I had been so excited to read this book for over a year. I found this classic at my local library's book sale about that time and before I had the chance to read it, I had to pack for what I thought was a bigger move than we had. In that process, most of my books went to storage where this one remained since. By happy circumstances, I was able to retrieve the box and finally read this book on my TBR. I am heartily disappointed that I did not like this so much. I wanted it to be over at the 20% mark. 

I genuinely wanted to enjoy it, I read Le Morte De Arthur which is a much thicker and more challenging book in contrast to this but I loved it and thought that would extend to this one too. But I was not invested. 

I enjoy the themes and creativity in this book, and I love the messages of illusion, reality, the romanticism of the past and if certain things are better left there, humanities complex nature, friendship, self-discovery and character growth, and even how different classes interact with Don Quixote's ideals. I think that's fabulous, and add some humor to the story and it's great. And I enjoyed the final message in the book and the first chapter getting into the enchantment of it. 

But as I read and the story became more tragic and less funny it became akin to watching "funny videos" that are not funny because people could get seriously hurt. Then progressively wishing the cameraman would stop filming, actually help them, and call someone for medical attention and not take the time to laugh and post first. But it's funny despite the drama because it's unexpected not knowing what he will do next. Is what it is supposed to be anyway.
It was painful to watch a disillusioned man who I wanted to root for do what he thought was right get bullied, abused, suffer trauma, and ridiculed beyond the physical pains he constantly gained, and only get worse. I didn't want to hear that and the comedy only rubbed salt to the wounds of the story. It was hard to get past that and try to see the story with a less narrow frame of view as I intended to enjoy a book. But it was too long, and too painful for me to personally enjoy as a pleasure read. It's a classic for a reason and demonstrates it's themes I support well. 
I simply can't recommend it based on my experience or want to pick it up again. Sadly not worth the wait or the time I invested into it. 

After years of feeling intimidated by this book, I finally felt I was in a place where I wanted to pick up this book and give it a try. My grandmother loved this book and toward the end of her life, we connected a bit through books. I regret not picking up Don Quixote in her lifetime, but I’m glad I didn’t just say ‘oh well’ and move on. 

 

His mind having been taken over by the many worlds of literature, Don Quixote deems himself knight-errant and sets off in search of quests of his own. Sancho Panza, his loyal squire, accompanies him. The two of them embark on many adventures. 

 

I realized very quickly that Don Quixote is not the dueling epic I assumed it to be. What I found, I enjoyed far more. It’s a story of madness, shall we say, and disillusion, but there is something very relatable in that in the modern day. Haven’t most of us picked up a book as a form of escapism? Don’t readers at some point wish they could get lost in a literary world? In that regard, I found Cervantes to be ahead of his time. That said, it’s also very much a classic, and a wordy one at that. 

 

Though I took my time with this book, I often felt that the scenes were dragging on much longer than they needed to, but I suppose that’s the curse of being used to modern books. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and soaked in so many of the passages. I also cherished getting to experience a piece of my grandmother in a way. 

the first half was pretty repetitive but it was genuinely funny and if you ignore the sexism and racism it holds up fairly well considering it was written like 400 years ago. i wouldn’t say this was a life changing book but i really enjoyed it and it was so interesting to see how much of it has influenced other works!

A man with visions of grandeur, after reading fictional stories about lone vigilantes, convinces himself that he too is a freedom fighter. In doing so, he goes out into the world, killing and proclaiming his righteousness, and shifting any narrative to make it so that he is the true hero. No, it is not the modern midwestern USA, it is Don Quixote. Which actually was a wonderful book, and I can understand why something so modern-feeling despite being 400 years old is considered the first modern novel. Somehow a story that is 1000 pages long didn't drag, and going into very long classics such as this you run such a risk. Filled with strange melodramatic stories, wonderful varied characters, and good nature, I highly recommend it. Oh yeah, except all the rampant Islamophobia, but I guess that's to be expected. 9/10.