Don Quixote Reading Group

[grace86]

Hah Virgil I hope you have gotten a bit further in your reading. I am about ten pages away from beginning Part II, I think I need to deprive myself of a little bit of sleep and get some serious reading done.

Chapter twelve was a story about a lovesick shepherd right?

In my introduction it says that Cervantes had a soft spot for the pastoral life...I cannot remember why, and that Cervantes puts a lot of short little stories dealing with shepherds. The author said that most of these shepherd stories are unnecessary and that they drag, so he recommended skipping certain ones and claims that they would have no effect on the over all story.

You are going to have to read them Virgil and let me know what you think about them, because I for one have really enjoyed those stories and think they are some of the best.

Kind of makes me wonder if some of those pastoral stories are what's cut out in the abridged edition.

[Virgil]

I intend to read every chapter Grace. I'm up to fourteen now, which is not a lot of progress. But the weekend is coming. Actually I went back and read the Prologue and the opening poetry. I had skipped that originally so I could get into the swing of the book first. I think you had asked me about the Prologue once and I now that it sunk in I do find it rather odd. Cervantes portraying himself as simple minded writer being asked to lie by another devious person who has read many books. But I think there was a shepherd in a recent chapter, but I don't recall if it was twelve. I don't have the book with me at work.

[grace86]

Hehe I have my book at work so when lunch break comes around (or a boring moment) I have the chance to read.

The introduction is rather interesting. He had just finished Don Quixote, and to him the hard part was coming up with the introduction. He mentioned that other authors put words of wisdom and quoted old philosophers who had famous advice, or some such thing, and yet his book is filled with his own wisdom along with so many references to other authors and famous pieces.

I think what his friend was doing was assigning him generic quotations to cover so many different aspects of the same emotion...and when that doesn't work, say something witty and make up the author's name...after all, who would check save the scholars?

It was a little odd but even that was enjoyable. And oh goodness Virgil, I never even saw the poetry!!!!!! I will have to go back and read that today.

The story I think you might have just finished is about the lady Marcela I think. I will take a look at lunch and then comment hopefully.

Don't have much to do tomorrow, so I hope I can get the reading done.

[ShoutGrace]

Chapter XV, in which is recounted the unfortunate adventure that Don Quixote happened upon when he happened upon some heartless Yanguesans.



“I wish I had enough breath to speak with less effort and that the pain I feel in these ribs would ease just a little, so that I could make clear to you, Panza, how wrong you are.”

. . . . . .

“In this circumstance that just happened to us,” Sancho responded, “I would have liked to have had the intelligence and valor your grace has mentioned; but I swear to you, by my faith as a poor man, that I need a poultice more than I need talk. Your grace, see if you can stand, and we'll help Rocinante, though he doesn't deserve it, because he's the main reason for this beating. I never would have believed it of Rocinante; I always that he was a person as chaste and peaceable as I am. Well, like they say, you need a long time to know a person, and nothing in this life is certain. Who would have thought that hard on the heels and so soon after those mighty blows struck by your grace's sword against that unfortunate knight errant, this great storm of beating would rain down on our backs?”

“Yours, at least, Sancho,” replied Don Quixote, “must be accustomed to such cloudbursts; but mine, brought up on cambric and fine Dutch linen, of course will feel more deeply the pain of this misfortune. And if it were not because I imagine . . . did I say imagine? . . . because I know for a fact that all these discomforts are an intergral part of the practice of arms, I would let myself die here out of sheer annoyance.”





.

[NickAdams]

VirgilHaven't gotten much reading done lately, real life keeps me busy. How far along are you Virgil, Nick,, and mheartin?

I've been pushing through that miserable book One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. I wish I was enveloped in a fog, so I wouldn't be able to see the text- blah. I don't know if it's the book or not, that's where it started, but I have been feeling uninspired: little reading, no writing, few films and no post ... but I've returned- I hope.

