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Most Helpful Reviews
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Liked It3 of 3 members found this review helpful “The translation recommended by God (Harold Bloom). Wonderful satiric, picaresque adventures; the relationship between the Don and Sancho lives and breathes on the page and sears into the memory. Delightful. It's a classic that goes down easy, folks. Don't miss it.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It2 of 5 members found this review helpful “Dry, allegorical in the extreme, and occasionally witty, but certainly not what I hoped for. I don't think I'm going to finish it. After a hundred pages, I was completely disenthused. The characters in Don Quixote smell too much like humanity and not enough like real people.” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“A great translation of this bawdy, hilarious, and touching tale.”
Terri B wrote this review 5 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Although this classic novel (indeed the first modern novel?) is too long for contemporary taste and attention span, it is a marvel and one that has influenced literature, art, and philosophy up to this day. There are so many threads--the nature of friendship, the fine line between madness and purpose, the idealization of women (and at the same time, the almost modern depiction of women), multi-culturalism, cruelty, and kindness--that it takes all 940 pages to draw them. It is even quite post-modern in its "book about the book" subplot in Part 2, and its musings on writing and intellectual property.”
Kathy R wrote this review 12 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A complex story of a man who thinks he is a knight, a chain gang and interwoven love”
Josiah M wrote this review 2 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“So far all i know is theres this guy that apparently is a gentlemen and he likes to read. sometimes if he reads a cliff hanger he'll finish the story himself”
Breland P wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“An extremely funny and witty book. It spears the medieval conceptions of chivalry.”
Mike Buckaew wrote this review 3 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This was a book I decided to read because it's just always kind of been there. I read it (and am glad I did, if only to check the box) and it was alright. I did find myself wondering if it couldn't have been a bit shorter because after a while the antics of the Don and Pancho began to wear on my attention. However, I was reading it for pleasure and with a decidedly uncritical eye, so a second, more careful reading might make some of the scenes more meaningful.”
AurumPotabile wrote this review Tuesday, December 1 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I only read book 1. I will likely read book 2 later.
NRL wrote this review Sunday, November 29 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Overall, Don Quixote was enjoyable. It was a relatively easy read and went fast. It was surprisingly humorous. However, certain parts were repetitive.”
“Author Martin Jenkins turns this classic novel into a rollicking road trip with plenty of rowdy humor, supported by the comical illustrations of Chris Riddell. Set in 16th century Spain, an aging country gentleman becomes so obsessed while reading novels of chivalric knights that he believes he is actually a knight errant. Convincing the local peasant Sancho Panza to accompany him as a squire, Don Quixote wanders throughout the country, imagining every person and situation he encounters to be part of his personal quest. Some fight him, while others indulge his insane ways, resulting in a series of wacky adventures including lost ones reunited, love being kindled, and Sancho earning a number of beatings. With the bathroom humor, the author’s skillful handling of bawdier scenes, and the overall feel of a buddy movie, this book seems perfect for older elementary and middle school students, particularly boys. But there are situations and references in the text that need historical context to be fully enjoyed and unfortunately no explanatory notes have been included. In contrast, the book’s physical size and illustrations may keep away teen readers who would find it enjoyable. Even with the detractions, this is a recommended purchase for schools, where it might make a good read aloud, and public libraries, for those young patrons assigned to read a classic.”
Ms. Sarah wrote this review Saturday, November 28 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This ain't the edition I'm crawling through. I have the one with illustrations by Doré, natch.”
Geoff M wrote this review Friday, November 27 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
