Thursday, March 12, 2009

From the Truly Bad to the Sublime

I just finished P. G. Wodehouse's Quick Service, and it is now one of my favorites. As usual, there are plenty of brilliant comparisons, like these:

"An instant before, she could have been mistaken for a rattlesnake about to strike. Her air now became that of a rattlesnake which is prepared to reserve its judgment till it has heard all the facts."

A page later, he describes the same character: "If she still bore any resemblance to a rattlesnake, it was one which has heard the voice of conscience and decided to simmer down and spend a quiet evening with the boys."

Here's one more: "'Yes, it's beautiful,' she said, panting a little, like a girl who has discovered a dismembered corpse in the attic. 'Lovely. Well, I must be shoving along. Ta for the tea.'"

Oh, to able to write like that!

If you like star-crossed young lovers, mistaken identities, petty theft, love, spite, and false moustaches, then this is the book for you.

3 comments:

Phil K. said...

what kind of inane brit-lit are you two getting into up there??

I've never heard of a rattle-snake that enjoys quality time with children. ever.

Jackamo said...

Since the dawn of time, I have enjoyed star-crossed young lovers, mistaken identities, petty theft, love, spite, and false moustaches.

Watoosa said...

I seriously have loved false moustaches (and beards) since the dawn of time.