Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
For a book that is normally summarised by reference to a single scene in the early pages, there is so much more to this. It has been a week since I finished the book and gave it 4 stars, but it has been in my thoughts every day since and I keep coming across situations and stories that show the depth of this book. One can look on it as a commentary on how society treats the mentally ill, but there are parallels to misinformation, propaganda, corruption and power that show how little society has changed in the last few hundred years. The second part could even be viewed as something of a commentary on social media and reality TV, as the first book is published and brings fame to the main characters who are subsequently manipulated as a result.
This book did not feel like it was written in the 1600s. I was pleasantly surprised by some of the more modern ideas (not caring about a woman dressing as a man, getting a story from a woman’s perspective) in the story. It is comical and sad. It did go on a bit long for me as my mind definitely wandered a bit towards the end.
This is an absolute horrible and boring book. For 2 possible reasons I might find it so.shite:
1. It deals with themes that are 400 years old and escape me, and are not relevant for me, or anyone alive today.
2. It is supposed to be a parody, but it is not funny or clever in any way. It is just dumb.
Which brings me to my personal opinion. The characters are absolutely horrible. Don Quichote is a dangerous, mentally ill person that should not be celebrated.
Furthermore most of the stories are a series of unconnected events that are boring. I skipped more then half of the story and did not notice anything amiss.
Nor did the characters progress in any way.
Just because this book is the 'first' modern novel, that doesn't mean it's good or it should be celebrated the way it is.
DO NOT READ THIS BOOK.
P.s. that incident with the windmill? Only famous because it happens within 40 pages. Otherwise no one would have made it far enough to read about that
1. It deals with themes that are 400 years old and escape me, and are not relevant for me, or anyone alive today.
2. It is supposed to be a parody, but it is not funny or clever in any way. It is just dumb.
Which brings me to my personal opinion. The characters are absolutely horrible. Don Quichote is a dangerous, mentally ill person that should not be celebrated.
Furthermore most of the stories are a series of unconnected events that are boring. I skipped more then half of the story and did not notice anything amiss.
Nor did the characters progress in any way.
Just because this book is the 'first' modern novel, that doesn't mean it's good or it should be celebrated the way it is.
DO NOT READ THIS BOOK.
P.s. that incident with the windmill? Only famous because it happens within 40 pages. Otherwise no one would have made it far enough to read about that
genuinely really funny. like sancho is actually king and don quixote is just so stupid it makes me happy. not a bad book to read at all (it’s literally in the canon we know this)
A veure. Valoració.
Ha sigut a la vegada millor i pitjor del que m'esperava. Vaig començar molt motivada i interessada (durant els 2 primers capitols 😅) i no em va desagradar (fins i tot va haver-hi algun moment en que describien com llegia massa i estava boig que vaig pensar sipp, jo també). Però llavors arriben les parrafades de les que no entens casi res i els capítols eterns... És que hi havia moments en els que volia agafar una màquina del temps per dir-li a Cervantes que es relaxés una mica. En definitiva, que he llegit coses pitjors (lazarillo de tormes) però estic molt contenta de que ja ho hagi superat :').
Ha sigut a la vegada millor i pitjor del que m'esperava. Vaig començar molt motivada i interessada (durant els 2 primers capitols 😅) i no em va desagradar (fins i tot va haver-hi algun moment en que describien com llegia massa i estava boig que vaig pensar sipp, jo també). Però llavors arriben les parrafades de les que no entens casi res i els capítols eterns... És que hi havia moments en els que volia agafar una màquina del temps per dir-li a Cervantes que es relaxés una mica. En definitiva, que he llegit coses pitjors (lazarillo de tormes) però estic molt contenta de que ja ho hagi superat :').
Somewhat entertaining, very weird, and so so long.
I know it's a classic, but this wasn't really for me.