Don Quixote

It has been slow reading, or, in this case, slow listening.  Being on vacation and riding in cars most of the days this summer (going to camp with son Alex, traveling to conferences, etc.) is not helping me reduce the RA favorite list.  I also saved almost all of the long books for the end… finally finished listening to the all-time classic Don Quixote by Cervantes.  If you can get through it, similar to Count of Monte Cristo in terms of length (also a great book), you will really enjoy this one.  The story is broken into two parts where the main character, Alonso Quixada or Quixana as the spelling doesn’t seem to have been kept in the village exactly, a retired country gentleman approximately 50 years old, becomes obsessed by books of chivalry and begins to believe them true to the word.  His obsession leads him to a journey as a new man makes him a legend in his time.  Renamed Don Quixote, he lives in the section of the country called La Mancha with a niece and a housekeeper. Based on his behavior, others think that he is out of his mind while he perseveres through his own “knighthood” and galvanizing many to believe he is the feared and renowned Knight Don Quixote of La Mancha! He brings his faithful horse, renamed Rocinante, and his neighboring farmer’s daughter (a woman whom he loves, though she is unaware), Dulcinea del Toboso, to visit an inn, which he believes is a castle and asks to be knighted by the innkeeper.  After a valiant battle (argument) he gets dubbed knight by the innkeeper and is sent away, there begins the story of the Don!  He does have run-ins with others along the way but things get interesting when he convinces his neighbor, Sancho Panza, to become his squire (after he promises him governorship of a neighboring island!) and the two of them set off on adventures from fighting windmills believed to be giants to interactions with prostitutes, criminals and other unsavory characters that lead him back home at the end of Part One.  Part Two is more of the same, though by this time others have heard of the “legend” before he arrives.  Sancho becomes an even bigger part of the story and finally does land his governorship, though for only a few days.  Enough time to rule the locals with new laws, including being naked on the island!  The story has “period humor” for sure, though can still give one a smile on the face.  Like most journey stories this one has a beginning, middle, and an ending, one in which Quixote begins to see the truth and comes back to some semblance of reality.  The story ends with the death of Quixote and, as the author shares, there are no more stories to be told.  Cervantes' work is a masterpiece and lasts even to today’s high expectations for great works.  Add this to the list, it needs to be on the proverbial “bucket list” of books to read.  I now have completed EVERY book that at least 2 RAs suggested I read.  A nice accomplishment for sure.