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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
Impossible to give any meaningful star rating to in all honesty. Its one of those books that feels important that you read.
I enjoyed this book in parts but between them I did get a bit tired of the antics as they were, at least in places, quite repetitive. Or, points were expressed for a long time. But the overall story was very satisfying and Sancho will always be a great character in my mind.
I would say it’s very readable for a 400 odd year old book, but translations seem to vary a lot. The Motteux translation that I read for the first 200 pages was very difficult and I finished up with the Grossman which was much better.
I enjoyed this book in parts but between them I did get a bit tired of the antics as they were, at least in places, quite repetitive. Or, points were expressed for a long time. But the overall story was very satisfying and Sancho will always be a great character in my mind.
I would say it’s very readable for a 400 odd year old book, but translations seem to vary a lot. The Motteux translation that I read for the first 200 pages was very difficult and I finished up with the Grossman which was much better.
adventurous
challenging
funny
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
this was a daunting task. I cracked open the book with excitement then worry that I would be more interested in the idea of reading Don Quixote than actually reading it. Grossman's three-page translator's note at the beginning gave me such comfort and insight, I knew I was in good hands.
the fantasy and humor and commentary of Don Quixote is unmatched, blowing the door wide open for the modern novel and meta fiction, for better or worse. even through an English translation, you see its imprint everywhere, Monty Python being the most apparent to me. I laughed loud and hard many times, swept up in its adventure and history, and moved by its poetics and messages. Grossman's footnotes added depth and context that made this tome easier to chew, and her translation, while I have nothing to compare it to, moved effortlessly and with mountains of trust that I never felt truly lost while navigating this storied text.
the tandem of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, often duplicated but never replicated, is the heart and soul of this book and it's so easy to fall in love with them. the madness cannot be suppressed, even though others try at every turn. Cervantes addressing the reader, its own narration and telling, its existence in print and pulling its real-world influence into its own world is wild to see unfold, and more so when you realize this book is over 400 years old.
my only issues were certain passages and plot adventures felt like detours that I wasn't terribly interested in taking and started to read on autopilot. these didn't last too long and were almost always brought back to center.
as an avoider of fantasy, I was receptive to its titular character going through travails based in fantasy that was described by others as lunacy. at the core of these fantasies is a big, noble heart and it's really hard to root against it. is "fiction" frivolous, or all we truly have? read and find out for yourself.
B+/A-
the fantasy and humor and commentary of Don Quixote is unmatched, blowing the door wide open for the modern novel and meta fiction, for better or worse. even through an English translation, you see its imprint everywhere, Monty Python being the most apparent to me. I laughed loud and hard many times, swept up in its adventure and history, and moved by its poetics and messages. Grossman's footnotes added depth and context that made this tome easier to chew, and her translation, while I have nothing to compare it to, moved effortlessly and with mountains of trust that I never felt truly lost while navigating this storied text.
the tandem of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, often duplicated but never replicated, is the heart and soul of this book and it's so easy to fall in love with them. the madness cannot be suppressed, even though others try at every turn. Cervantes addressing the reader, its own narration and telling, its existence in print and pulling its real-world influence into its own world is wild to see unfold, and more so when you realize this book is over 400 years old.
my only issues were certain passages and plot adventures felt like detours that I wasn't terribly interested in taking and started to read on autopilot. these didn't last too long and were almost always brought back to center.
as an avoider of fantasy, I was receptive to its titular character going through travails based in fantasy that was described by others as lunacy. at the core of these fantasies is a big, noble heart and it's really hard to root against it. is "fiction" frivolous, or all we truly have? read and find out for yourself.
B+/A-
He trigat 3 mesos pro he llegit el Quijote que és una cosa que no tenia planejada fer i que trobo molt necessària :)
Tothom sap q mor al final bla bla bla pro de veritat quina pena!
Una abraçada Alonso i dos abraçades Sancho
Tothom sap q mor al final bla bla bla pro de veritat quina pena!
Una abraçada Alonso i dos abraçades Sancho
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
A book that reads somewhat like a meme. Funny and also emotional. Characters are iconic and feel like real people.
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Dílo tak notoricky známé, mnohým způsobem přepracované, v různých připodobněních neustále připomínané, až jsem ho musel přečíst.
Stránek bylo mnoho a je pravda, že ne vždy byly potřeba. Parodie na rytířské romány, satirický pohled na tehdejší společnost, praktiky podvodníků, to vše by se dalo (dle mého) vypovědět i v útlejší knize, ale i přesto ta dobrodružství rytíře smutné postavy, jsou celkem příjemné čtení.
Stránek bylo mnoho a je pravda, že ne vždy byly potřeba. Parodie na rytířské romány, satirický pohled na tehdejší společnost, praktiky podvodníků, to vše by se dalo (dle mého) vypovědět i v útlejší knize, ale i přesto ta dobrodružství rytíře smutné postavy, jsou celkem příjemné čtení.