Sunday, January 22, 2012
People in books never read books
You pick the characters, you pick the book. The witty, the wise, the charming, the scheming; nobody reads.
I am reading "The Big Sleep" starring noir detective hero Philip Marlowe. And this is not much of a spoiler- Philip Marlowe does not read anything. There is no mention of him having read anything. He could have picked up an Arthur Conan Doyle maybe to sharpen his skills, or he could have done so on a dull day to inspire himself to reach for the professional heights which Mr. Sherlock Holmes reached in his day.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. George Smiley. Consummate professional. Master spy. Possessor of abundant wisdom. And nowhere, despite much of the book being a soliloquy, is he reading. There's a small part in the beginning where he is carrying a book by a German author (Grimmelshausen, I just opened up the TTSS), but that's for his wife Ann.
Harry Potter, say. In all their years we watched them so closely, I don't remember our chaps doing any extra curricular reading apart from an illustrated book on magical creatures and another illustrated book on Quidditch. Lord of the Rings. Living on the edge as they do, where do our gallant heroes have the time for reading?
Saleem Sinai, in Midnight's Children. Col. Mike Martin, in Fist of God, Ikon and the Afghan. The sisters in Atonement, and the Captain. Nobody. A welcome change is "Kalle" Blomkvist in the Millennium series. He reads quite a bit of Swedish detective fiction.
In the fantasy genre, what fantasy would those guys be reading? The Lannisters and the Starks, of Song of Ice and Fire fame, they have seen people coming back from the dead, fire breathing dragons, massive wolves, and all kinds of miracles. So, what fantasy would they themselves read? That's a good angle to explore. Bran Stark, when he is sitting injured in bed (that happens very early, not much of a spoiler), is reading the bestselling fantasy book of his time. And, the story unfolds..the recursion would call for some imagination, and could make for a good tale.
Given that we want to get under the skin of the character and relate to him or her, the character should appreciate our efforts to get to know him, and he/she can do that by indulging in a bit of the same. I have spend a considerable portion of my wakeful hours reading, and I want some of these people to do that too.
And I would finish with one of the few tracts of poetry which I can quote, one of my grandpop's favorites:
Books, a dull and endless strife..
..
One impulse from a vernal wood,
May teach you more of man,
Of moral evil and good,
Than all the sages can.
-William Wordsworth
I am reading "The Big Sleep" starring noir detective hero Philip Marlowe. And this is not much of a spoiler- Philip Marlowe does not read anything. There is no mention of him having read anything. He could have picked up an Arthur Conan Doyle maybe to sharpen his skills, or he could have done so on a dull day to inspire himself to reach for the professional heights which Mr. Sherlock Holmes reached in his day.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. George Smiley. Consummate professional. Master spy. Possessor of abundant wisdom. And nowhere, despite much of the book being a soliloquy, is he reading. There's a small part in the beginning where he is carrying a book by a German author (Grimmelshausen, I just opened up the TTSS), but that's for his wife Ann.
Harry Potter, say. In all their years we watched them so closely, I don't remember our chaps doing any extra curricular reading apart from an illustrated book on magical creatures and another illustrated book on Quidditch. Lord of the Rings. Living on the edge as they do, where do our gallant heroes have the time for reading?
Saleem Sinai, in Midnight's Children. Col. Mike Martin, in Fist of God, Ikon and the Afghan. The sisters in Atonement, and the Captain. Nobody. A welcome change is "Kalle" Blomkvist in the Millennium series. He reads quite a bit of Swedish detective fiction.
In the fantasy genre, what fantasy would those guys be reading? The Lannisters and the Starks, of Song of Ice and Fire fame, they have seen people coming back from the dead, fire breathing dragons, massive wolves, and all kinds of miracles. So, what fantasy would they themselves read? That's a good angle to explore. Bran Stark, when he is sitting injured in bed (that happens very early, not much of a spoiler), is reading the bestselling fantasy book of his time. And, the story unfolds..the recursion would call for some imagination, and could make for a good tale.
Given that we want to get under the skin of the character and relate to him or her, the character should appreciate our efforts to get to know him, and he/she can do that by indulging in a bit of the same. I have spend a considerable portion of my wakeful hours reading, and I want some of these people to do that too.
And I would finish with one of the few tracts of poetry which I can quote, one of my grandpop's favorites:
Books, a dull and endless strife..
..
One impulse from a vernal wood,
May teach you more of man,
Of moral evil and good,
Than all the sages can.
-William Wordsworth
Why this Sissy fuss.
Comic strip idea. I started making it, too. But it's too much of an effort to get it done nicely.
Panel 1: A man in formal attire- suit, tie, shiny-pointy shoes et al with a laptop bag hanging off one arm- pushing boulder up a steep slope. Blurb says "Puff, pant".
Panel 2: God shows up, all of a sudden, smiling beatifically. Three heads and five hands and halo. Man in formals is perplexed.
Panel 3: God places his foot on the boulder.
Panel 4: And nonchalantly kicks the boulder down.
Panel 5: Man raises his hand in exasperation.
Panel 6: God says "No Sissy fuss. Be a man, and get back down to work."
Panel 1: A man in formal attire- suit, tie, shiny-pointy shoes et al with a laptop bag hanging off one arm- pushing boulder up a steep slope. Blurb says "Puff, pant".
Panel 2: God shows up, all of a sudden, smiling beatifically. Three heads and five hands and halo. Man in formals is perplexed.
Panel 3: God places his foot on the boulder.
Panel 4: And nonchalantly kicks the boulder down.
Panel 5: Man raises his hand in exasperation.
Panel 6: God says "No Sissy fuss. Be a man, and get back down to work."
Labels: Witticisms
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Drive(l) on LBS Marg
On LBS Marg, your seat belt should restrain up-down movements, rather than front-back movements. Up-down movements are more common here, and much more dangerous.
Traveling on LBS Marg is like ancient Chinese water torture. Replace the drop with the pothole. You know it's coming, and you can do nothing about it.
It's hot as hell, and its crap. Hell, BS marg.
On LBS Marg, to avoid accidents, you should drink, talk on the cellphone and drive. If you are not softened up and distracted, you will just give up and ram into the lumbering red BEST bus in front of you.
When the driver insists upon continuing on LBS Marg, and when you protest, says, "My way or the highway", just get off, and go via Eastern Express highway.
Traveling on LBS Marg is like ancient Chinese water torture. Replace the drop with the pothole. You know it's coming, and you can do nothing about it.
It's hot as hell, and its crap. Hell, BS marg.
On LBS Marg, to avoid accidents, you should drink, talk on the cellphone and drive. If you are not softened up and distracted, you will just give up and ram into the lumbering red BEST bus in front of you.
When the driver insists upon continuing on LBS Marg, and when you protest, says, "My way or the highway", just get off, and go via Eastern Express highway.
Labels: Witticisms
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