So what have I been reading lately? Don Quixote! For a while there I would just read a few pages here and there and while I liked what I was reading I don’t think I was doing the book justice. Too many starts and stops. But this week, I’ve focused more on my Don Quixote reading and I finally feel like I’m really into the story, watching it unfold.
Granted I’m still behind and I don’t think I’ll finish by the end of September which had sort of been my goal but that’s okay. What have I liked best so far? Too many escapades to mention but one scene I really liked is when Sancho Panza tells Don Quixote he knows who the fair Dulcinea is.
“I know her very well,’ said Sancho, ‘and I can say that she can throw a metal bar just as well as the brawniest lad in the village. Praise our Maker, she’s a fine girl in every way, sturdy as a horse, and just the one to pull any knight errant or about to be errant, who has her for his lady, right out of any mudhole he’s fallen into! Damn, but she’s strong!”
Doesn’t he make her sound like the fairest of them all? You’ll have to read the book for even more of Sancho’s description of Dulcinea. Thankfully for Dulcinea’s honor, Don Quixote’s own description of Dulcinea is perfect and just what I expected from the knight errant.
“Sancho, if you do not know already, that two things inspire love more than any other; they are great beauty and a good name, and these two things reach their consummation in Dulcinea, for in beauty, no one is her equal, and as for a good name, few can approach her. And to conclude, I imagine that everything I say is true, no more and no less, and I depict her in my imagination as I wish her to be in beauty and in distinction, and Helen cannot approach her, Lucretia cannot match her,, nor can any of the other famous women of past ages, Greek, Barbarian, or Latin. Let each man say what he chooses; if because of this I am criticized by the ignorant, I shall not be chastised by the learned.”
I know I have a long way to go to catch up to some of the readers over at Tilting at Windmills but I think I’ll continue to have a good time along the way.
In other reading news, I got the latest edition of Yoga Journal. This is one edition I can’t miss because there’s an article on how to take care of sore wrists. I have such a problem doing downward dog and I know it’s because of the pressure I feel in my wrists. I hope the article will help. My other recent read is the BoldType ezine. Great issue especially if you are into graphic novels as there are reviews of new graphic novels.
Aside from reading I also have to figure out which books I’m packing for my vacation. I hope the husband has some spare room in his suitcase. Heh.
Those are great passages! I’m glad you are enjoying DQ, and I think the time it takes you to read it makes so difference at all!
I haven’t looked at DON QUIXOTE since college, but I remember loving it as anyone could when she has two weeks to read it!
Have a great vacation, and there’s always room for one more book 🙂
You are doing great and I love that link to BoldType.
Have a great vacation and safe journey. I look forward to hearing all about it when you return….
Leave room in the case for all the books that you will buy over there!
Have fun.
Ooh! Thanks! I’m heading over to Boldtype for the reviews. Happy vacation!
Dorothy W. – It’s really so much fun and surprising because all I knew of DQ was written about in the first 100 or so pages. So that tells me I’m in for quite a story 🙂
Karen Olson – Ha,ha… I actually tried to read it when I was in high school and at least now I can say I’ve read more of it than I did back then.
Christine – Thank you girl. You too! And, take lots of beautiful pictures.
Isabel – Very good point! I can’t wait to go to the bookstores.
Dew – Enjoy Boldtype. I love reading it.
I love Yoga Journal and their website. Wish I could find something to help me with my feet. One leg balancing poses like the Eagle and Tree pose are my Waterloo. After a few seconds, there’s an almost burning sensation around my ankle and arches before I lose my balance. I think I just need to build strength there but in the meantime, OUCH! And thanks for the link to Boldtype!
Hope you find Yoga Journal helpful for your sore wrists.
I skipped ahead to the article on “Practice at Home” because it’s easier to go to class than it is to maintain a strong home practice for me. It’s such a staple to my practice now, I can’t imagine missing an issue.
I’ve hacked away at Don Quixote, off and on, and never managed to finish – which always surprises me because it’s a hoot. There are so many wonderful things to say about that book. I should try again, when it’s winter fat-book time. 🙂
Kisane – Their website is great! My wrists are my weak points and that’s where I need to build strength.
Dark Orpheus – I haven’t read that article yet. I have not had much success practicing at home either. I get so distracted by other things.
Nancy, aka Bookfool – Oh does this mean there’s a chunkster challenge 2 to look forward to? 🙂
I managed to finish the first book, and dithered a few pages into the second book when my mind just yelled Uncle. So, I will pick it up in January, when I seem to be able to start and finish difficult books.
Hope you are enjoying your vacation!!!!