Don Quixote

By: Miguel de Cervantes

Narrated by: Julian Reinoso

Length: 34 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

Published in two volumes a decade apart, Don Quixote is the most influential work of literature to emerge from the Spanish Golden Age and perhaps the entire Spanish literary canon. As a founding work of modern Western literature, it regularly appears at the top of lists of the greatest works of fiction ever published.

Public Domain (P)2008 Alpha DVD LLC

Classic tale made difficult

Where the use of a slight Spanish accent could enhance the enjoyment of the tale, the number of mispronunciations causes a loss of flow to the story and takes the listener out of the book and into a mode of just trying to figure out what was supposed to be said.

should have listened to sample

It was just a little difficult to understand what was being said. Had a hard time hearing it.

Not a very good narration of thi great work of art

This narration lacks the panache of the original text. This narrator is completely unable to convey the inferred humor of the language of the original text. Not only is the narration liking the subtleties d original oh just work this translation seems to wholly miss the wonder and the subtle nuances of the original old style Spanish script.

The narrator's inability to correctly pronounce the Old English forms of "Thee" and "Thou" does not convey the original wit and wisdom of these epic stories.

This narration sounds like a high school freshman reading Shakespeare aloud for the first time

Difficult to understand in a car

This audiobook is not recommended for environments like cars. The accent is challenging without interference but impossible with interference.

Nearly Incomprehensible Narration

Would you try another book from Miguel de Cervantes and/or Julian Reinoso?

Certainly not Julian Reinoso.

What didn’t you like about Julian Reinoso’s performance?

His pronunciations and accents are off the chart bizarre!

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointed; I didn't get past the first 30 minutes.

Any additional comments?

The comments of other members speak to the same issues I have raised.

I agree.

This version was pretty bad. I intend on reviewing the ratings of other listeners in the future. I could have saved myself some time and annoyance.

🙉🙉🙉🙉

I couldn't even get through 10 minutes. I'm sorry to say the narrator voice is unlistenable. I'm super bummed because I was really looking forward to hearing the story.

The accent is too heavy to hear the story through.

What would have made Don Quixote better?

A different narrator.

Would you be willing to try another one of Julian Reinoso’s performances?

Never.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

I was disappointed because I couldn't bear to listen to the story, which, itself, is a fun story. Julian Reinoso could not pronounce basic English words. I didn't listen to a sample before ordering this book, which is my own fault.

the narator is in-audible

I can't understand anything the narrator is saying. it was not enjoyable what so ever

A non-native speaker struggling to read English??

I purchased this hastily, which makes me partly responsible, but I find it hard to believe that this reader was approved. There are non-native speakers who speak wonderfully and whose accents add charm to the reading, but unfortunately this is not one of them. Julian Reinoso is fairly comprehensible, but there are too many moments when his pronunciation proves to be a barrier between the listener and the story itself. His intonations are robotic and he places accents at strange points in many words. The result is that you often have to stuggle or rewind just to make sense of what he is saying. There is no natural flow of the language whatsoever.

It goes without saying that clarity of pronunciation and natural flow should be top priorities for an audiobook. I am still puzzled as to how this reading of 30 + hours was approved when the reader is so difficult to understand. I do not recommend this audiobook.

I am going to try the Robert Whitfield reading, which from the sample sounds much clearer and enjoyable than this unfortunate version.