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lynneelue 's review for:
Don Quixote
by Miguel de Cervantes
This book is so outrageous! A man reads and loves books of chivalry so much that he decides he wants to be a knight errant, too, so he does. He gets all the things he needs, like a horse with a noble name, a noble name for himself, a squire, armour, and a lady love. It doesn't matter if some things are made up, because this man actually believes they exist. So often it speaks of his madness, and he insists that inns are actually castles and windmills are giants, or that a peasant is his Lady enchanted to look like that to torment him. Don Quixote is so devoted to his cause and it's so admirable, because he puts up with a lot doing what he does, yet he doesn't notice people laughing behind his back. So ignorance is bliss, perhaps.
Everyone has a favourite scene or two (it's so hard to choose) from Don Quixote that will never be forgotten. Mine is how Sancho Panza, DQ's squire, went away to talk with shepherds and purchase some cheese, and then DQ calls him over quickly so he can fight a wagon. He calls for his helmet, which Sancho, hurried, had put the cheese/milk quickly because he didn't know where else to put it. Rather than telling him this, Sancho gives DQ the helmet, DQ puts it on, and curds and whey drip down his face. DQ exclaims that his brains are mush and he's expiring heavily, while Sancho waits by nervously hoping not to be discovered. It's hilarious and ridiculous, and I've never read anything like it. Crazy adventure after crazy adventure. It's not all funny, though, and it tends to become repetitive or dragging considering the book's length, but it's also touching. There are so many characters you meet and then never see again (or who do show up again), and it's easy to get attached to some. You've got to admire DQ's perseverance and Sancho's loyalty. You feel like you know them and forgive them of their quirks. You feel sad when DQ begins to lose his fantasy at the end, becoming more like Sancho with his low-brow proverbs and lack of belief in enchantments. All games come to an end, and DQ's travels as knight errant end eventually.
I liked all the narrator's inclusion. It was clearly Cervantes the author speaking, pretending to be the translator of the original author Cide Hemete Benengeli. He explains aspects to Cide Hemete's style, which brings this "author" to life, too, in my imagination. He is very upset about someone else publishing a book about the continued adventures of DQ and he says so often in frequent pointed remarks and rants. It was interesting seeing the difference between the first and second parts of the novel, as in the second part DQ was less enthusiastic and more realistic, even though fantastic adventures did happen still. He's more breakable and doesn't get up as easily.
So overall, good book but too long. Some adventures aren't as interesting as others, but you'll never get to the really great parts if you don't bother reading, and you miss part of the point of DQ's travels if you only read his adventure highlights.
Everyone has a favourite scene or two (it's so hard to choose) from Don Quixote that will never be forgotten. Mine is how Sancho Panza, DQ's squire, went away to talk with shepherds and purchase some cheese, and then DQ calls him over quickly so he can fight a wagon. He calls for his helmet, which Sancho, hurried, had put the cheese/milk quickly because he didn't know where else to put it. Rather than telling him this, Sancho gives DQ the helmet, DQ puts it on, and curds and whey drip down his face. DQ exclaims that his brains are mush and he's expiring heavily, while Sancho waits by nervously hoping not to be discovered. It's hilarious and ridiculous, and I've never read anything like it. Crazy adventure after crazy adventure. It's not all funny, though, and it tends to become repetitive or dragging considering the book's length, but it's also touching. There are so many characters you meet and then never see again (or who do show up again), and it's easy to get attached to some. You've got to admire DQ's perseverance and Sancho's loyalty. You feel like you know them and forgive them of their quirks. You feel sad when DQ begins to lose his fantasy at the end, becoming more like Sancho with his low-brow proverbs and lack of belief in enchantments. All games come to an end, and DQ's travels as knight errant end eventually.
I liked all the narrator's inclusion. It was clearly Cervantes the author speaking, pretending to be the translator of the original author Cide Hemete Benengeli. He explains aspects to Cide Hemete's style, which brings this "author" to life, too, in my imagination. He is very upset about someone else publishing a book about the continued adventures of DQ and he says so often in frequent pointed remarks and rants. It was interesting seeing the difference between the first and second parts of the novel, as in the second part DQ was less enthusiastic and more realistic, even though fantastic adventures did happen still. He's more breakable and doesn't get up as easily.
So overall, good book but too long. Some adventures aren't as interesting as others, but you'll never get to the really great parts if you don't bother reading, and you miss part of the point of DQ's travels if you only read his adventure highlights.