GROUP READ: Don Quixote - General Discussion thread

Hi everyone! I'm looking forward to having some company while tackling Don Quixote. I thought I'd get this thread going so we could finalize how we want to break up the book into threads. I though that cyderry had a good suggestion:

Part I
Book 1: 8 chapters (Jan) http://www.librarything.com/topic/129678
Book 2: 6 (Feb) http://www.librarything.com/topic/129680
Book 3: 13 (Mar) http://www.librarything.com/topic/129681
Book 4: 25 (April-May) http://www.librarything.com/topic/129682

Part II:
Book I: Ch 1-17, 17 chapters (June/July) http://www.librarything.com/topic/134068
Book II: Ch 18-32, 15 chapters (August) http://www.librarything.com/topic/134069
Book III: Ch 33-52, 20 chapters (Sept/Oct) http://www.librarything.com/topic/134070
Book IV: Ch 53-74, 22 chapters (Nov/Dec) http://www.librarything.com/topic/134072

What do you think? Obviously, the months suggested would just be guidelines. If anyone is ahead, or behind :-), he/she can just jump in with comments whenever. I'd put the threads for Part 1 up all at once so they could be used at any time. I'm also open to any other suggestions.

My other question is which translation everyone is reading? I started reading DQ a couple of years ago with a B&N edition translated by Tobias Smollett. I didn't get very far. So this time, I'm going to try the newer Edith Grossman translation. I'm interested to compare the two.

I like the idea of reading this slowly as I am a little intimidated by it. I have a 1949 Modern Library hardcover edition translated by Samuel Putnam. For some reason this edition is not broken into books so the number of chapters listed above for each book is very helpful.

Thanks for starting this! I have DQ downloaded on my kindle, and have skimmed over the intro and skipped all of the beginning poetry. I am about halfway through the first chapter.
Mine is translated by John Ormsby. I compared it to the Grossman translation, and, honestly, the feel was the same for me and Ormsby is free.
On a related note, I drove by the Dairy Queen earlier this week and they have peppermint blizzards. I am afraid reading DQ all year could lead to weight gain.

>4 banjo123: DQ = Dairy Queen = rotfl!

I'll be joining in with the Grossman translation when it arrives.

Thanks for starting the thread! I have decided I will take the plunge and join this group read as well. Having it run year long helped make that decision. Watch, now that I have said that, I will probably plow through the book ;-P

I will get back to with the translation info once I lay my hands on a copy.

What the heck - I'm in too...... Year-long reads have worked well for me in the past.

I've downloaded the Ormsby on my Kindle but if it's a bust I'll get the Grossman or Putnam, both of which are also available as ebooks.

Grossman for me.

I'ii try as well using the Ormsby.

I've ordered the Modern Library edition (Putnam). It should be here by midweek.

This is a book I've always wanted to read, so I'm going to give it a try. However, I think I will start off with an audio version so as not to overload myself with print books at the beginning of the year. It is an unabridged reading of the Grossman translation. I'm 3rd on the list for 2 copies, so I don't know how soon I'll be able to get started, but I guess there's no rush. I may transition to a print copy later if I get wrapped up in it, since I can read faster than those audio guys.

Since nobody seems opposed to the proposed reading schedule, I'll create the threads for the first part of DQ (yes, now I'm thinking of ice cream banjo123!). That way, those who've already started have a place to start some discussion.

I'm actually getting my copy of Don Quixote today. My in-laws are coming to visit so we can do Christmas and I know my MIL bought it for me as a gift. I'm really excited to get my hands on it!

I made my usual Saturday stop at two of my favorite used books stores and at the first stop picked up the Wordsworth Classics complete and unabridged edition of Don Quixote translated by P.A. Motteux so I am now ready for this group read!

So many different translations! I wonder what moved subsequent translators to do their work when others were already available.

It is interesting, all the different translations. I don't know much about them all, but I do know that the Smollett translation I have was done in the 18th century. I don't know why it surprised me, but I was kind of surprised that such an old translation was still used. Also the Ormsby seems to be considered one of the most well regarded of the older translations (it was done in the late 19th century).

I'm hoping the Grossman translation is easier and more engaging to read for me while still keeping the style of a novel written in the early 1600s.

In browsing the internet, I found an interesting website. Here is a link about translations of DQ: http://quixote.mse.jhu.edu/Translation.html

And here is the front page of the website: http://quixote.mse.jhu.edu/index.html

It appears to be a digital exhibit from the Johns Hopkins University. I haven't looked through most of it, but it seems like there is some interesting info.

I am glad that I did not know how many translations there were. I have to say that I picked my copy based on the font size and comfort in the hand. With 6 English translations since 1949 and many before that it will be interesting to hear what people have to say about the translation they are reading.

