Divine Comedy + Decameron discussion

Are any of you interested in participating in an auxiliary group read of Marguerite de Navarre's The Heptameron? If so, the read would probably begin in November 2014 and run through early 2015. We'll determine whether there's any interest -- if so, we'll create and post a tentative schedule. It's fine to wait until later in the year to voice interest if you're not certain yet.

Oh yes! With great pleasure!

Yes! I would love to read this. Marguerite de Navarre is a fascinating person.

Absolutely!

Yes, if it later than the other two works.

Is it necessary/a very good idea to read the Decameron before reading this? I'm still not sure whether I'll be doing it after Dante. Have to wait and see.

Yes, definitely.

Yes, I would love to read the Heptameron.

And there is the possibility, should you be collecting Tales of the -ameron, the Pentameron of Giambattista Basile. The likely best English option would be Giambattista Basile's The Tale of Tales, or Entertainment for Little Ones trans'd by Nancy L. Canepa, from Wayne State U Press.

Wiki'd :: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentameron

I'm in for the Heptameron (after Boccacio).

Sue wrote: "Is it necessary/a very good idea to read the Decameron before reading this? I'm still not sure whether I'll be doing it after Dante. Have to wait and see."

While (as Ali said) it's probably helpful to read the Decameron first since it was such a strong inspiration, there's no reason you can't read & get a lot of enjoyment out of the Heptameron all on its own, too. If you don't get around the reading Boccaccio, I wouldn't let that stop you.

Katie wrote: "Sue wrote: "Is it necessary/a very good idea to read the Decameron before reading this? I'm still not sure whether I'll be doing it after Dante. Have to wait and see."

While (as Ali said) it's probably helpful to read the Decameron first since it was such a strong inspiration, there's no reason you can't read & get a lot of enjoyment out of the Heptameron all on its own, too. If you don't get around the reading Boccaccio, I wouldn't let that stop you. "

Thanks, Katie -- just what I was about to say! And Sue, you can always read a few stories from The Decameron and look over the table of contents to get a sense of the structure, approach, etc.

I am also planning to read The Heptameron. I'll get together a tentative schedule for the read later today or tomorrow.

Nathan "N.R." wrote: "And there is the possibility, should you be collecting Tales of the -ameron, the Pentameron of Giambattista Basile. The likely best English option would be [book:Giambattista Basil..."

Thanks, Nathan! I'm about to look into this as another option for an auxiliary read.

Kris wrote: "I am also planning to read The Heptameron. I'll get together a tentative schedule for the read later today or tomorrow."

Thank you Kris, but there is no hurry... We are months away...

Thanks all. That helps. I really have no idea what my reading plans will be like at that point in the year. Maybe somehow I will be able to do it all.

Possibly, Kris!!:)

I'd like to, but after the Decameron.....give me time to process the first one, before moving on to the later work. I can only read so many "non-work" things at a time, unless Kris shares the location of her speed-reading course! :)