chelsbells1994's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
raeleechoins's review against another edition
3.0
Oh my word. While entertaining, it was the same thing over and over for upwards of 1,000 pages, which was annoying after about 309 pages. I didn’t hate it, but I also kind of regret reading it.
sotweedfactor's review against another edition
5.0
An amazing book that is both hilarious and thought-provoking. I know now as well why Faulkner himself would read this book once a year. It is truly the first modernist novel, and there is no rudimentariness in its pages, which is so common in the first attempts at a new school of thought/craft/philosophy. The first part starts as a satirical critique of chivalric novels, but even this carries its own modernist tint, as Don Quixote is the Chivalric Text personified. He is rigid and refuses to act outside of the framework he knows, which in turn allows for a number of relationships (that are at surface interpersonal, but below, intertextual) to be formed and expounded on. The second part of the novel is where it is clear that this is a modernist novel. Don Quixote, and his squire, repeatedly run into people who have read the first work, and thus, force Don Quixote to recognize his past self as conceptualized in Cid Hamete's text. Indeed, Don Quixote even engages in a Man vs. Author dilemma as he is constantly dogged by a fake recounting of his own adventures. In total, this is an amazing book, and I believe, necessary reading to anyone who wants to fully understand the Modernist (and even beyond) novel.
bookshelfmonkey's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
khoystoboy's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Such a large number of histories and adventures cannot be contained...thoroughly enjoyable, although so much of the humour is sadly dimmed by the cultural, literary and historical context which is unknown to the modern reader. Grossman's translation does help to an extent with footnotes, but it does seem that Don Quixote was written specifically for the reader of knight-errant novels. There are many literary elements that feel unusual and confusing as a modern reader, but nonetheless I could not name another story that on the one hand is so straight and blunt, but on the other very touching in its nature and humorous in circumstance.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Islamophobia
Minor: Deportation, Excrement, Kidnapping, and Suicidal thoughts
jelliestars's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
northerly_heart_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
reading37's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
erma11's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I read it in high school many years ago. It’s a staple in Latin American literature, and I believe the inspiration for many other stories. I remember it being a great read!