I forgot that I put this as one of my goals. Well I finished it about a month ago. I loved it and will probably end up reading it again to my kids. 1 month ago

This book really was a triumph in literature. It was so cutting edge for its time that I can see how writers, today, borrow from it. Feom what I understand, Cervantes was a contemporary of Shakespeare. I wouldn’t be surprised if Shakespeare was at all inspired by Cervantes. There are similarities in the creativity in which they intermingle multiple plots in order to help define existentialism. And the idea what is real and what is not is forced on us by Cervantes in this manner so that we may better empathize with the character Quixote and the obvious mental illness that could be described as schizophrenia complete with visual, auditory hallucinations. The realities in which we all live can be confounding even when we say it is not. For example, denial is probably the strongest factor which helps us live our lives. Overrating, smoking, alcoholism, and other addictions are quick examples of denial of truth in order to continue I that reality. Cervantes makes us accept that there is a reality in which we all live then there is the reality in which the “sane” characters of the book live, then is the reality in which d wits like Sancho Panza live, an then then there is the reality in which Don Quixote lives. On to of that, Cervantes invites us to join the elite in intellectual conversations of writers themselves by making the writer of the “Histories of Dom Quixote” come to light. There is also a level in which art imitates the times in which servants was alive by debunking a previously written knock-off novel of the sequel of DonQuixote. Cervantes also weaves people of fame and infamy of his current times. Letting go of this book will be like saying goodbye to an old friend. 3 months ago

It’s been a while but I’m almost done. It’s a little bitter sweet. It feel food to finish reading it, but it also feels like losing a good friend. Someone I’ve come to know and love. 3 months ago

Today I was innocently walking through campus – well, as innocent as I get anyway! – when I noticed that they were having a secondhand book sale outside the library. Drawn like a moth to a flame, I circumambulated the stand several times before succumbing to my innermost desires…

I came away with The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg and Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh, the latter of which I’ve wanted to re-read for a long time. And it’s the edition with my favourite cover! Yay! Now I have no money for lunch but I have nice books instead.

I wish I could cross-reference this entry to my “Improve my impulse control” goal. :/ 17 months ago

I’ve been distracted! By shiny things! Well, what I’ve been distracted by is really The Spire by William Golding. Anything that prominently features clergy tends to go straight to the top of my to-read list. Sigh. I’ll get back on Don Quixote soon! 18 months ago