Sorry to hear about the mental-health issues with your family, Silent. We’ve been relatively lucky here, although my grandmother had her moments. She was bi-polar (manic-depressive back then, I’m sure you know). I was just a little kid, but I remember that her depressive episodes were frightening and her manic episodes were a run-and-take-cover event for us whippersnappers. At any rate, yesterday I started Le Morte d’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory. After chatting with you about Don Quixote, I thought it’d be fun to read the sort of text that Cervantes was satirizing. Hey, there's Qimi! I knew I'd be good company over here.
I chose the only one I could find--a translation by Walter Starkie. I like the story too--though sometimes I find Quixote's behavior disturbing rather than funny. The problem is that my family has a lot of mental illness in it--and while delusions can be amusing, they can cause a lot of damage. But it is a very good book, and there is plenty of amusing passages. I like Sancho...and he has his moments of wisdom.
Ha ha. Yep, I just really like that book. I've probably read it a dozen times for one reason or another, and as for the screen name: I've always identified with Sancho- a slightly dim-witted, always practical, somewhat skeptical fellow who was most of all a good friend to Don. Hey, if you're reading a translated copy, with one did you choose? I just recently read Edith Grossman's translation and I loved it.
Hey! One of these days you will have to tell me why your name is Sancho. I'm assuming by your avatar that you are identifying with Don Quixote's squire. I'm reading that at the moment.
It is nice to know you too. Happy New Year! I wish you happiness, health, and prosperity!
¡Feliz Año Nuevo, mi amiga! What a pleasant surprize. Thanks, Silent, it's nice to know you. --Sanchito
I enjoyed it too! It reminds me of the short story game I started some time ago. I had great fun with Manichaean, who was the only player. Sorry I dropped off there. I was getting ready for the New Year. I'm not much into drinking and all that, but I always like to get a fresh start. I just love that new year smell! I love a clean slate! As for the short story competition, I'm sure anyone who has a story in it will be disappointed if they lose...but at least if you lose, you lose to a worthy competitor.
Hiya, Silent, And thanks for playing along on the Short Story Contest thread. I'm afraid I was a little distracted and couldn't give the collaboration a lot of thought, but it was fun nontheless. It's busy-busy-busy this time of year in my job. Not to mix metaphors or anything, but on my last post, I more or less punted. I fell back into an old story line and just sort-of ran with it. At any rate, good luck if you have a story in the competition, and if you don't -HAPPY NEW YEAR! --Sanchito