I spent some time researching translations of Anna Karenina and was amazed at the differences. There were not that many to compare and the award winning Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky translation was the obvious choice. I am only 250 pages in and a pleasure to read.

So glad to see this thread. Tried DQ (heh) several times but just bogged down. Bought the Grossman trans. this summer; it looks readable.

I've not tried reading a novel throughout a year. I think I'd have to take notes!

I'm also going to jump in on this group read but I won't start till later in the month. I have the Grossman translation and an audio version (36 hrs) which I might try listening to for a few sections.

I finally found my copy of DQ -- looks like I got to page 22 -- but I can't determine who was the translator, even searching WorldCat and LOC. It is the 1993 Wordsworth Classics edition.

I think, however, I'm going to splurge the $1.99 to get the Grossman edition for my nook.

ETA: Found the translator info.
Translated by P.A. Motteaux. Introduction and Notes by Stephen Boyd, University College, Cork. (Adding the link so I can find it again if needed.)

Could you please put links to the different threads in message #1. Thanks

Good suggestion! I'm not great with all the html stuff, but I think all of the links work.

I am enjoying DQ. Wish I had an edition with pictures. I love the image of Don Quixote eating with his helmet on.

There is an edition that was originally published in 1946 (republished in America in 1979) with illustrations by Salvador Dali that I'm totally coveting. It may be my treat for finishing DQ if I can find one in decent condition.

Really? Dali? Sounds awesome.

#23: Thanks & I like the sound of that Dali edition. I have a beautiful children's edition from Walker Books, illustrated by Chris Riddell. It's a retelling with a 348pg count and the illustrations are just very fine indeed. But don't worry I'll be reading the Grossman edition.

This was on my list last year. I checked out the audio book twice and never started it. So, I'm in for this year. I'll be reading whateve free version I have on my Kobo.

I have the Grossman too. I'm just confused... why are there months with only 6 chapters and then months with... 25?? Is this because of varying lengths? I haven't even cracked it open yet, so maybe I could just see for myself...

#29 I haven't opened the book for inspection yet, either, but I think some of the "months" are actually 2 months. Although, even so, it looks like some months are definitely heavier than others. Keeping my fingers crossed for shorter chapters in those months!

Yes, the longer "months" are actually two months. And no, they aren't totally even in length, but to me it makes sense to keep things split in terms of the 8 books. To be more clear, here is how it's split up.

Part 1:
January: Book 1, 8 chapters, 65 pgs. Considering all the introductory materials most editions have this seems reasonable to me.

February: Book 2, 6 chapters, 37 pgs. This is definitely the lightest month.

March: Book 3, 13 chapters, 125 pgs. This is the heaviest month.

April and May: 25 chapters, so 12.5 chapters per month, 223 pgs total (111 per month).

Part 2:
June and July: 17 chapters, so 8.5 chapters per month, 114 pgs total (72 per month).

August: 15 chapters, 116 pgs.

September and October: 20 chapters, or 10 chapters per month, 134 pages (67 per month).

November and December: 22 chapters, or 11 chapters per month, 124 pages (62 per month).

As I said at the beginning, I'm open to any suggestions of how to divide the book. For me, it made sense to keep things in "books" since they should be natural stopping places and I'll be reading a lot of other books while reading this. I think it will help my mind keep organized to stop in natural places. Also, I will have all the threads open as people get far enough to discuss, so if you get ahead or behind it's not a big deal - there will be a place to discuss and most likely someone else will be in the same place as you. But yes, our range per month is from 6 chapters to 15 chapters which is a pretty big difference. If there are a lot of votes to change to an evenly divided system it would work out to 10.5 chapters per month, roughly 78 pages per month depending on your edition.

The biggest disparity is in Feb/March. Feb we have only 37 pages and March we have our longest of 125 pages. BUT, if you think of it as Book 2 and 3 over the two months, it only averages to 81 pages a month, which is right on schedule. Looking at it that way, our numbers of pages per month range from 62-116 pages per month. For a 1000 page book, I think that's a reasonable variation. I think that discussion on the threads will be easier and make more sense if we keep it to discussing one book per thread. If you want to read at a more even pace, it will still work out in the end.

Comments? Suggestions? It's not too late to change things up!

I think the breakdown is great as moving some chapters from Book 3 to the end of Feb etc. can be done on a needs to basis by the individual. Keeping the discussion threads by books is great so you can join them whenever you are done.

I'm going to try to follow along here with the Grossman edition. (I say try because I'm not great at group reads - I get distracted by other books.) Thanks japaul22 for those links - I hope to look at them later today.

Hi everyone! I added threads for Part 2 of Don Quixote since we're all reading at different paces. Hope everyone is enjoying the book!