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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
After the glorious rediscovery of Anna Karenina, I decided to try another book I had been told was 'canon' and hated as a teen: Don Quixote.
I finished Book One, gritting my teeth all the while, and I just can. not. continue.
Problem 1: Don Q is actually physically very violent. He gives multiple people near fatal concussions, as well as broken legs, bones, and ribs, almost always without any actual provocation. He slices open (and almost amputates) a man's shoulder. I'd forgotten this. This is not funny to me, a senile man rampaging around with real weapons.
Problem 2: Almost every woman who appears is 16 and beautiful beyond comparison. So by the time you get to the third beautiful 16 year old, Cervantes has to say lame things like, "You'd think she was the most beautiful if you hadn't seen the other three." These girls exist solely inflame some dude who is much much older. So you can see why this keeps my interest so well.
Problem 3: There are LOT of poo jokes in this book. Poo combined with vomit. Soft poo and hard poo. Poo in open fields and poo in pants. SIGH.
Problem 4: Book Two starts out with an extended joke (at least I think it is) about a madman who goes around maiming stray dogs. The abuse involves dogs' anuses. I found this too grotesque to be amusing.
Problem 5: Cervantes spends a HUGE amount of time getting on a soap box to deliver speeches about the usefulness of the novel and of fiction in general. Maybe this was necessary however long ago this was written but I've noticed that (listening to this on unabridged audiobook) every time Cervantes appears to take the podium, I drive really violently.
I finished Book One, gritting my teeth all the while, and I just can. not. continue.
Problem 1: Don Q is actually physically very violent. He gives multiple people near fatal concussions, as well as broken legs, bones, and ribs, almost always without any actual provocation. He slices open (and almost amputates) a man's shoulder. I'd forgotten this. This is not funny to me, a senile man rampaging around with real weapons.
Problem 2: Almost every woman who appears is 16 and beautiful beyond comparison. So by the time you get to the third beautiful 16 year old, Cervantes has to say lame things like, "You'd think she was the most beautiful if you hadn't seen the other three." These girls exist solely inflame some dude who is much much older. So you can see why this keeps my interest so well.
Problem 3: There are LOT of poo jokes in this book. Poo combined with vomit. Soft poo and hard poo. Poo in open fields and poo in pants. SIGH.
Problem 4: Book Two starts out with an extended joke (at least I think it is) about a madman who goes around maiming stray dogs. The abuse involves dogs' anuses. I found this too grotesque to be amusing.
Problem 5: Cervantes spends a HUGE amount of time getting on a soap box to deliver speeches about the usefulness of the novel and of fiction in general. Maybe this was necessary however long ago this was written but I've noticed that (listening to this on unabridged audiobook) every time Cervantes appears to take the podium, I drive really violently.
Long af and couldn’t handle the sauce
adventurous
funny
Can't remember why I picked this one up but it was interesting to say the least.
This was my attempt to read less contemporary work... and now, nearly 3 months and 40-plus hours later, I can say I’ve listened to the entirety of this audiobook. Never again. Despite my lack of enthusiasm, there are some great quotes and some amusing dialogue, but the lack of story could not be made up for. So happy to hear the words “the end”.
As my birthday present to myself, I have finished Don Quixote. I am saddened that I will no longer be able to listen to Sancho and The Knight of the Sorrowful Face argue about the proper usage of proverbs and the merits and demerits of chivalry. Mostly though I will miss the love the two men held for each other, but I am comforted knowing that, in whatever celestial literary heaven, Sancho and Quixote are still going on adventures and having some of the finest conversations ever recorded.
This book is highly regarded and well-known. I've tried several times to read it, and even when listening to the audio version, I end up abandoning it because it becomes tedious and repetitive. So I got about half way through this summer and I've given it up again. I appreciate the story for its inspiration to other writers, but I've got too many other books to read.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes