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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
I've wanted to read all of Don Quixote ever since my freshman year of college when I read a portion of it in my Norton Anthology of World Literature.[b:The Norton Anthology of Western Literature, Volume 1|47162|The Norton Anthology of Western Literature, Volume 1|Sarah N. Lawall|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170346256s/47162.jpg|46209] You can imagine my joy when I found a Harvard Classics edition of this book at a library discount sale. Looking back, I think I would have enjoyed it more as an e-book.
Don Quixote is a hilarious adventure satire about a Spaniard country gentleman who mistakes himself for a valourous knight. Unfortunately for him, his courtly love fails to know of his existence, his world lacks magic except for his own madness, and worst of wall: his squire believes his every word. This is probably a must read for an intellectual or lover of medevial lore.
However, I do reccommend you buy this as an e-book. And I beg of you, don't buy this edition. The dialouge of different characters was often grouped into the same paragraphs and said paragraphs would last multiple pages. I also wonder and hope that there is a more contemporary translation of the text, for Thomas Shelton's is not my favorite. That said, I hope the length doesn't intimidate you, for the story makes all the pitfalls of certain editions worth it.
Don Quixote is a hilarious adventure satire about a Spaniard country gentleman who mistakes himself for a valourous knight. Unfortunately for him, his courtly love fails to know of his existence, his world lacks magic except for his own madness, and worst of wall: his squire believes his every word. This is probably a must read for an intellectual or lover of medevial lore.
However, I do reccommend you buy this as an e-book. And I beg of you, don't buy this edition. The dialouge of different characters was often grouped into the same paragraphs and said paragraphs would last multiple pages. I also wonder and hope that there is a more contemporary translation of the text, for Thomas Shelton's is not my favorite. That said, I hope the length doesn't intimidate you, for the story makes all the pitfalls of certain editions worth it.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Around the World Reading Challenge: SPAIN
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After having this book sitting on my shelf for over a decade, I finally read it, and I'm pleased my Around the World Reading Challenge gave me the push I needed! I really enjoyed this translation, which was published in 2003, and has a quite modern and easy-to-read style. Part of why I'd put off reading this for so long is because I knew how long ago it was written and did not feel up to the task of reading nearly 1000 pages of old-fashioned English, so I was pleased that wasn't the case here. Overall I quite enjoyed it, though I certainly felt some kind of way about all the people who seemed to find Don Quixote's madness so amusing and played so many tricks that often resulted in some kind of bodily harm... But I'm glad to have finally read it, and it was certainly quite interesting--there were even a number of times I laughed out loud.
===
After having this book sitting on my shelf for over a decade, I finally read it, and I'm pleased my Around the World Reading Challenge gave me the push I needed! I really enjoyed this translation, which was published in 2003, and has a quite modern and easy-to-read style. Part of why I'd put off reading this for so long is because I knew how long ago it was written and did not feel up to the task of reading nearly 1000 pages of old-fashioned English, so I was pleased that wasn't the case here. Overall I quite enjoyed it, though I certainly felt some kind of way about all the people who seemed to find Don Quixote's madness so amusing and played so many tricks that often resulted in some kind of bodily harm... But I'm glad to have finally read it, and it was certainly quite interesting--there were even a number of times I laughed out loud.
Bra, men förlorade lusten. Rolig och stundtals givande. Kanske värd att fortsätta med
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a difficult one to rate. There is SO much good in this book. So many good and/or funny characters and situations and stories. But it was also SO long. So many periods of exposition from characters with little payout that dragged this book out for me for months and months. Finishing this book feels like a triumph.
I also had to switch from reading the book to listening to the audiobook. The language is old, translated, and therefore clunky to read. Listening was a much better experience and my comprehension of what the hell was going on drastically improved.
Again, I really want to reiterate that this is not at all a bad book. But it is work to get through it, and for the bits that weren’t a total slog, it was worth it.
I also had to switch from reading the book to listening to the audiobook. The language is old, translated, and therefore clunky to read. Listening was a much better experience and my comprehension of what the hell was going on drastically improved.
Again, I really want to reiterate that this is not at all a bad book. But it is work to get through it, and for the bits that weren’t a total slog, it was worth it.
What a journey these last 2 months have been!
If you’ve been here this year it’s no news to you that I’ve been on a crazy classics binge the whole year. I’ve been testing my limits and have fallen in love with some of the most complicated and dense books I’ve ever read and Don Quixote made it to the list.
Honestly, I’ve been mostly trying to escape real life but it caught up to me. In October the relationship I had been for the last 5 years ended and my life took a 180 making me face my demons. I decided I wanted a long complicated book to keep me company and Don Quixote had been in my mind for a while so that’s what I decided on and little did I know how appropriate of a decision it was!
Don Quixote also loses control of his mind and life as he dives into his books, he manipulates reality and brings people into his craziness to a point where nobody knows who’s actually crazy and who isn’t. Following him and Sancho through the most absurd adventures while trying to make sense of my new life was really meaningful and held a mirror to my face, showing how much I’ve been trying to escape at the same time that I made my own problems.
On a less narcissistic take: this book is SO META! I advise you to search about Cervantes’ history before reading it so you can enjoy how many references the book makes to certain events and how he plays with the authors, translators, and even the person that tried to plagiarize the second part of the book. I really love that kind of thing, when a book goes beyond itself, it feels like I followed not only the characters and the plot but also the legacy that it left.
Even though I could talk about it for hours I think there isn’t much else I can say to try to convince you to pick this up. It is tough, it is dense, tiring and all of the things expected from such an old thick book but I promise it’s all worth it!
Have you read it? Are there any books that have followed you through a tough time?
If you’ve been here this year it’s no news to you that I’ve been on a crazy classics binge the whole year. I’ve been testing my limits and have fallen in love with some of the most complicated and dense books I’ve ever read and Don Quixote made it to the list.
Honestly, I’ve been mostly trying to escape real life but it caught up to me. In October the relationship I had been for the last 5 years ended and my life took a 180 making me face my demons. I decided I wanted a long complicated book to keep me company and Don Quixote had been in my mind for a while so that’s what I decided on and little did I know how appropriate of a decision it was!
Don Quixote also loses control of his mind and life as he dives into his books, he manipulates reality and brings people into his craziness to a point where nobody knows who’s actually crazy and who isn’t. Following him and Sancho through the most absurd adventures while trying to make sense of my new life was really meaningful and held a mirror to my face, showing how much I’ve been trying to escape at the same time that I made my own problems.
On a less narcissistic take: this book is SO META! I advise you to search about Cervantes’ history before reading it so you can enjoy how many references the book makes to certain events and how he plays with the authors, translators, and even the person that tried to plagiarize the second part of the book. I really love that kind of thing, when a book goes beyond itself, it feels like I followed not only the characters and the plot but also the legacy that it left.
Even though I could talk about it for hours I think there isn’t much else I can say to try to convince you to pick this up. It is tough, it is dense, tiring and all of the things expected from such an old thick book but I promise it’s all worth it!
Have you read it? Are there any books that have followed you through a tough time?
This book was fun, Sancho is hands down the best character. A lot of parts droned on unnecessarily and got boring.