Many years ago, the first time I moved my child-of-the-warm-and-sunny-South wife Volita to Michigan, she was freely lamenting the decidedly colder conditions (and it didn’t help that the spring when we moved was one of the longest and coldest ever). Our equally Southern friend Trish Lantzy offered her this advice: read P.G. Wodehouse.
Trish was right: there’s nothing like a ridiculously humorous story to lift your spirits. If you’ve never read Wodehouse, you’ll find he’s a very good antidote to misery. British humor, forever dry and sardonic, makes you realize that whatever ills you’re suffering, a good laugh helps immensely. Bertie Wooster and his friends and all their ridiculous situations do indeed mitigate the pain. My wife and I quickly acquired quite a Wodehouse collection. It has served us well indeed.
I also like Douglas Adams. Particularly in times like these, when lots of what we’re doing as a society seems awfully foolish, his unique way of poking fun at the entire human race just fits. Humans, he pointed out, are “so amazingly primitive that they still think digital watches are a pretty neat idea.” Non-humans didn’t fare much better with him (except for the dolphins and the mice.) Not even robots escaped a vigorous lampooning in his Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy trilogy of five books. (Yeah, that’s Adams for you.)
There are plenty of other options if these guys aren’t your thing. Whatever your tastes, it’s a good time to curl up with something funny.
Now Volita and I are living in Michigan again, and we’re having another royally crappy spring, and we have this pandemic thing going on too. I already introduced my younger son to Adams. Tonight I think I’ll drag out the Wodehouse.
I have read more books the last few months than in the last two years. Great story Jim.
Good to hear, Larry! Glad you enjoyed it.
In these days of forced imprisonment, I read a lot and made me two very funny books by Jerome K. Jerome: “We and them” and “Three men in a boat”.
Also, yes – I’ve read *Three Men in a Boat.* Superb!
Thank you, Jim! We need to add to our humor collection and your timing is perfect!
Excellent, Kimberly – glad to be of service!
Jim – Great article to start here in the BC360 forum. You will find the engagement honest and respectful – fellow authors to be encouraging – and followers who become online friends. Welcome!
Thank you, Len – great to join up!
Thank you for this, Jim! Like many of us who write, I am a Bookaholic and have my library! I have read British mystery writer Elizabeth George and Minette Walters but never humorists. I appreciate the suggestions and understand the cold weather living in New England. Welcome again!💖
Darlene, we spent a short time in New England too – southern New Hampshire. And mysteries are certainly another good genre to cozy up with!
Him Jim?!! At least it rhymes.
Him Jim, and welcome.
I’ll always go for W.C. Fields and Calvin & Hobbes for my workout, preferably first thing in the morning. My favorite C & H episodes was where Calvin created a time machine to send a double of himself back in time to do the homework that he’d been putting off. Be sure to pee before you read the series!
I choose blues over heavy metal (as a player too), loved the scouts until girls became interesting, and love history. We’ve been watching “The World on Fire” on PBS, about the start of the war. It’s wonderful.
Keep on keepin’ on . . .
Mac
Mac, good stuff! I was tempted to delve into comics too – we’re great Calvin & Hobbes and Bloom County fans – but I figured I’d focus just this once. Good stuff all the same!
I’m a blues fan too – that came later…
Thanks, and great to make your acquaintance!