Meditations on Quixote

I am not a doctor or nurse; just a patient who happens to have PTSD and some other issues. I am convinced that if my primary care doctor had read a book such as this years ago, my bipolar disorder and PTSD would have been diagnosed and treated years ago. Too many physicians, when confronted with a depressed patient, simply hand out antidepressants or refer the patient to Alcoholics Anonymous.

Jose Ortega Y Gasset--there is no coincidence that the acronym of his name JOYG contains "joy" in it. JOyG's works are like those of another great Spanish writer, Santayana, in that every page has exquisitely written thoughts (through translation from JOyG) that bring great joy to the reader.If you are not familiar with Jose Ortega y Gasset, consider making a New Year's resolution to read at least one of his works. Perspicacious, poignant and written with a true understanding of the human condition--from glory to ignominy. He writes with passion and a clarity that makes his ideas both accessible and understandable. It will naturally make you left with wanting more.

I came to Don Quixote only recently and have become intrigued and -- pardon the expression -- enchanted. I am trying to learn as much as I can about the work and its author. Harold Bloom's introduction to Edith Grossman's translation is insightful. William Egginton's "The Man Who Invented Fiction" is full of information about the author and his times. He ties Cervantes' story to the novel's inventions in a way that helps the reader understand both the author and his famous characters.So the appearance of the word "Quixote" in the title to Ortega y Gasset's book made for an instant sale. I tore through the book as soon as it arrived. After dutifully reading to the end, I am still waiting for the connection to the famous novel.I have a question for those who gave this five stars. I ask this question without irony. You have gotten something out of this book that has eluded me completely. Could the author of this book have written it without ever reading Don Quixote? I don't suggest that he didn't read it. I'm sure he did read it. But what that reading had to do with the "Meditations on Quixote" is beyond me.I agree with the reviewer who said that the time spent reading these Meditations would be better devoted to reading Don Quixote itself. Something I am going to do as soon as I hit "Submit".

Brilliant, deep analysis of Cervantes, his impact on Spanish culture and the novel form, in general. As Kundera says (and I believe he took the idea from this book), Don Quixote is the first European novel. Cervantes invented and defined the form.

Even in translation the author is one of the great minds of the 20th century who writes with fluidity and grace.

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It’s hard not to see Ortega as a sort of parasite attached to Cervantes’ work. He tries to assign to it a nationalistic character, which I’m afraid is the first step he takes in order to almost nearly deplete the novel of its wonderful universal character. I like literary theory but I don’t like Ortega.