Group read: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes



Welcome to the group read of Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. The read is scheduled for February but I found a link that posts a year long reading schedule you can follow if you want to take a slower pace with the book. It has a schedule for the Edith Grossman and Tom Lathrop translations.

https://missionimpossibledonquixote.wordpress.com/reading-schedule/

Edith Grossman translation


Tom Lathrop translation

Here is review of the Grossman translation from The Guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/dec/13/classics.miguelcervantes

I will be reading the Grossman translation using Whispersync. The physical book print is a bit small for me. George Guidall does the narration of the audio.

Also, here is a summary guide by Shmoop that I'm finding helpful. https://www.shmoop.com/don-quixote/part-1-book-1-chapters-1-8-summary.html

I had on the shelves a Wordsworth classic (very cheap a very long time ago) edition. Started last night and have finished chapter 1.

I've put the thread on the group's main page. Have fun! :)

I have Don Quixote in a Harvard Classics volume. This is the old Shelton translation which may be too full uof thee/thou etc. There's also the Ormsby version on my old iPad (which is dying) that I'll need for the last part. Or I may, after I get tired of the others, spring for the kindle version of the Grossman.

So far I have got to the end of book 1 (chapter 8). It appears that Don Quixote is in a world of his own and can't/won't listen to reason. I don't envy Sancho Panca is task as squire of keeping his master out of trouble. So far Do Quixote seems to be spending a lot of time being injured after completely misinterpreting the situation.
I'm going to take a break through this to read other things, so will be back with this in a few days.

>6 Helenliz: I'm at the exact same place as you. I'm both cringing and laughing and then cringing that I'm laughing. I also feel sorry for Sancho Panza

>7 luvamystery65: Good, not just me then! Don Quixote is, in my opinion, at present, as mad as a box of frogs. Sancho I do feel sorry for and know I don't have his patience.

We read Don Quixote in the original language when I was in high school in 3rd year Spanish. I no longer own my copy, but I'd be curious how much I could still comprehend in the original language. I doubt I can fit the read in this month, but I'll follow along with the thread.

>8 Helenliz: I decided to follow the Shmoop guide for Don Quixote as it is really busy and I'm confusing some of these "adventures." I placed a link in >2 luvamystery65: for anyone that also wants a little help.

>9 thornton37814: I think that is amazing that you read it in Spanish. I wonder if your library system would have a copy in Spanish for you to take a peek at. I'm glad you are following along with us.

>10 luvamystery65: I work in a university library. I'm certain we have a copy.

I read this last year, or rather listened to an audiobook of Smollett's 18th century translation. I enjoyed listening to it, and though there were times when I wished I had the printed text in front of me, and certainly times I could have done with some notes to make sense of various aspects, I'm very glad to have read it. I've starred this thread to follow along and see what others made of it, and perhaps have some of my questions answered (can't even remember what those questions were, lots of small ones in response to details in the text I think).

While I won't be joining in with a re-read, I will be here lurking and joining the conversation. I loved this book!

>12 gennyt: Who narrated your translation? My audio is narrated by George Guidall, who is an excellent narrator, but I was expecting someone different for this.

>13 lkernagh: When did you read this Lori? Which translation?

>14 luvamystery65: Mine was narrated by Robert Whitfield. It was from Audible uk, originally a Blackstone audio publication.

Hello all! I'm still in Book One, Part Four of our novel. I'm in the chapters where the story of Lotario is being told. About 150 pages more to go before I finish the first book. When I'm done I'll be back to tell you my thoughts and ask questions before I begin Book Two.

I'm in book 3, part 1 now. Don Quixote continues a mad as a box of frogs. Sancho suffers along with him. Wondering how much more of this they can cope with.

>14 luvamystery65: - I read it back in 2012 and unfortunately, I cannot remember which translation! Something I didn't make note of back then.

Reached the end of book 3, part 1. Not going to get this finished in February at this rate.

>19 Helenliz: I finished the first Part. Before I begin the second part, I wanted to let the first sit with me. I also decided to listen to Amadis of Gaul for my road trip last week. I'm almost done with Book One and I will get back to DQ when I finish the next few chapters.

My thoughts so far. At first I thought this was a bit ridiculous and I cringed every time something awful happened to DQ, Sancho Panzas or anyone else as a result of their adventures, but I do believe that is the point Cervantes is trying to make. After reading most of the first book of Amadis of Gaul, I see how really unrealistic the books of chivalry must be. Amadis is full of so many adventures and he is constantly getting wounded and rebounds to go off another adventure as if nothing happened to him. I imagine they were very entertaining when they were popular. I find it entertaining, but very silly. Only a madman would believe it was real and want to emulate these books. In trying to be a knight errant, DQ is constantly causing harm to himself and those around him. I read a lot of Urban Fantasy. If one day I acted like those things really happened and went off imitating those books, it would be very similar to what DQ is doing.

I'll be getting back to Don Quixote tomorrow and I'll be back to post my thoughts.

I didn't think I would enjoy the book as much as I am! But it is going to take me forever to read it. Tempted to get the whispersync version at this rate!

Whispersync is so helpful with big books

I took a road trip to see the wildflowers blooming and I decided to get back to Don Quixote. Currently on Book Two, chapter 22. DQ has battled the Knight of the Mirrors and challenged a lion. He is so mad!

I am reading and watching the Yale Open University lectures on the book. Very interesting but it may take me a year to get through it. I am finding the concepts in the book and renaissance novels fascinating. This is a book I would have never started to read on my own and I am very glad to have discovered it.

I finished Don Quixote! I'm still trying to gather my thoughts on this one. Right now I'm in the I loved it/I hated it camp and I need to let my thoughts simmer a bit.

>24 JMC400m: I think I would have liked to do something like this. I am open to doing this at a later date, maybe three or four years from now to get a better understanding of the book. I did feel lost at times and that may contribute to the parts that I disliked.

Hurrah! I've finished!!

>26 Helenliz: Woohoo! I have to say what kept me going was that I knew you were trudging along with me.

>27 luvamystery65: and knowing you'd got to the end got me through the last 100 or so pages.
Not sure what to make of it yet, just too relieved to have finished. Review being mulled over.