May BOTM - Don Quixote (Book One)

[Elizabeth]

May BOTM Discussion thread for Book One of Don Quixote by Cervantes. I included the Chapter names below in the spoilers as I imagine everyone may have a different translation or edition.

[Elizabeth]

Book One Schedule

May 1 - 7
Prologue to Chapter 14
(view spoiler)[
CH 14 - In which are found the desperate verses of the deceased shepherd, along with other unexpected occurrences (hide spoiler)]

May 8 - 14
Chapter 15 to 26
(view spoiler)[
CH 15 - In which is recounted the unfortunate adventure that Don Quixote happened upon he happened upon some heartless Yanguesans
CH 26 - In which the elegant deeds performed by an enamored Don Quixote in the Sierra Morena continue (hide spoiler)]

May 15 - 21
Chapter 27 to Chapter 35
(view spoiler)[
CH 27 - Concerning how the priest and the barber carried out their plan, along other matters worthy of being recounted in this great history
CH 35 - In which the novel of The Man Who Was Recklessly Curious is concluded (hide spoiler)]

May 22 - 28
Chapter 36 to Chapter 47
(view spoiler)[
CH 36 - Which recounts the fierce and uncommon battle that Don Quixote had some skins of red wine, along with other unusual events that occurred in the inn
CH 47 - Regarding the strange manner in which Don Quixote of La Mancha enchanted, and other notable events (hide spoiler)]

May 29 - June 4
Chapter 48 to End of Book One
(view spoiler)[
CH 48 - In which the canon continues to discuss books of chivalry, as well as other matters worthy of his ingenuity
End - Regarding the quarrel that Don Quixote had with the goatherd (hide spoiler)]

[Michelle]

I finished the first chunk of the reading, up to chapter 14. It’s quite funny, but also somewhat sad how everyone was laughing (either outwardly or inwardly) at Don Quixote.

Has anyone else had the chance to start yet?

[Larry]

I have started also and am at chapter 24 half way through the second week. I probably will stay pretty close to the schedule on this one as I have a lot of other reading I want to do this month and next.
This is my first time reading this and it is amusing but is this it? Just one butt kicking to another? I assume there is more to this famous story than meets the eye as of this far in anyway. The relationship between Don Quixote and Sancho is developing and looks to get more interesting. Anyway , glad to finally get to this as its been on my list for a long time.

[Ian]

I was late finishing The Master and Margarita, so I was delayed starting this book and am only about halfway through week 1. Hope to be back on track soon!

[〰️Beth〰️]

I finished Part One last week, this is my second attempt to read the book. Last year I didn’t finish part one so going to push on. Michelle I had the same thoughts when I started reading. Don’t think this will go one a favorite list for me but it has grown on me.

[Cynda]

Hi. I have just started with this group. I have Don Quixote on my list this year, so I am joining in and catching up as much as possible. . . .Having reread and reread in tbe 1980s, I suspect rereading again will be easier--or so I hope!

[Cynda]

One of my fave scholars Ilan Stavans has as his fave book Don Quixote.

As I reread Don Quixote, I am also reading a companion book written by Stavans: Quixote: The Novel and the World


A couple of years ago I read a comic book version of Don Quixote also written by Stavans: Don Quixote of La Mancha:


Maybe Don Quixote is becoming one of my favorites too. . . .

[Larry]

How's everyone doing on this one? I am right on the schedule and am on chapter 41. I think going slow on this is a good thing for me it gives me time to digest and think about it as I go. It also is a series of stories so that most of them end within a few chapters anyway, I am not sure if there will be a true ending to Don Quixote's adventure or how it does conclude but I feel its more about the individual stories rather than the overall one.
Maybe it being the first true novel (according to some) and Cervantes was not sure how he was composing the overall story when he began it.
Is that why there are two parts written separately ? It being my first time reading this I am sure others have more insight into the overall outcome but I am enjoying it and look forward to visiting it each day.

[〰️Beth〰️]

I am about 65% done and just just enjoying each little adventure. I agree Larry that it’s possibly not necessarily the book as a whole, but the stories. This time I will actually finish and see if that holds true.

[Cynda]

This novel has metafoction characteristics. For one,it somewhat refers to itself as being a piece of literature.


Part 1 Chapter XXI (Various editions are marked differently.)
Don Quixote delineates his ideal knight-errant experience.

Part 1, Chapter XXIII
Sancho Panza names a list of brothers of stories, biblical and mythical.

These are just two examples of many others.

[Cynda]

Part 1, Chapter XXIII
Here we have a description of a lunatic. Thaf lunatic is not Don Quixote. So the narrator seems to be indicating that as strange as Don Quixote is, he is not a lunatic.

[Cynda]

Part 1 Chapter XXXVII

The curate describes Don Quixote as having a "distrubed imagination."

[Cynda]

Starting in Chapter XXXIII: "The Story of an Impertinent Curiosity"

The romance-morality novel within-a-novel reminds me of the stories in The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio. The novel is longer and more complex than the stories in the Decameron. Something to really read, understand, and enjoy more deeply.

[Elizabeth]

Love to see that everyone has been enjoying!

[Michelle]

After finishing the first 20 chapters or so, I went on a brief hiatus to read some other books. Now I’m back. A little behind now but I should be able to catch up if I stick to this book. So far, I wonder how much Don Quixote really believes his delusions.