Reading Challenge Announcement for May!

Hello Lovely Readers! I hope all is well with you and your loved ones. I am back with an exciting announcement. In my last post, I gave a little hint of a future challenge with the knight helmet image. Did you guess what it meant? Today I am happy to announce that in May I am going to tackle a classic that has been on my radar for a long time.

Drumroll please….

DON QUIXOTE

That’s right! For the month of May I am going to be reading (and hopefully completing) Don Quixote by Miguel De Cervantes. This book was published in two parts- 1605 and 1615 and is considered the first modern novel. I am going to read both parts, which clocks in at just under 1000 pages!

This is the translation I will be reading (not listening) if you wish to follow along. But note there are other translations to choose from

Why am I telling you this? First, I will be posting throughout the month related to this book- historical background and importance, books inspired by Don Quixote, different adaptations, my thoughts throughout the reading journey and more! Second, I am hoping you will join me.

WOAH, I DON’T HAVE TIME TO READ ALL THAT!

I hear you! It is totally up to you how involved you are in this challenge. This could look like:

-Reading my posts and sharing them with others (shameful self plug) Also leaving comments on my posts would be great too!

-Reading the book- all or just portions

-Watching a Don Quixote movie, play, ballet or other adaptation

-Learning more about this important but rarely read [in modern times] novel

Whatever level you are participating in, please use the hashtag #MayofLaMancha (my play on Man of La Mancha) if you post on social media.

I have no idea if I will enjoy this novel. I only know the bare minimum in terms of plot that I have seen satirized in other works such as the Windmill scene. Also, I know in the musical a song called "The Impossible Dream" is famous and that there is a ballet about it. But I hope it might bring some attention to such an important piece of literature.

Frontpiece image to 1687 edition of Don Quxiote

So comment below- are you going to participate in #MayofLaMancha? What do you know about Don Quixote? Are there other large classics that you think deserve a month treatment like this book?

Don’t forget to follow on Instagram (@ladybookishblog) and join our Facebook page Lady Bookish. I truly love hearing from all of you!

Happy Reading

Lady Bookish