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earth2jades's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
ionm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
With "Don Quixote" Miguel de Cervantes transformed forever the nature of the Western novel from storytelling to a rich narrative capable of exploring human nature. Its quintessential role in literature does not for a second distract the reader in the course of flipping its pages. In spite of its length, the novel sustains remarkable attention with its ingenious wit and beautiful prose.
The whole story seems to be set in a matter of weeks, even days. Don Quixote is a gentleman of learning, who, enamoured by literature, fancies himself a knight-errant. Quickly he enrols Sancho Panza, a local peasant, into the role of a dedicated squire, and they both set in search of grand adventures. Cervantes takes us on a journey in which the fictional fantasy of the master is always at odds with the hilarious realism of the servant. The ordinary becomes extraordinary, and the extraordinary becomes a lamentation of the tragedy the human mind finds itself when it dares to transform dreams into reality.
"Don Quixote" is no drama in the traditional sense, but rather a comedy that fulfils us with laughter, only to recognise the folly of human existence. In the hilarious adventures, we discover the extreme inequality of medieval Spain between the rich and the poor, between Spanish and Moors, between men and women. And yet, the poor speak the truth, while the rich are mean puppet masters; the Moors show valour and a desire to live peacefully amongst the Spanish; and the women, especially, emerge as powerful decisive actors in charge of their destiny. Considering the society of his time, Cervantes is a true rebel to conformity, and a genuine champion of progressive thinking.
No review can ever prepare a reader for this novel. To enjoy its riches, pick it up and start a most fabulous journey. Cervantes won't disappoint you to the very last word!
The whole story seems to be set in a matter of weeks, even days. Don Quixote is a gentleman of learning, who, enamoured by literature, fancies himself a knight-errant. Quickly he enrols Sancho Panza, a local peasant, into the role of a dedicated squire, and they both set in search of grand adventures. Cervantes takes us on a journey in which the fictional fantasy of the master is always at odds with the hilarious realism of the servant. The ordinary becomes extraordinary, and the extraordinary becomes a lamentation of the tragedy the human mind finds itself when it dares to transform dreams into reality.
"Don Quixote" is no drama in the traditional sense, but rather a comedy that fulfils us with laughter, only to recognise the folly of human existence. In the hilarious adventures, we discover the extreme inequality of medieval Spain between the rich and the poor, between Spanish and Moors, between men and women. And yet, the poor speak the truth, while the rich are mean puppet masters; the Moors show valour and a desire to live peacefully amongst the Spanish; and the women, especially, emerge as powerful decisive actors in charge of their destiny. Considering the society of his time, Cervantes is a true rebel to conformity, and a genuine champion of progressive thinking.
No review can ever prepare a reader for this novel. To enjoy its riches, pick it up and start a most fabulous journey. Cervantes won't disappoint you to the very last word!
vaudevillianveteran's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dragos_d's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
frances_the_red's review against another edition
3.0
Auch wenn die Sprache für mich doch sehr gewöhnungsbedürftig war, hatte ich schon nach wenigen Anekdoten Freude an dem "Ritter von der traurigen Gestalt". Der Don und sein Diener Sancha waren ein sehr unterhaltsames Komikerduo. Diese Geschichte bietet so viel mehr als nur den bekannten Kampf gegen Windmühlen - am faszinierendsten war für mich eigentlich das ständig gegebene Miteinander von Realität und Fantasie.
Vor allem aber bin ich glücklich, nun auch diesen Wälzer von meiner Weltliteratur-Liste streichen zu können.
Vor allem aber bin ich glücklich, nun auch diesen Wälzer von meiner Weltliteratur-Liste streichen zu können.
jrayers97's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tommyb33's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
trin's review against another edition
3.0
Okay, first, can we pretend that this didn’t take me quite so ridiculously long to finish? Thanks. In exchange, I’ll admit that there’s probably not anything new or interesting I can say that would add to what’s already been said about Don Quixote. This review is going to be a couple of shallow thoughts strung together. Sorry. I’m too intimidated to even attempt anything more.
I would be lying if I didn’t admit I found this a bit of a slog. It’s more than 900 pages long, and parts of it—especially the first book—are very repetitive; lots of Don Quixote and/or Sancho Panza getting beaten up, poor guys. This translation also comes with about ten gazillion footnotes, most of which clarify something that didn’t need to be clarified—like giving the birth and death dates of an author referenced—and add nothing at all to the narrative. If I were to read this again (um. Give me twenty years at least), the first thing I would do differently is I would skip the footnotes entirely.
But I would also be lying if I didn’t say that parts of it were hilarious and awesome and great. Sancho’s long strings of aphorisms and sayings frequently cracked me up, as did much of the meta-humor—Cervantes making fun of the unauthorized sequel to the first book that came out before the second was published, and so on. And there were several sequences, most notably the one with Sancho as governor, that delighted me.
I was a bit disappointed by the ending, mostly because I had heard it talked up by so many people. Frankly, I like mad Don Quixote much more than the sane version, so the effect for me was kind of like the last few minutes of the Disney Beauty and the Beast: “All that, and she’s stuck with some poncy blond guy?” Yeah, Disney’s [b:Beauty and the Beast|41424|Beauty A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast|Robin McKinley|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1169613617s/41424.jpg|2321285]—that’s obviously exactly what Don Quixote is like! Suck of that piece of analysis, Harold Bloom!
I would be lying if I didn’t admit I found this a bit of a slog. It’s more than 900 pages long, and parts of it—especially the first book—are very repetitive; lots of Don Quixote and/or Sancho Panza getting beaten up, poor guys. This translation also comes with about ten gazillion footnotes, most of which clarify something that didn’t need to be clarified—like giving the birth and death dates of an author referenced—and add nothing at all to the narrative. If I were to read this again (um. Give me twenty years at least), the first thing I would do differently is I would skip the footnotes entirely.
But I would also be lying if I didn’t say that parts of it were hilarious and awesome and great. Sancho’s long strings of aphorisms and sayings frequently cracked me up, as did much of the meta-humor—Cervantes making fun of the unauthorized sequel to the first book that came out before the second was published, and so on. And there were several sequences, most notably the one with Sancho as governor, that delighted me.
I was a bit disappointed by the ending, mostly because I had heard it talked up by so many people. Frankly, I like mad Don Quixote much more than the sane version, so the effect for me was kind of like the last few minutes of the Disney Beauty and the Beast: “All that, and she’s stuck with some poncy blond guy?” Yeah, Disney’s [b:Beauty and the Beast|41424|Beauty A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast|Robin McKinley|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1169613617s/41424.jpg|2321285]—that’s obviously exactly what Don Quixote is like! Suck of that piece of analysis, Harold Bloom!
ramtinaat1377's review against another edition
5.0
دوست دارم یه ورژن آخوندیش رو بنویسم و هروقت شد چاپش کنم
rymrgard's review against another edition
It‘s just not for me. This is supposed to be humorous and I just don‘t get humour.