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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Yes
This is one of the best novels I've read to date. Every chapter has a new interesting tale to tell about the invincible Quixote, the man of La Mancha. Long but enjoyable! "Don Quixote. A novel by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. Alonso Quijano is a gaut country gentleman, kindly and dignified, who lives in the province of La Mancha. His mind is so crazed by reading romances of chivalry that he believes himself called upon to redress the wrongs of the whole world. Changing his name to Don Quixote de la Mancha, he is knighted by the innkeeper whose miserable hostelry he mistakes for a casltle. As his lady love he chooses a peasant girl named Aldonza Lorenzo whom he transforms into Dulcinea Del Toroso. Don Quixote now sallies forth into the world but after sereral mishaps, including a beating administered by some merchants whom he challenges to a passage at arms, he returns to his home. Undaunted he asks Sancho Panza, an ignorant rustic, to be his squire and promises to reward him with the govenorship of a first land they conquer. Riding Rocinante, a nag as bony as himself, Don Quixote sets out a second time, accompanied by Sancho on his ass Dapple.
During his travels Don Quixote's overexcited imagination invariably blinds him to reality: he thinks windmills to be giants, flocks of sheep to be armies, and galley-slaves to be oppressed gentlemen. Toward the end of the novel, Sancho is named governor of the isle of Barataria, a mock title given to him by some noble men whose only aim is to make sport of the squire and his master. After being bested in a duel with the Knight of the White Moon, in reality a student of his acquaintance in disguise, Don Quixote, tired and disillusioned, returns to La Mancha, and shortly before his death, renounces books of knight-errantry." The Readers Encyclopedia, by author:William Rose Benét|900050]. Crowell co., New York, c. 1965 P. 280.
A time piece with a twist that is the source of something called strum stress- a feature of Bertold Brecht's alienation effect, developed on Sturm an Dang- a late 18th century German literary movement characterized by works containing rousing action and high emotionalism that often deal with the individual's revolt against society. This book may have been a source for Brechtian theory and the very beginning of Social Realism that pervades all of TV, Movies, and Print these days.
During his travels Don Quixote's overexcited imagination invariably blinds him to reality: he thinks windmills to be giants, flocks of sheep to be armies, and galley-slaves to be oppressed gentlemen. Toward the end of the novel, Sancho is named governor of the isle of Barataria, a mock title given to him by some noble men whose only aim is to make sport of the squire and his master. After being bested in a duel with the Knight of the White Moon, in reality a student of his acquaintance in disguise, Don Quixote, tired and disillusioned, returns to La Mancha, and shortly before his death, renounces books of knight-errantry." The Readers Encyclopedia, by author:William Rose Benét|900050]. Crowell co., New York, c. 1965 P. 280.
A time piece with a twist that is the source of something called strum stress- a feature of Bertold Brecht's alienation effect, developed on Sturm an Dang- a late 18th century German literary movement characterized by works containing rousing action and high emotionalism that often deal with the individual's revolt against society. This book may have been a source for Brechtian theory and the very beginning of Social Realism that pervades all of TV, Movies, and Print these days.
Fun, funny book and this translation is very very readable (or listenable since it was an audiobook). But it's way too long. Still, with so many don Quixote references in culture, I'm glad to finally read a good chunk of the original book.
funny
slow-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
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Don Quixote was written around the same time as Shakespeare was writing his plays--just as Shakespeare invented (or rather improved and solidified?) so much of what we think of when we talk about story, character, and so forth, Cervantes did the same... he just gets less credit. Probably because his magnus opus consists of only a few, simple ideas/jokes, repeated in a variety of clever ways.
Don Quixote is an interesting, boring book. The main character's central concept, along with his squire and the countryside around them, all present a single set of ideas. I found it difficult to read a few chapters and then realize that the next section was a "rinse and repeat"... but in a similar way, I only ever need to watch one Three Stooges scene. Some people can watch more. I could not.
I recommend people read the first 15 chapters or so and then read the summary and move on. There's greatness here! But the book is a landmark for what it was and what it achieved, not because it is still a readable, enjoyable novel by modern standards.
Don Quixote is an interesting, boring book. The main character's central concept, along with his squire and the countryside around them, all present a single set of ideas. I found it difficult to read a few chapters and then realize that the next section was a "rinse and repeat"... but in a similar way, I only ever need to watch one Three Stooges scene. Some people can watch more. I could not.
I recommend people read the first 15 chapters or so and then read the summary and move on. There's greatness here! But the book is a landmark for what it was and what it achieved, not because it is still a readable, enjoyable novel by modern standards.
more enjoyable than I expected and very funny! but quite repetitive and after I read the windmill scene wasn’t motivated or excited to keep reading. so long!!!!
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Once you read this book, every subsequent book you read is quixotic