I have been ressurected after my search for a good translation of Don Quixote. I compared the first page of each and am quite familiar with the Don's eating habits. I chose the Burton Raffel translation, Don Quijote, which was twenty dollars, but saw the Norton Edition, which contains the same translation, but with bonus material and picked up for twelve.

The thought of reading this next might get me through Kesey.

[grace86]

I've been pushing through that miserable book One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. I wish I was enveloped in a fog, so I wouldn't be able to see the text- blah. I don't know if it's the book or not, that's where it started, but I have been feeling uninspired: little reading, no writing, few films and no post ... but I've returned- I hope.

I have been ressurected after my search for a good translation of Don Quixote. I compared the first page of each and am quite familiar with the Don's eating habits. I chose the Burton Raffel translation, Don Quijote, which was twenty dollars, but saw the Norton Edition, which contains the same translation, but with bonus material and picked up for twelve.

The thought of reading this next might get me through Kesey.

You know, I am hearing a lot of negative opinions lately about some of the books being read right now....I know of some who don't like To the Lighthouse. Hope One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest gets better for you Nick.

Glad you found a translation you enjoy too.

You know what I like about reading Don Quixote is that the chapters are short and the scenes frequently change to some new adventure...I hope this will keep you from getting bored. Happy to know you're still with us.

Virgil I am now twelve chapters into the second part of the novel. By the way, who originally started bolding the names in their posts?? Was it Janine??? I've seemed to pick up that habit.

Oh and Shouty I'm glad to see you around

[Virgil]

You're pulling away from me, Grace. I just got back to it last night. I will be reading a little each night now and friday I go on vacation. I should get a lot read on my five hour flight to California, and then I'm sure i'll get a bit read by the pool during the week, and then another five hour flight back. So by another two weeks I should be at least half way through.

[grace86]

Hey Virgil, where in California are you coming out to?

(I can slow down in my reading if you like )

[Virgil]

Hey Virgil, where in California are you coming out to?

We'll be spending a week in Santa Barbara. I have a nephew playing in an orchestra there for the summer and we decided to meet up with him. I think he is in this, although I'm not sure:
http://independent.com/news/2007/jun...ummer-preview/

(I can slow down in my reading if you like )

Oh that's up to you and whatever your reading plans are. My plans are to read as much as i can of Don Quixote up to August 1st and then set it aside for To The Lighthouse. Once I've finished that I will return to Cervantes.

I was so happy to get back to Don Quixote last night. Cervantes's voice is so fatherly or perhaps even grandfatherly to me. It sounds like an older man giving me advice on life.

[grace86]

Hmm Santa Barbara...why are you and Janine always going further North than where I am? I'm just kidding. I hope you enjoy the time you spend over here...it has been very beautiful and cool down here. I think from what I remember, I am about three and a half or four hours south of Santa Barbara...East of Los Angeles.

Yes I plan to pick up To the Lighthouse sometime soon as well. I hoped to finish Don Quixote before that but who knows what will happen. I've got two other books in the midst, and I am rather enjoying Don Quixote at the moment.

Cervantes reminds me too of a father like figure, he seems to have such ease in putting forth wisdom...he includes all kinds of stories and wit. I think this first time around reading it, I am doing so for more of the enjoyment of it, I am having a bit of a harder time determining symbolism and such in this novel (not at all like in WIL).

Although I did notice something about Rocinante in the quotation ShoutGrace posted, I will post it later though when I get my thoughts together.

Virgil...is your nephew in the Academy you posted?

[Janine]

Hmm Santa Barbara...why are you and Janine always going further North than where I am? I'm just kidding. I hope you enjoy the time you spend over here...it has been very beautiful and cool down here. I think from what I remember, I am about three and a half or four hours south of Santa Barbara...East of Los Angeles.

