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A review by estranger0
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes
4.0
Don Quixote documents the infamous Don Quixote and his loyal squire Sancho Panza while they venture throughout Spain, which outright creates one of the most memorable, comedic, and tragic books to exist. The fact that this book is well over 400 years old is absolutely mind-blowing. With characters as creatively and cleverly written as Alonso Quixano himself or his comic-relief turned quixotic mirror-image Sancho Panza, it's a blessing this book has been kept in publication for almost half a century.
Let's talk about the story: the book takes no time getting to the meat and potatoes of our heroes tale; the infamous and noteworthy sallies of Don Quixote are super memorable and enjoyable to every reader no matter whom you are. The various different characters and their intricate characteristics, plot element and devices, clever and engaging sub-plots and personal histories are all what make this book so special and unique. If one were to write a novel, they wouldn't know the first thing about writing without reading this masterpiece.
I'd also like to talk about how this is probably one of the only books where the characters are self-aware, and that self-awareness is one of the most important plot elements in the story. The characters are aware of Don Quixote's and Sancho's foolishness, and frequently prank, punish, or parade them. These are all other very important reasons as to why this book is so scarily realistic despite revolving around Quixote's madness: it shows how many people will take advantage of the mad or unfortunate, and how they feel no remorse for or to these who cannot control themselves. Don Quixote is not evil, yet it is his madness that drives to commit all these crazy and dangerous acts.
Sancho is also one of the most intellectually-written characters in all of fiction, with the "quixotification of Sancho" showing how deeply associating yourself with the mad, reaching for unrealistic goals, and putting faith into the unpredictable and unreliable will turn you into the insanity you have tried to triumph. This book is another "cheat sheet for life" as I have called many others (i.e. The Brothers Karamazov, East of Eden), since there are so many proverbs from Sancho, silly sallies of Don Quixote, and tragic tales from minor characters like those of Cardenio that will certainly make you think twice before devising, attempting, or dedicating yourself to some unreal or impossible task.
In a nutshell: like The Count Of Monte Cristo, don't let the length scare you. Read this in the long-term, stated one of my influences Benjamin McEvoy, and associate yourself with the characters. You can find infinite and vast knowledge from this book, and an extensive amount of silly as well of profound quotes that will certainly be useful in your lifetime.
"Vale."
Let's talk about the story: the book takes no time getting to the meat and potatoes of our heroes tale; the infamous and noteworthy sallies of Don Quixote are super memorable and enjoyable to every reader no matter whom you are. The various different characters and their intricate characteristics, plot element and devices, clever and engaging sub-plots and personal histories are all what make this book so special and unique. If one were to write a novel, they wouldn't know the first thing about writing without reading this masterpiece.
I'd also like to talk about how this is probably one of the only books where the characters are self-aware, and that self-awareness is one of the most important plot elements in the story. The characters are aware of Don Quixote's and Sancho's foolishness, and frequently prank, punish, or parade them. These are all other very important reasons as to why this book is so scarily realistic despite revolving around Quixote's madness: it shows how many people will take advantage of the mad or unfortunate, and how they feel no remorse for or to these who cannot control themselves. Don Quixote is not evil, yet it is his madness that drives to commit all these crazy and dangerous acts.
Sancho is also one of the most intellectually-written characters in all of fiction, with the "quixotification of Sancho" showing how deeply associating yourself with the mad, reaching for unrealistic goals, and putting faith into the unpredictable and unreliable will turn you into the insanity you have tried to triumph. This book is another "cheat sheet for life" as I have called many others (i.e. The Brothers Karamazov, East of Eden), since there are so many proverbs from Sancho, silly sallies of Don Quixote, and tragic tales from minor characters like those of Cardenio that will certainly make you think twice before devising, attempting, or dedicating yourself to some unreal or impossible task.
In a nutshell: like The Count Of Monte Cristo, don't let the length scare you. Read this in the long-term, stated one of my influences Benjamin McEvoy, and associate yourself with the characters. You can find infinite and vast knowledge from this book, and an extensive amount of silly as well of profound quotes that will certainly be useful in your lifetime.
"Vale."