Comments for Artuccino

Comment on Don Quixote Reading Challenge 2013 by Diane Challenor (@CynthiaBlue44)

Diane Challenor (@CynthiaBlue44) — Mon, 13 May 2013 02:42:58 +0000

I’m sorry to say I’ve abandoned this reading challenge. I gave it my “best” shot. Don Quixote does not hold my interest. Onward and forward to other books crying out to be read. Life is much too short to use precious reading time on books that don’t do that special mystical thing books can do.

Challenge abandoned!

Comment on Don Quixote Reading Challenge 2013 by Diane Challenor (@CynthiaBlue44)

Diane Challenor (@CynthiaBlue44) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 05:35:37 +0000

Hi JaneGS! It’s good to hear how you’re travelling with the Don. I thought listening to the story would assist with my progress too. I listen to audiobooks when I do my daily hour walk through the lovely leafy streets near my home. I found that my mind would not co-operate, that is, it wandered off and when my attention returned to the story I knew I’d missed something. On arriving home I re-read the chapter in the ebook. Over the next few days I read a chapter each day, and then I went on holidays to Brisbane for a few days and my “child-within” screamed NO NO NOT THE DON, read the Maisie Dobbs mystery so you can find out what happened next. So I did! I’m up to book 2 of 9. Oh the contrast between the two reading experiences. I haven’t given up on the Don yet but I’m very close. I will be so disappointed with myself, it’s like a mountain I said I’d climb so I must climb, and hey there’s a whole year put aside to finish Don Quixote BUT! That said, I look forward to hearing about your ongoing progress, hopefully you’re enjoying it more than I.

Comment on Don Quixote Reading Challenge 2013 by JaneGS

JaneGS — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 02:41:04 +0000

I finally got the copy I had on reserve at my library and started listening to it last week. I couldn’t even get through the first disk. My mind would not stop wandering and I felt like I was simply wasting my time. I’m going to get a paper copy or Kindle copy and try it again. Usually books like this work best for me as audio books, but I just simply couldn’t focus or care what was being said!

Comment on Don Quixote Reading Challenge 2013 by Diane Challenor (@CynthiaBlue44)

Diane Challenor (@CynthiaBlue44) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 07:59:08 +0000

As mentioned previously my intention is to read a chapter each day – unfortunately my reading muscle is becoming resistant – I skipped a couple of days. Today I reached chapter XXVII, page 212, concerning how the priest and the barber carried out their plan, along with other matters worthy of being recounted in this great history.

Comment on Don Quixote Reading Challenge 2013 by Diane Challenor (@CynthiaBlue44)

Diane Challenor (@CynthiaBlue44) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 02:05:36 +0000

Now that I’ve cracked the 150 page mark, that is, I’ve reached page 163, maybe I should share my thoughts about the story. So far I think it’s a “silly” story. I should also add that I think Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is silly too. I’m not regretful that my serious reading choice for 2013 is Don Quixote. (Strange I refer to a “silly” story, a comedic story, as a serious read. It’s serious for me because it’s a struggle to read it.) It’s a book I’ve had on my list for a long time, it’s on my classics list because I want to expand my reading horizons beyond the easy to read, entertainers. A couple of years ago I did an evening class on the subject of “The Art of Reading” and it was at that time I decided to choose a classic from the enormous list of “important” books. A new translation of Don Quixote had just been published, the Edith Grossman translation, and there was a lot of buzz about it. So it became my choice. The first problem was its physical size, it was the size of a house brick not practical to lug it around so it went onto the bookshelf for several years. Now, years later the situation has changed, the reading world has changed, I’m an avid follower of book bloggers who inspire me to once again tread the “classics” path, so with the help of an eBook reader (Kindle) and an audiobook (Audible.com) I’ve got no excuse. So one chapter a day, until I’ve finished will mean I have experienced a story considered “important”. Along the way I may discover WHY it’s “important” and at the very least my reading muscle will get stronger.

Comment on Don Quixote Reading Challenge 2013 by Diane Challenor (@CynthiaBlue44)

Diane Challenor (@CynthiaBlue44) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 01:36:02 +0000

Did you know that the Mitchell Library (State Library of New South Wales) holds a collection of 1,100 editions of Don Quixote, in several languages dating back to 1620, from the magnificent collection of the late Dr Ben Haneman?

Comment on Don Quixote Reading Challenge 2013 by Diane Challenor (@CynthiaBlue44)

Diane Challenor (@CynthiaBlue44) — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 01:26:49 +0000

I’ve reached chapter XXII, page 163, regarding the liberty that Don Quixote gave to many unfortunate men who, against their wills, were being taken where they did not wish to go.

Comment on What I discovered while reading through Peter Boxall’s “1001 books you must read before you die” by Diane Challenor (@CynthiaBlue44)

Diane Challenor (@CynthiaBlue44) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 06:42:32 +0000

hadn’t heard of Shirley Jackson until you mentioned her, so I went to Wikipedia where it told me her generalised genre was mystery and horror. It was interesting to learn that she influenced Stephen King. I’m keen to learn as much as I can about authors and their writings that’s why I’m totally absorbed for at least an hour, if not two, each day, trawling through my RSS LitBloggers posts, including your “Reading, Writing, Working, Playing Blog” – http://janegs.blogspot.com.au/ ). I realised, after writing my blog, I’m open to reading about time-travel and a little magical realism, sometimes. Currently I’m reading “The Map of Time” by Felix J Palma which is has a time-travel in it. I find it’s easier to list the things I don’t like than to pin down the things I do. Food for thought!

Comment on Don Quixote Reading Challenge 2013 by Diane Challenor (@CynthiaBlue44)

Diane Challenor (@CynthiaBlue44) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 06:17:36 +0000

Moving right along – I’m up to chapter XIX, page 134, regarding the discerning words that Sancho exchanged with his master, and the adventure he had with a dead body, as well as other famous events.

Comment on What I discovered while reading through Peter Boxall’s “1001 books you must read before you die” by JanetGS (@JanetGS)

JanetGS (@JanetGS) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 14:31:43 +0000

I think books like this are interesting in terms of studies as to what someone else thinks you should read. Personally, I think it takes a tremendous ego to title one’s list of recommended books thusly, but then I tend to not like being told what to do. I agree that it’s easy to get trapped in comfortable roots and to venture out into untried areas–I’m not much into sci-fi (that is, alien worlds and aliens visiting) but I love supernatural and time travel books. I’m not into horror but I admire Shirley Jackson’s writing so I read her stuff.

Is that the only Douglas Adams’ on the list–I’ve not read it, but I loved his “Last Chance to See,” which was about animals that are on the brink of extinction. I wonder if a better book, at least one whose premise doesn’t offend me, is “1001 Authors Whose Works You Should Sample Before You Die.”