Decameron??

[Bastet]

I came across an old edition of Boccaccio's Decameron. I was thinking about it as my next reading. Have you read it? Any opinions? Thanks!!

[grace86]

I read part of the Decameron for my lit class. It was really good, my only regret is that I could not read further. It is a frame story - the people in the story are telling stories. There are ten people who got together to escape the plague, each one tells a story every day for ten days, so it equals one hundred stories. I found them very entertaining and some really funny. I personally thought it was easier to read than the Cantebury Tales.

The stories are about light hearted things, and fun, because they wanted to forget their troubles around them - so some make you laugh and some are full of ribaldry. Nothing too mind breaking. Very entertaining.

[Bastet]

Thanks Lauren! Another thing, my aunt is gonna lend me La Sombra del Viento as soon as she's done with it ;)

[Hippolite]

Since the Decameron is basically a compilation of short stories one doesn’t really need to read it cover to cover but could just as easily jump around form story to story (there is not much narrative outside of the individual stories). Some of the stories are quite enjoyable, the raunchy ones being the best. It’s almost shocking just how bawdy some of them were, given that they were written in the late middle ages. Desperate Housewives has nothing on some of these characters. Others of the stories are more preachy and moralistic and I personally thought most of those fell flat, but maybe that’s just my perspective.

[penelopea]

Excellent film by .....Pasolini (couldnt think of his name for a moment)

[grace86]

Oh good, so you are going to read Zafon in spanish! That one is an easily enjoyable read too.

[decameronbamron]

Yo you really got to check this book out. When i read the one about the deaf dude who couldn't talk and went to live with the nuns, i was laughin my *** off on tha floor!!! For real, you can check this out at your library, probably. If they dont have it, then ask the librarian.

[JBI]

I read it a long time ago, but I am holding back on rereading until my Italian proficiency increases, and I can enjoy it in the original.

As it was though, the English translation I had was rather dull in places, though some of the stories were particularly good. I like the concept of the work, and have considered aspects of it in my own writing (back then, I don't really write much for fun anymore), but I really need to return to it.

[livelaughlove]

Shadow of the Wind! I love that book. I'd love to find a Spanish version..

[mazHur]

Decameron is written on the same theme and style as the Arabian Nights
which excels in quality and quantity over the former