I am hysterical laughing!!!
Hi Virgil and Grace -- between your posts #21 - and this one I have been laughing my head off. Your conversation makes it sound like Virgil and I are running off to Santa Barbara together! Let me make this clear to everyone reading this: VIRGIL(in bold and caps) is going there with his nice WIFEY(also in bold and caps)....you know the one he "truimphs" over, and by the way, she is a real person! No laptop though - she banned him; who can blame the woman really? I imagine it is a second honeymoon, V? Better leave the book home, too.
You two will love Santa Barbara - one of my favorite spots in CA, but I(in bold and caps) was there many, many moons ago.
Well, G and V, thanks for the entertainment - it has been a funny start to my day on Lit Net.

Yes, yes, Grace, I am the one who started the bolding up of names. Hey guys, did you ever hear of formatting? Artists do it all the time! I used to sell on eBay and I bolded up things to emphasis them, etc, also I used colored types to set things appart - no I have not gone that far on here yet - that takes too much time, but someday I may treat you with a colorful post.

Yes I plan to pick up To the Lighthouse sometime soon as well. I hoped to finish Don Quixote before that but who knows what will happen. I've got two other books in the midst, and I am rather enjoying Don Quixote at the moment.

What you said earlier or someone else about people not liking "To the Lighthouse" - isn't that just 'par for the course' on this site, or any other, for that matter - some will give it a chance and like it and others will complain continually about how they hate the book. I would just read it sometime and evaluate for myself.

Cervantes reminds me too of a father like figure, he seems to have such ease in putting forth wisdom...he includes all kinds of stories and wit. I think this first time around reading it, I am doing so for more of the enjoyment of it, I am having a bit of a harder time determining symbolism and such in this novel (not at all like in WIL).

I must get to the book one of these days - only have about 10 planned before I read that one. No other book quite like WIL with that symbolism. Hey, Grace, I got you in a DHL state of mind, thinking now with short stories and all.

[Virgil]

I am hysterical laughing!!!
Hi Virgil and Grace -- between your posts #21 - and this one I have been laughing my head off. Your conversation makes it sound like Virgil and I are running off to Santa Barbara together! Let me make this clear to everyone reading this: VIRGIL(in bold and caps) is going there with his nice WIFEY(also in bold and caps)....you know the one he "truimphs" over, and by the way, she is a real person! No laptop though - she banned him; who can blame the woman really? I imagine it is a second honeymoon, V? Better leave the book home, too.
You two will love Santa Barbara - one of my favorite spots in CA, but [B]I[B](in bold and caps) was there many, many moons ago.
Well, G and V, thanks for the entertainment - it has been a funny start to my day on Lit Net.

No Janine and I are not running off together. No, my wife and I and actually my mother-in-law too. A little bit of a family affair. So not a second honeymoon. *shakes my head* You ladies.

[grace86]

Ohhh nooo sorry about that! That was a very big oversight Janine! But I am glad to have cracked you up!

Janine is NOT going to Santa Barbara with Virgil....hehe I screwed that up!

[Janine]

Ohhh nooo sorry about that! That was a very big oversight Janine! But I am glad to have cracked you up!

Janine is NOT going to Santa Barbara with Virgil....hehe I screwed that up!

Glad everyone knows I am not stealing someone's husband. Thing is I was talking to my friend Downing today live on Instant Messanger and she said she was confused by the post(?). We both got a huge laugh out of it, so see, Grace, you have entertained us both! Thanks, it brightened my day! I am sure Virgil will be hysterical, too. oh, wait just noticed your post, V. Mother-in-law is going, too? - bummer! Well, just getting away will be a treat - anything remotely different than the east coast with all the traffic congestion. Of course, CA has it's share, I imagine. But the spectacular scenery makes up for it! Be sure and take you camera - we want to see some great photos from the trip. Be sure to go up to the mission and tour it - it's fabulous!

Nice touch, Grace, with the red type!

[grace86]

Nice touch, Grace, with the red type!

Red type??? What red type?? Oh noo what's going on?! I don't see any red....

(too much caffeine today I think)