Finishing Don Quixote left me with mixed emotions, but now I can immerse myself in Les Miserables. In addition, I still have to work on The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing and In Search of Lost Time by Proust. Then maybe if I feel I can tackle The Ambassadors again, I will be finished.
Book Club: I will review a book called Three Wishes, by Liane Moriarty, tomorrow. I will be reading Mr. Owita's Guide to Gardening by Carol Wall, for February.
After I finish the 100 books I will have to decide what else I want to do- continue this blog or start a new one. It has been fun to write down my thoughts about books, but I need to challenge myself. I could make my own list of 100 books to read, hmm. I will think about it as I have several books to complete before making my final decision.
Happy Reading
Monday, January 23, 2017
Sunday, January 22, 2017
IT IS DONE: Review of DON QUIXOTE
I have finally finished the book DON QUIXOTE, written by Miguel de Cervantes in the early 1600's. I started out reading this in book form, but jumped to my Kindle to finish, since I had to return the book back to the library. As I was reading the book I asked myself the question who had time to read or write such a lengthy book. But then I remembered we are talking about the 1600's. What we know about the writer according to BIO, is that he was wounded in battle with the Turks, who come up on several occasions in this book. Also, that he was imprisoned for 5 years before being ransomed out. Again, this theme appears several times in this book.
I think about what we do today that keeps us from reading and exploring. We have so many connections through electronics that we tend to keep busy playing on computers and phones,instead of exploring the world or reading about adventures. Through history we have the production of newspapers and magazines, but then we added radio, television, and a myriad of electronic devices Who has time to sit and read a thousand page book? I found it to be a great difficulty to read, as I had many other things to do. I forced myself to finish because it deserved to be finished.
How would I rate this book, 5 stars, because I have to consider the time, the tumult and the life of Cervantes. I think that he certainly had a sense of humor, especially when he talks of burning books, except those he had written. Or when he introduces us to Sancho an unlikely companion to Don Quixote, who imparts to us several words of wisdom throughout his time with the knight-errant. As you read you will come across a few phrases that we still us in modern times, one saying is " the proof of the pudding is in the eating", which many times gets translated into the 'proof is in the pudding."
I enjoyed this book, but it was again too long form me to finish in the original time I had allotted to this book. Though I said I was tired of the adventures in my last blog, now I will miss the characters. In effect, I read two books. The first part was written around 1605, though I have seen some say 1602, the second part was written about ten years later. Probably at the insistence of friends and families and publishers. Or as may be alluded to in the second book, that people were making up Don Quixote adventures and trying to sell them.
If you have the time, it is well worth the read.
I think about what we do today that keeps us from reading and exploring. We have so many connections through electronics that we tend to keep busy playing on computers and phones,instead of exploring the world or reading about adventures. Through history we have the production of newspapers and magazines, but then we added radio, television, and a myriad of electronic devices Who has time to sit and read a thousand page book? I found it to be a great difficulty to read, as I had many other things to do. I forced myself to finish because it deserved to be finished.
How would I rate this book, 5 stars, because I have to consider the time, the tumult and the life of Cervantes. I think that he certainly had a sense of humor, especially when he talks of burning books, except those he had written. Or when he introduces us to Sancho an unlikely companion to Don Quixote, who imparts to us several words of wisdom throughout his time with the knight-errant. As you read you will come across a few phrases that we still us in modern times, one saying is " the proof of the pudding is in the eating", which many times gets translated into the 'proof is in the pudding."
I enjoyed this book, but it was again too long form me to finish in the original time I had allotted to this book. Though I said I was tired of the adventures in my last blog, now I will miss the characters. In effect, I read two books. The first part was written around 1605, though I have seen some say 1602, the second part was written about ten years later. Probably at the insistence of friends and families and publishers. Or as may be alluded to in the second book, that people were making up Don Quixote adventures and trying to sell them.
If you have the time, it is well worth the read.
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Tired of Don Quixote
I am so tired of reading about these adventures and having my computer trying constantly to reboot, that I have stopped reading for a bit. I promise that it will be finished soon, but I started reading Les Miserables just keep going on the 100 and catch a breather from the Don. I have some down time coming up, so I will be able to read more prolifically, I have spent way to much time reading Don Quixote. Anyway, thought I would just catch you up on my status.
Also will blog about another book I am reading for book club, called the Three Wishes. I am going to wait to hear what my book club friends say, it was unique.
Happy reading.
Also will blog about another book I am reading for book club, called the Three Wishes. I am going to wait to hear what my book club friends say, it was unique.
Happy reading.
Monday, January 2, 2017
HAPPY NEW YEAR
It is often said that when life gives you lemons make lemonade, this is very true in Don Quixote because it seems that he and Sancho have found themselves swimming in lemons and still manage to get out of there predicament.
I am watching a series called the EXPANSE, and in this series are some direct references to Don Quixote that I find very interesting. The character James Holden has named the Martian ship Rocinante, which makes me rethink who the Don Quixote reference is: Is it James Holden who is finds himself in situations that he put himself in by responding to a distress call. Or is it Miller who is trying to save a girl who disappeared, he is mesmerized by her, and she is not whom she seems to be. So a very interesting contrast as I finish reading Don Quixote.
I hope you all had a great holiday and find yourself on fun adventures.
I am watching a series called the EXPANSE, and in this series are some direct references to Don Quixote that I find very interesting. The character James Holden has named the Martian ship Rocinante, which makes me rethink who the Don Quixote reference is: Is it James Holden who is finds himself in situations that he put himself in by responding to a distress call. Or is it Miller who is trying to save a girl who disappeared, he is mesmerized by her, and she is not whom she seems to be. So a very interesting contrast as I finish reading Don Quixote.
I hope you all had a great holiday and find yourself on fun adventures.
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