Don Quixote - Buddy Read Jan 2021 until present

[Laura]

I'm still behind but now up to Chapter 38 - Which tells of the curious discourse on arms and letters given by Don Quixote

I'm finding that sometimes I get more invested in the side stories than in Don Q himself!

(view spoiler)[
It's interesting that the Priest continues to want to burn chivalric books, whilst also still enjoying them! Some hypocrisy perhaps?

I really enjoyed the story of The Man Who Was Recklessly Curious - I found myself drawn in by Anselmo and Lotario's friendship but also incredibly frustrated by Anselmo's ridiculous need to test Camilla! You can see that some kind of tragedy is going to unfold. I did become invested in these characters and their story.

The resolution of Cardenio and Dorotea's story was also interesting. I feel like Don Fernando got off with it lightly as his behaviour had been reprehensible throughout - so I was a little disappointed he didn't get some more punishment.

I felt sorry for Sancho after he'd told Don Q Dorotea wasn't a queen etc and then all the others conspire to continue the lie and poor Sancho is made out to be in the wrong. I know they're trying to "cure" or "save" don Q but there doesn't seem to be any consideration for Sancho.

The discourse on arms and letters, I didn't find that interested in and of itself, but it served to show how rational and erudite Don Q could be when he wasn't enacting his delusional chivalric fantasy.

I'm intrigued by the new "Moorish" arrivals and interested to read their story. (hide spoiler)]

I've resigned myself that I may not finish this in Jan but I am enjoying it, although finding it a little slow going in places.

[Shaina]

I just started part 2 and have completed chapter 6. I enjoyed part 1 and really liked the stories incorporated into them. I found the story of The Man Who Was Recklessly Curious quite interesting like Laura mentioned.

I think there was too much coincidence at that inn (they need to change the name of that inn). I really wonder if that inn was enchanted :) Everyone seemed to meet everyone else. The barber of the donkey and basin, Don Fernando and Dorothea, Lucinda and Cardenio and Clara and the boy who loves her, the brothers, etc etc.

I kept wondering about the money Sancho found at the mountains (looked up google even and thought of asking you guys if I missed something). Part 2 seems to answer that (I was relieved). I hope Part 2 is better funnier than part 1.

[Laura]

hey Shaina,

I know what you mean about the inn - it did seem ridiculous that they all met there and everything was resolved. Too much of a coincidence!

I haven't started Part 2 yet as I'm falling behind but making slow and steady progress....

[Storm]

I loved the fourth wall breaks in the beginning of Part 2 but I was also ready and happy to get back into the action. (I was also happy to get an explanation of Sancho's money @Shaina).

As far as style changes from the time that had passed, Sancho seems changed to me. He still messes up words and talks a lot, but he seems more clever. Or at least more targeted with his words and plans.

Chapter 5 (view spoiler)[ This whole chapter was weird. I know we got a footnote saying this chapter was out of character for Sancho, but I think it could have been cut altogether and put in as Sancho discussed blah blah blah with his wife like it normally is. Because she is not a big character (they keep changing her name which is hilarious) and of course he is so out of character. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 6 (view spoiler)[ Why is this chapter titled the most important chapter or something like that? That's a joke right? We've had this conversation before and I wanted to make sure I'm not actually missing something important here lol. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 9/10 (Dulcinea) (view spoiler)[ I thought toward the beginning DQ picked her because he had seen her, just from afar. And he never talked to her or anything but he picked her for his lady and changed her name. And that Sancho knew her (when he realized/learned Dulcinea's real name) as well and called her loud mouthed and stuff? But now neither of them have ever seen her in their lives? Did I misremember or just misunderstand at the beginning? (hide spoiler)]

[Laura]

I'm looking forward to catching you all up!

[Jessica]

I'm going to be honest with you guys....this book is definitely NOT a favorite for me. It is so hard to get through. I'm so glad I did this as a buddy read though because I feel motivated by you all to finish it, rather than just give up. I feel like I HAVE to conquer the beast now, so to speak

[Laura]

I'm going to have to continue into Feb - falling so far behind don't want to rush my absoring and understanding of it.

[Shaina]

Storm, I'm so glad you brought up Teresa Panza's name. I thought it was one of those names which get a nickname, like Robert becomes Bobby and Richard becomes Dick which is quite confusing.

I am currently listening to Chapter 45. I think chapter 42,43 and 44 are quite funny thanks to Sancho. His proverbs and their use is hilarious. Like Don Quixote I too wonder where he gets them from and how he remembers so many and is able to string them all together!!

The song by the lady to Don Quixote is quite amusing ( one of the first I have liked in the book ). For those of you who have not read it or got to this point here is what I found funny:

O, if I were but in your arms,
or at least beside your bed,
where I could scratch your head
and shake dandruff from your hair!

[Cheryl]

Does Sancho remember proverbs, or make them up? I've known people who say what they want and then attribute it to some obscure (or, possibly invented) dude that the person they're talking to won't know.

[Storm]

Shaina, that part of the song was funny. Though I just kept about how she's 14 and DQ is what, 50? So the picture that painted was even more ridiculous.

Cheryl, judging by the footnotes, I think they're real proverbs. He misquotes them sometimes and mushes them together; but they are actual phrases.

