A knight-errant who goes mad for a good reason deserves no credit; the whole point consists in going crazy without cause

"I am sure," said Sancho, "that the knights who went through these penances were provoked and had some reason for doing so; but what cause have you, sir, for going mad? What lady turned you down? What signs have you discovered that her ladyship, Dulcinea of El Toboso, has committed any foolishness either with Moor or Christian?"

"That is just the point of it," said Don Quixote; "and that is where the subtleness of my plan comes in. A knight-errant who goes mad for a good reason deserves no thanks or gratitude; the whole point consists in going crazy without cause, and thereby warn my lady what to expect from me in the wet if this is what I do in the dry."

--Chapter XXV

"Sancho was already plastered and in bed, but though he tried to sleep, he could not do so owing to the pain in his ribs."

Mmm . . . ribs . . .

(from Chapter XVI (and I haven't skipped ahead))

wink, wink, nudge, nudge

well, two weeks have gone by since our last posting, birthdays (happy 15th Emily!) have come and gone and all is eerily quiet on the DQ Summer front.

so here's something I would never ever say to my students (a long time ago when I was a teacher): if you're having trouble getting started, just skip over the prologue and the sonnets. they are, compared to the actual story, extremely difficult.

as in, if you haven't gotten started (and I hope you've gotten started), skip ahead to Chapter 1 on page 56.
it should be (again, compared to the prologue and the sonnets) downhill skiing (though without trees, rocks or other impediments) from there.

Monday is the first day of summer (I'm talking officially; I know that the first day out of school is much more the first day of summer in the lives of teachers and students), and it's also someone's wedding anniversary, so maybe that'd be a good day to write in, blog, 'fess up if you will, and let everyone know what kind of progress you're making.

DQ Summer, baby!!!

hello dqsummer campers!!!

I'm still a few days from beginning the Don Quixote trek (trying to finish another book first, though I imagine there will be several times in the next three months that I've got a couple going simultaneously), but someone in New York City, someone in my household, someone I love a whole bunch who is not Santa Claus should be starting soon.

Has anyone else gotten past the introduction and into the actual book?

Folks in Birmingham should be taken care of (soon, if not already), but if you're joining us in our Don Quixote journey and don't yet own a copy we're reading from the Signet Classic version translated by Walter Starkie, which you can order through Amazon by clicking HERE (or any of the four italicized places in this blog entry).

And if you're ready to sign up as a blog contributor (and you are ready), Lloyd Dobler (a/k/a your brother/uncle/son/nephew/father/friend Wayne) can set you up. Just ask him for an invite.

Who are we?

Family, friends, countrymen - lend me you ears!

Okay, wrong literary reference, but it is a start. As you may or may not know, the purpose of our blog is to appease the oldest sibling - Rob - also available @ dreamsong14.blogspot.com - and respond to his idea that we read one of the great literary works over the Summer.

We have chosen Don Quixote by Cervantes - an interesting choice for a family based in Alabama :)

So - instructions -
1. Try to contribute weekly
2. Post ideas and questions as needed and we can try to respond
3. We will post a reading schedule once the majority have obtained the book
4. Feel free to invite/challenge other friends and relatives by pasting blog link in an email
5. Any future book/film royalties will be shared in some way by the original team members :)

Cheers!!!