lean on each other.
Another interesting literary technique that Cervantes uses is a "story within a story". Throughout the book, Don and Sancho come across someone who has read about them and Cervantes even included a character/narrator named after himself that interjects the author's thoughts about how the story of Don Quixote would be viewed by critics and readers.
This story was published 400 years ago and it still has themes that resonate today. Don's goal in life is to make his world a better place, but unfortunately, his method of going about it left a lot to be desired.
This book is extremely long, and I ask myself whether I would recommend Don Quixote? While it is not for everyone because it is so long, the plot is pretty linear and it does have some everlasting themes, and enough humor to make it worthwhile in my opinion.
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Silly, delusional Don Quixote.
A lack of sleep really can make you go a little crazy.
I can't believe I waited so long to read this.
I loved this book. It fascinates me that this surprisingly funny book was written over 400 years ago.
It was really interesting to see how Cervantes developed his characters, with the poor being compassionate and intelligent, while the rich were often portrayed as cruel and vapid.
This was a great read.
A lack of sleep really can make you go a little crazy.
I can't believe I waited so long to read this.
I loved this book. It fascinates me that this surprisingly funny book was written over 400 years ago.
It was really interesting to see how Cervantes developed his characters, with the poor being compassionate and intelligent, while the rich were often portrayed as cruel and vapid.
This was a great read.
funny ass funnier ass-rider cantik itu luka stole its tone from this book
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
slow-paced
This book took me forever to get through. It had a lot of really funny parts but was extremely long. I read it because I had to for school!
Though it has been on my reading-list for ages, I could never gather up the courage to pick up a thousand-page book written more than 400 years ago. Finally, the latest Rushdie novel, which was inspired by this book, gave me the necessary impetus. I am so glad that I did. I still cannot believe someone could write such a modern novel in the 17th century!
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
My newest classic, yet I’m not very far, so a quick update to say I’m 4 chapters and 28 pages in and it’s easy to read, and I’m into the story. I’m not super into it yet, but I feel like I could be with more time. We’ve met Don Quixote, obviously, and we’re following him around as he goes on adventures, which I think is the premise of the book. Like I say, I’m not far enough in for any real thoughts, other than I like it so far!
I’m still enjoying this! The escapades that Don Quixote and his knight Sancho go on are rather hilarious. This is supposed to be satirical and so far, I think this novel has done a good job of that. I did get a little confused because we have an active narrator for some parts, and I’m not sure who it’s supposed to be. Like is Cervantes talking to his reader, or is this some omnipotent narrator, telling us what is happening. Regardless, that hasn’t hindered my enjoyment of this. I’m now 100 pages in and on book 3 of the 4 (book 4 being the longest with 74 chapters) and I feel like I’m really getting a sense of the book and the characters. Don Quixote is such a strange man, but makes for an entertaining read. Now only 700 more pages to go!
I think I’ve lost the thread of the plot on this, just a bit. Like one minute we’re following Don Quixote and Sancho… the next we’re following all these new characters who are all in some sort of love affair. I believe that this is a story that either Quixote or Sancho is reading, but I think I may have missed that part. Regardless of me being confused, I’ve still been enjoying this. The story of Cardenio and Dorothea was really compelling and had this Romeo and Juliet feel to it; I really loved reading that; the Anselmo/Lothario/Camilla story has kinda bored me; it feels like it’s gone on for more pages than it’s needed to. I think it’s coming to an end, which I’m happy about because I miss Quixote. I’m at page 260 so only 500ish pages to go!
I’ve reached the end of part 1; a part that could get confusing over the course of each book because I wasn’t completely sure what was going on. So what I’ve gathered is Quixote and Sancho have landed at this inn where they’ve met a bunch of people. It’s here that all of these characters are telling stories of their own travels, so it has become a story within a story. Some I liked more than others, some I connected with more. In the end, I’m curious where this is going to take us come part 2, the final part… which is a good 400 pages. I wonder if they’re all going to go on some adventure, I’m actually pretty excited to find out. Aside from this being slightly confusing at times, I do like the way this is written and I’ll keep picking away at this!
It’s only taken me 400 pages to figure out that the active narrator is actually the translator. Not only have they been narrating what is happening, but they’ve given some of their own commentary on the story. I haven’t hated it, I think it brings more depth to the story and helps me, personally understand this better. So I was wrong in my thinking last week. Don Quixote and Sancho are back on their own in part 2. All the characters we met at the inn, they have left behind. We also learn that Sancho has a wife and 2 children and Quixote has a niece. I’m curious where the rest of part 2 will take us. I can never predict this. I’ve got another 350ish pages to go, so I look forward to the rest of this.
I feel like I’m going to sound like a broken record for my next couple updates because so far in the last few chapters that I’ve read, Don Quixote and Sancho are just going on different adventures. I feel like this is going to be the premise for the next little while. This time they’ve gone to a wedding, now they’re embarking on a new adventure through the woods. I find it interest though what the translator is choosing to translate and what they aren’t. There’s a sentence during the wedding where Quixote enters their house and in the original text, according to the translator, Cervantes goes on for pages describing the house, but the translator said they didn’t feel the need to add this because it didn’t add anything to the story. I get that, but it’s weird that they’re not being completely faithful to the original text. I don’t know. I’m going to keep reading since I’ve hit the 500 page mark, just shy of 300 pages left!
Yes I know, it’s been a few weeks since I’ve given an update on Don Quixote… I have been reading it every day, I just haven’t had the time to post. If I’m being honest, I’m getting a little tired of reading this. It’s going on for so long! I’m enjoying it, but I’m also kinda over it. Now Don Quixote and Sancho are in different places; Sancho is now a governor to his own island and Quixote is with Sancho’s family letting them know about him. It’s interesting. So each chapter is a back and forth of the two, and passing letters back and forth. It’s been faster paced this way. I’m curious how this is all going to end. I have just over 100 pages left and roughly 2 weeks left, so I’m hoping it’ll fly by!
I made it to the end! This was a long journey, one I wasn’t sure I was going to complete, but I made it. I was actually shocked to learn how this ended. I’m glad that Don Quixote and Sancho make it home, but damn, when I read the title for the last chapter, I literally went “what?!” out loud. Overall though, if I’m being honest, I think this went on for too long. There were some moments and some stories that were really well told, then there were others that really bogged down the book and made it hard to wade through what was happening. I get it, this is supposed to represent the man’s life and obviously life can be very long; but this just felt like there were parts that could be cut out or made shorter. I did appreciate the hilarity of this as well, although it was easier to grasp in some instances better than others. Did I enjoy this? Yes, for the most part; I think near the end I started to enjoy it less because I just wanted it to be over, which sucks, but I’m glad I stuck with it because for all the stories in this, this really did have some good storytelling and gave us some really interesting characters. I will probably never read this again, but I’m glad I finally did!