Quichotte

by Salman Rushdie
Quichotte cover
Good Books rating 2.67
Literary Fiction
Technical:
  • ID: 1312
  • Added: 2025-10-04
  • Updated: 2025-10-04
  • ISBN: 9781473572072
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2019-08-29
  • Formats: 17
  • Reviews: 3
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Inspired by Cervantes' classic, Salman Rushdie's Quichotte follows Sam DuChamp, a struggling writer who creates Quichotte, a delusional salesman on a quest for love. As Quichotte and his imaginary son Sancho traverse America, their adventures mirror DuChamp's own midlife crisis, creating a profound exploration of human desires and the absurdities of modern life. /n/n Rushdie's novel is a satirical tour de force, blending the picaresque with contemporary issues, and offering a wickedly entertaining critique of a society where truth and fiction often collide.

Reviews
London Review of Books · Michael Wood · 2019-09-12
positive 4.00

The book is a dense and complex exploration of modern life, blending humor and profundity. It's a challenging but rewarding read.

Michael Wood praises Quichotte as a dense and complex novel that masterfully blends humor and profound insights into modern life. He notes that Rushdie's writing is exuberant and full of ideas, making it a challenging but ultimately rewarding read. Wood appreciates the novel's exploration of themes like love, family, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world, even if the sheer volume of ideas can sometimes be overwhelming.

Quick quotes

    Quichotte revisits Rushdie's theory of India in another mode.

    He is describing the seven valleys of a traditional quest.

    The sheer volume of ideas can sometimes be overwhelming.

NPR · 2019-09-07
negative 1.50

The book is a missed opportunity, with jokes that don't land and a lack of clear direction. It's a frustrating read.

The reviewer found Quichotte to be a disappointing read, with a fantasy that lacks the usual signifiers and humor that falls flat. They describe it as a frustrating experience, with the narrative feeling directionless and the jokes not landing as intended. Despite the rich language and musicality of the prose, the reviewer feels that the book misses the mark in delivering a cohesive and satisfying story.

Quick quotes

    A fantasy missing all the signifiers of fantasy.

    A comedy where every single joke fails to land completely.

    It's got so much music in the words, but it's missing the heart.

The Guardian · 2019-08-26
mixed 2.50

The book has moments of humor but often feels forced. It comes across as a writer trying too hard to make a point.

The reviewer found Quichotte to be a mixed bag. While there are indeed funny moments, they often fall flat and feel like the author is trying too hard to be clever. The humor doesn't consistently land, and the book sometimes reads like a series of one-liners rather than a cohesive narrative. Despite this, the reviewer acknowledges the ambition and creativity behind the work, even if the execution doesn't always meet the high expectations set by Rushdie's previous works.

Quick quotes

    While Quichotte is funny, it's rarely as funny as Rushdie thinks it is.

    Sometimes, it reads like the work of a man trying to have the final word.

    The humor doesn't consistently land, and the book sometimes reads like a series of one-liners rather than a cohesive narrative.

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