Scan barcode
jacob_guitar123's review
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
michael_kelleher's review against another edition
5.0
I regret that I've never actually read Don Quixote. But Monsignor Quixote was a charming book, and the Monsignor and his friend have some great conversations and observations. I loved every moment of this book.
marcy_kelleher's review against another edition
5.0
I regret that I've never actually read Don Quixote. But Monsignor Quixote was a charming book, and the Monsignor and his friend have some great conversations and observations. I loved every moment of this book.
paul_cornelius's review against another edition
5.0
Perhaps not the best of Greene's work. But enjoyable nonetheless. A "failed" priest and his companion, an atheistic Marxist, travel across the Spanish countryside in a broken down car. Their conversations provide the true fuel for the trip, as both men come to terms with their own beliefs and the other's. As usual, superb dialogue and imagery of a semi-exotic locale--mid century Spain.
flijn's review against another edition
4.0
One of my favourite quotes from this book describes a dream that father Quixote has, where Christ rises from the cross in front of everyone present, transforming faith into certainty.
This image terrifies him; certainty makes his life as a man of God meaningless.
A lovely, funny, melancholic story.
You don't need to have read Don Quixote to appreciate it (but it is probably even better when you have).
There was no ambiguity, no room for doubt, and no room for faith at all.
This image terrifies him; certainty makes his life as a man of God meaningless.
A lovely, funny, melancholic story.
You don't need to have read Don Quixote to appreciate it (but it is probably even better when you have).
maryaliceelange's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I loved the tension between catholic and communist views, since I was raised catholic and am leftist. Sometimes while reading it I almost felt like I was having a conversation with my dad, which I loved.
sanrodsara's review against another edition
3.0
This book showed so much promise that the ending felt like a cop-out. Probably one fo the most frustrating reads this year. I felt like so much could have been done to improve the ending.
jasonfurman's review against another edition
3.0
It has been a long time since I have read any Graham Greene and Monsignor Quixote was in some ways a nostalgic reminder of his novels, in some ways fan fiction for Don Quixote itself, but never substantial enough to be a serious work or entertaining enough to be a light one.
The novel is set in post-Franco Spain in the village of El Toboso in La Mancha. The main character is a local priest, Father Quixote, who is descended from Don Quixote (which causes no amount of incredulity in a few characters who express disbelief that someone can be descended from a fictional character). He is semi-accidentally promoted to Monsignor and goes on a quest with the communist ex Mayor, naturally named Sancho, to get the purple socks he needs for his new position. On their journey they drink a lot, stay in inns, have run ins with the guardia, strange experiences in confession, and end up being wanted themselves.
Much of the book is dialogue between Quixote and Sancho about the similarities and differences between Catholicism and communism and the role of books in shaping views about both. Some of this dialogue is interesting but not all is. And none of it aims or achieves the humor of Don Quixote itself. Nor does it have a compelling enough plot, character development, or anything else to justify the absence of that humor.
The novel is set in post-Franco Spain in the village of El Toboso in La Mancha. The main character is a local priest, Father Quixote, who is descended from Don Quixote (which causes no amount of incredulity in a few characters who express disbelief that someone can be descended from a fictional character). He is semi-accidentally promoted to Monsignor and goes on a quest with the communist ex Mayor, naturally named Sancho, to get the purple socks he needs for his new position. On their journey they drink a lot, stay in inns, have run ins with the guardia, strange experiences in confession, and end up being wanted themselves.
Much of the book is dialogue between Quixote and Sancho about the similarities and differences between Catholicism and communism and the role of books in shaping views about both. Some of this dialogue is interesting but not all is. And none of it aims or achieves the humor of Don Quixote itself. Nor does it have a compelling enough plot, character development, or anything else to justify the absence of that humor.
zotty's review against another edition
3.0
A priest and a communist go on a roadtrip, and it's just as funny as I expected it to be. An overall very pleasant read, though I think I would've enjoyed it more if I was older and more religious.