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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
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Don Quixote is a novel published by Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes in 1605 (part 1) and 1615 (part 2). Widely seen as the first modern novel, Don Quixote is viewed by some as the greatest book of all time. In an episodic format, the book conveys the adventures of the titular protagonist Don Quixote and his sidekick Sancho Panza. Having read too many chivalric romances, Quixote has fallen into the delusion that he's a knight errant. Almost everyone he meets considers him insane, and this juxtaposition results in a highly ironic series of quests and shenanigans.
Don Quixote lives up to its grand reputation. It's truly one of the most literary books I've ever read. At all times, the book operates on several levels. Within the fiction, the characters have a different perspective on what's true and actually happening. Outside of the fiction, Cervantes paints a self-aware satire of the chivalric romances. The characters have incredible depth, and each chapter leverages these characters to explore the human condition. Don Quixote has such great depth that it can be interpreted and reinterpreted in countless ways. And to top it all of, Cervantes was perhaps the first ever to compose a work at this level.
I was also shocked by accessible I found this 400 year old book. A surface level understanding of Iberian history and the chivalric romances is sufficient to appreciate it. The situations and themes within are surprisingly universal and relevant to a modern reader. The language of the Grossman translation is easily to read. And the narrative is engaging, providing countless comedic and melancholic moments.
I'd recommend Don Quixote to any fan of literary fiction. Not only is it an worthwhile read on its own, but callbacks to Don Quixote can be found everywhere in modern fiction. Be warned: this book is long and dense. Each chapter gives the reader a lot to consider, and spacing the book out over several months would give the reader ample time to reflect. Whether you read it fast or slow, Don Quixote is worth the investment.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn't know anything going in and this book was nothing that I'd expected from the early 1600s. So funny/ridiculous
PS also pretty long and best read without a deadline
PS also pretty long and best read without a deadline
challenging
medium-paced
Archaic writing kicked my ass and was becoming repetitive. Will read chapter or two here and there
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
The sweetest tale that is humorous, wise and inspiring. I believe this book is most enjoyable when listened to - this is a classic folk tale to be enjoyed by listening to it
Grew to be deeply boring! Reminds me of the Canterbury Tales but I somehow made it through that one. But... I hate The Canterbury Tales deeply. I thought there would've been a lot more stories - or content in the stories - of traveling and doing knightly tasks, but it's not so much an epic as a 'collection of stories' epic. And a really, really slow trudge through really, really boring stuff.