Chapter 48: (view spoiler)[ I'm excited to find out who was pinching in the dark and how this adventure continues. I'd like DQ to leave the castle and go look for the farmer from the story. Maybe fight the duke? I'm bored of him chilling with the duke and being made fun of. These adventures have been more dull. Nice cliff hanger for the next bit for sure. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 49/ Sancho: (view spoiler)[ Speaking of cliffhangers...They had already had some foreshadowing that the insula wouldn't last long but the way that chapter ended let us know for real it's a bout to blow up. So that'll hopefully be exciting. It's a little sad though because Sancho has been a surprisingly wise governor. Though I did say he seemed overall more clever in Part 2 (hide spoiler)]

[Samuel]

Some of the proverbs Sancho says are still used nowadays in Spanish, so at least not all of them are improvised

[Cheryl]

Ok, but I still think Cervantes is more 'meta' than it seems at first.

[Storm]

I finished! I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it as a whole. I have to percolate before I review lol.

[Shaina]

I just finished this book. Storm, I see you too have finished. I enjoyed the humour of this book. I must say in the second part the author has really made fun of the person who wrote the second part without his permission. Sancho is hilarious and Don Quixote pitiful as ever.

I would recommend the audiobook by George Guidall to "all the reading rabble". He really did a fantastic job with the characters. I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much in text form. He literally brought the book to life for me

[Laura]

Storm and Shaina - well done! I have really fallen behind but will persevere.

[Shaina]

Thank you, Laura! Waiting to see your comments.

Happying reading to you and all who are still continuing the read.

[Jessica]

I finished yesterday...goodness gracious.

[Laura]

I'm so behind with this but I will persevere.
Just found an interesting article and wanted to share: https://theconversation.com/guide-to-...

[Shaina]

Interesting read. Thanks for sharing.

Jessica, congratulations on finishing this tome.

[Laura]

I got through to Chapter 46 of the first part yesterday.
Due to having a break I've slightly lost track of some of the characters but anyway they're all at the inn and chaos reigns.
Poor Sancho is the only one speaking the truth but the others - Cardenio and Don Fernando etc are all going along with Don Q's madness and making Sancho appear a liar.
It's harsh!
Also the innkeepers wife and Maritones hang Don Q by his hand. I hate how he's treated!
I've finished and they've got him trapped in a cage like carriage to take back home - interesting to see how things will go.

[Shaina]

I also hated how everyone treated Don Q and Sancho for entertainment.

[Laura]

Finished Part 1 - they've got Don Q home and he's a bit out of it.
The poems about his various epitaphs were interesting coming at this point in the novel - we're only half way through!
I guess we're to expect that he goes on a 3rd sally and then dies.

I'm interested to get into the 2nd part.

[Laura]

So I'm on about chapter 15 of Part 2.

I had a feeling that "The Knight of the Wood" was a plant or a set up! Interesting that the Priest and Bachelor thought it would be so easy to overcome Don Q.
Sancho is realising that he can explain inconsistencies by saying they're enchantments. I still don't understand why he's sticking with Don Q though - when chatting with the other squire he says he wants to go back to his family but yet he persists with Don Q.
What is to become of them both?

[Laura]

I'm persevering with DQ.
Up to about Ch 30 in Part 2.
It's interesting how the people he encounters now know of him from the book that was written.
This changes the dynamic of his interactions with some of the folk he meets.
I'm confused by his experience in the Cave of Montesino.
I'm definitely finding this a bit of a struggle.
There are some good comedy elements though - the chapter I've just read Sancho gets caught up dismounting the Donkey and hangs upside down then Don q falls off because Sancho's not there to help him dismount. Very slapstick!

[Shaina]

I found the bit about the cave disconcerting as well. I guess he slept off and dreamt the whole thing or made it up.

[Laura]

Ok so I'm getting more and more frustrated with how people are treating Don Q and Sancho.
In Part 2 it's more pronounced because people "know" about him from the book and therefore they don't have to figure out his madness as they're already aware. However it feels like they're exploiting him for their own amusement.
The Duke and Duchess go to a lot of effort to stage fantastical scenarios to mock Don Q and Sancho. This seems so cruel! I find it difficult to understand the motivation of these characters - is it really so rewarding to mock a mad old man and his slightly stupid squire?!

[Laura]

OK So I finished!
I'm left feeling a bit sad and stil unsure how to process this crazy book.
Mostly I feel a bit annoyed at how everyone treated Don Q and underestimated Sancho.
Not sure what else to say yet...I need to think about it.

[superawesomekt]

I just started this just last week with my kids and we are all enjoying it so far. I read a really lovely essay on it by Harold Bloom in his book How to Read and Why that made me want to read this. Basically he says that it's not about what happens to DQ and Sancho, but about their relationship. He claims that Cervantes rivals Shakespeare in the Western canon (which is saying a lot coming from Bloom as he is a major Shakespeare fanboy).

I'll check in here from time to time if anyone else is still reading this. I'm hoping we will finish sometimes in May or June 2021.

There are a few critical essays online that I found interesting (haven't read them in full yet, in full disclosure):
https://www.theguardian.com/books/200...
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/20...

and an interview with Edith Grossman, a recent translator:
https://www.joelwhitney.net/edithgros...

[Laura]

Hey Kt,

Good luck and enjoy! It certainly is an interesting read. I did fall in love with Don and Sancho's friendship.
Thanks for the essay links - I'll check them out.
Enjoy!