Wednesday, December 15, 2010

A Serious Woman

Today of all days, I was accused by a certain friend (not an old friend, luckily), of being "too serious". Apparently, I read serious books, I watch serious movies even when stressed out while others prefer to watch "timepass" movies and I use a serious tone even when joking. (I used to think that last was called being sarcastic, but well, definitions change.)

In all probability, she says, one bright and shiny winter day, I just might turn into a blues musician. Or maybe I already am one and I just dont know it yet. She must've believed that I'd consider that a somewhat alarming prospect. Although, why I wonder. Blues musicians seem perfectly normal happy folks.

On days like this, one realizes that what Dawkins said about altruism is true. It is only a front for selfishness, if only thrice removed from the first action. No one, ever, ever, says or does anything that is not selfish. Take that, Ms. Rand. You wrote all those books with such passion, and it was all just a lot of preaching to the converted.

Speaking of being a serious person, I keep entering these bookshops (I did it again today) hoping to find a new Wodehouse book to read, only to realize I've probably read them all. Why didn't you write more books, Sir Pelham Grenville? No one writes them like you anymore. You, Sir, are seriously funny.

No matter. I'll just read the books I have again. Reading Wodehouse's prose never fails to enrapture, even on the hundredth encounter. Stuff like "He was white and shaken, quite like a dry martini." or "She had a penetrating sort of laugh. Rather like a train going into a tunnel." never gets old.

All in all, today is the kind of day that makes one want to curl up in bed with a lovely book, A Pelican at Blandings, in all probability, and switch off the distracting cellphone.

And quote for the day? Well, this one.

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it is too dark to read." by, who else? Groucho Marx!

15 comments:

S. Susan Deborah said...

"Too dark to read" Ha Ha. Well, sometimes the inside of a dog seems much appealing than people who are more or less like dogs. Now don't get me wrong here. I appreciate a dog but people like dogs, no. Dogs should be dogs and people, people. I like Groucho Marx. A quirky guy.

Joy always,
Susan

Tangled up in blue... said...

Oh yeah he is! And that was quite a quirky comment there, Susan! ;)

T. said...

tsk tsk tsk somebody called u a serious woman tsk tsk tsk new frnd na? no worries they shall soon learn what a consummate freakshow thou art :-D n blues musician ahahahahaha

Tangled up in blue... said...

Okay, let me see which is worse now..new friend calling me too serious or old friend calling me a consummate freakshow! Hmm..real tough call! :P

Ramya said...

oooh, i'm a big time plummer too!

i've currently shifted loyalties though, and i'm hooked on to gerald durrell :)

Tangled up in blue... said...

ramya! I just commented on your blog! What a coincidence! :D oh yeah, I loved Marrying Off Mother and My Family and other Animals..haven't read any others..which do you recommend? I am so dying to read something by a real good humorist! :)

Antara said...

We're only 'too serious' for the ones who have never found anything to be serious about. :D

And by virtue of loving Wodehouse, we can never be too serious.

Do try James Herriot. He's good.

Tangled up in blue... said...

Aww Anty I can always depend on you! :D "All Creatures Great and Small" wonderful! :)

R said...

Terry Pratchett Terry Pratchett Terry Pratchett!!
Now, now, now, NOW!
It's like curling up with an old friend who makes you feel safe and is kinda like Dumbledore with a wicked sense of humour.
As for blogpost, I'm a regular here now, so all I'm saying is I wish I Was a "serious person". I think I just legit failed Orgo :( :(

Tangled up in blue... said...

Riddhi!!! Let me do this, like I do it for most of my smartass geeky friends..YOU ARE NOT GOING TO FAIL! You're going to do exceedingly well, dazzle the examiners with your brilliance and make classmates go green with barely-disguised envy! :D All in day's work, too! And Orgo, the gargoyle, is no match for your talents! :D

And no one ever wishes they were a "serious person"..it is kinda sucky to be called that..we're way too fun to be called that! :D

And Terry Pratchett..his books are definitely next on my list of things to buy the moment I leave the house! I have never read anything by him..but my google search was almost as promising as your description there! :)

Mohit said...

Meh. Mumbai Mirror's entertainment enough :P. Or I read those links that ToI's website has at the bottom of the page. Good stuff :D

Tangled up in blue... said...

Leo, I wanted something a little, shall we say, classier? :P

Ketan said...

Rand said something about 'rational' (and honest, unriddled with guilt) selfishness. :)

I've read maybe 100 or 200 words of P. G. Wodehouse. His style was similar to Saki's? Forgive my ignorance. :)

From your blog posts, I thought, it is very, very few things that you must be doing with a somber look on your face! :O

I think I can pay a compliment to you that happens to be the middle ground between your new 'friend's' & T's: versatile. Even facial expressions can be versatile. ;)

Tangled up in blue... said...

Aww! Thanks for this comment as well, Ketan! And exactly for that reason did I think that I disliked being called serious. But versatile, now that's an adjective I cud live with! :)

Tangled up in blue... said...

And yes, Wodehouse is also riproaringly funny, like Saki. But Saki is darker, way darker actually. In Wodehouse's books, the only darkness is the one that comes with clouds over the English countryside. :) You shud read some, I envy you actually. You have all of Wodehouse's delightful writing awaiting your exploration. :)