I’ve heard about this book a bunch of times but what made me finally pick it up was a Franz Kafka passage so I decided to get it and read it.
I’m almost upset I never picked it up before, I thought it would be a bit of a chore considering how long ago it was written but literally the first paragraph sucked me in and made me enjoy my time. I think it might be my favorite opening passage to a book I’ve read so far, the whole preface I could just tell Cervantes was in a good mood. And the whole book he managed to keep things so intriguing and charming, not even one second did I feel like I was just trudging along, I just wanted to keep reading. As well as the ending, one of the most satisfying endings I can think of, I have no idea how Cervantes managed it, I just feel better for having read it.
Anyways, if anyone else has read the book I’d love to know your opinions.
by NotBorris
3 Comments
I could only make it about halfway through it when I tried it a few years ago. It was entertaining, but after the umpteenth same slapstick bit with a slightly different variation I had to pause. It felt like ancient three stooges to me, which is awesome to me in small doses. I do intend to finish it one day when I am in a silly mood.
Read it in college. I remember laughing so hard at how funny it is. Don Quixote and Sancho are literal goons. Shits so funny. So well written. I even loved the interpolated novels within the story, how there are stories within stories in DQ. Shits so funny and fun altogether.
I had a hard time with it. After many false starts, I finally used an audiobook to get through part one. Now you have me curious about part 2.
I think my problem is that I love exactly the kind of books Cervantes parodies. I see too much of myself in Don Quixote.