On the Brighter Side
My sister got me a Barnes & Noble gift card for my birthday. Naturally this sort of thing - the promise of free books - burns a whole in my pocket and it didn't me long - a little over 24 hours to be exact - to hit my local B & N.
Now when I receive a gift of this sort my guidelines are to use to purchase only 'worthwhile' book,' which means either a book I've been pining for but previously could not justify buying, or an author whose works I've never read before but who comes highly recommended. In this instance I went the second of the two guidelines, walking out of B & N with a copy of P.G. Wodehouse's The Code of the Woosters. I've long heard the praise of Wodehouse's novels, and I can say I have not been disappointed.
My morning routine runs something like this: stumble out of bed, brush teeth, shave, put coffee on, shower, dress... and then spend a half hour or so easing into the day with a cup of joe and a good book. For the past week I've spent my mornings in the company of Bertie Wooster, Jeeves, and Wodehouse's understated prose. All three go very well with coffee and make my adjusting to being awake (I am not a morning person) much more pleasurable. Though it certainly sounds trite, there's nothing like a good laugh to start off the day. Here's an example of what I mean; Bertie Wooster describing his friend's wife-to-be:
Or sample this exchange between Wooster and the above-mentioned fiancee:
I am quite enjoying this book. Rather.
Now when I receive a gift of this sort my guidelines are to use to purchase only 'worthwhile' book,' which means either a book I've been pining for but previously could not justify buying, or an author whose works I've never read before but who comes highly recommended. In this instance I went the second of the two guidelines, walking out of B & N with a copy of P.G. Wodehouse's The Code of the Woosters. I've long heard the praise of Wodehouse's novels, and I can say I have not been disappointed.
My morning routine runs something like this: stumble out of bed, brush teeth, shave, put coffee on, shower, dress... and then spend a half hour or so easing into the day with a cup of joe and a good book. For the past week I've spent my mornings in the company of Bertie Wooster, Jeeves, and Wodehouse's understated prose. All three go very well with coffee and make my adjusting to being awake (I am not a morning person) much more pleasurable. Though it certainly sounds trite, there's nothing like a good laugh to start off the day. Here's an example of what I mean; Bertie Wooster describing his friend's wife-to-be:
I call her a ghastly girl because she was a ghastly girl. The Woosters are chivalrous, but they can speak their minds. A droopy, soupy, sentimental exhibit, with melting eyes and a cooing voice and the most extraordinary views on such things as stars and rabbits. I remember her telling me once that rabbits were gnomes in attendance on the Fairy Queen and that the stars were God's daisy chain. Perfect rot, of course. They're nothing of the sort.
Or sample this exchange between Wooster and the above-mentioned fiancee:
"So everything's all right, is it?"
"Everything. I have never loved Augustus more than I do now."
"Haven't you, by Jove?"
"Each moment I am with him, his wonderful nature seems to open before me like some lovely flower."
"Does it, egad?"
"Every day I find myself discovering some new facet of his extraordinary character. For instance... You have seen him quite lately, have you not?"
"Oh, rather. I gave him a dinner at the Drones only the night before last."
"I wonder if you noticed any difference in him?"
I threw my mind back to the binge in question. As far as I could recollect, Gussie had been the same fish-faced freak I had always known.
I am quite enjoying this book. Rather.
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