And I Thought I had Problems Living in Reality

So, yes, the Don is off his rocker. In a huge way, but it's endearing on him some how. He's so determined to be the valiant knight that rights the wrongs of the evildoers that I kinda want to hug him!

I know from my own experience how easy it is to allow yourself to get so absorbed in what you're reading that you imagine it coming to life. There are things that have really risen to life with cult classics, i.e. Rocky Horror Picture Show or Anne Rice. While I don't believe that people actually truly believe there is a galaxy called Translyvania with a planet called Transsexual in it, there is something amazing to them about coming to life in characters that were created in said movie.

My heart broke a little when the barber, curate, housekeeper and niece stepped in to restore his sanity. While they are sitting there listing off all these volumes, and even hoarding a couple for themselves because they feel that the particular book they're looking at is too precious to destroy, it's interesting how far they think they should go to restore the Don to his sanity. Of course the outcome was definitely not what they bargained for, but the intentions were good!

One thing I noticed was that Cervantes worked himself into the story, by making his books to precious to be destroyed. One of the characters explains how long he has been friends with Cervantes and knows his books are not culprits to the outcome of Don's mental state. It's cool to see that he did intwine himself into the book like that. A lot of authors like to put aspects of themselves into characters, but to actually just put yourself into the story like that....well, that's just cool.

Whenever I find a book that I enjoy so much, I can always find myself acting out the plot with my friends in the supporting character roles. In my head at least. I don't think I could ever explain to anyone why I'm using a stick as a staff to ward off the evil beings coming at me. I can see why Quixote would do it, but I'm just glad that my sanity is still intact!