Quichotte

by Salman Rushdie
Quichotte cover
Good Books rating 3.25
Literary Fiction
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Format • £9.49
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Technical
  • ID: 1312
  • Added: 2025-10-04
  • Updated: 2025-11-16
  • ISBN: 9781473572072
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2019-08-29
  • Formats: 28
  • Reviews: 4

Quichotte, by Booker Prize-winning author Salman Rushdie, reimagines Cervantes' classic Don Quixote for the modern age. The story follows Sam DuChamp, a struggling writer who creates Quichotte, a lovestruck salesman obsessed with television. Quichotte, accompanied by his imaginary son Sancho, embarks on a picaresque journey across America to win the heart of his beloved, the TV star Salman R. Meanwhile, DuChamp grapples with his own midlife crisis, intertwining their lives in a profound exploration of love and the absurdities of contemporary society. Rushdie's novel is a satirical and magical journey through a country teetering on moral and spiritual collapse. With his signature storytelling magic, Rushdie blends the lives of DuChamp and Quichotte, creating a wickedly entertaining portrait of an age where fact and fiction often collide. The novel is a testament to Rushdie's ability to weave complex narratives that resonate deeply with readers.

Reviews
Goodreads · 2025-10-17
enjoyable 4.00

The novel is a fun and accessible tragi-comic read that skillfully merges the stories of its characters.

This reviewer found Quichotte to be an enjoyable and engaging read. The novel's blend of humor and tragedy creates a compelling narrative that keeps the reader hooked. The reviewer particularly appreciates how Rushdie weaves together the stories of Quichotte and Sam Duchamps, making the novel both fun and thought-provoking. The accessible style and riveting plot make it a standout work.

Quick quotes

    Rushdie adroitly connects and merges Quichotte's story with that of Sam Duchamps in this fun, accessible, riveting and enjoyable tragi-comic read.

    Many thanks for a delightful and thought-provoking reading experience.

    The novel's blend of humor and tragedy creates a compelling narrative that keeps the reader hooked.

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.

NPR · 2019-09-07
intriguing 3.50

The novel bends magical realism in unusual ways, creating a unique and sometimes challenging reading experience.

This reviewer notes that Quichotte pushes the boundaries of magical realism, blending the magical and the realistic in a way that can be both fascinating and disorienting. The novel's structure and themes are ambitious, and while it may frustrate some readers, it's clear that Rushdie intended to create a thought-provoking work. The reviewer appreciates the novel's originality but acknowledges that it might not be for everyone.

Quick quotes

    It is a novel of magical realism that bends the notions of 'magical' and 'realism' so far that it's like China Miéville trying to rewrite.

    If Salman Rushdie's Quichotte drives you nuts, that's fine. It's meant to.

    The novel's structure and themes are ambitious, and while it may frustrate some readers, it's clear that Rushdie intended to create a thought-provoking work.

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