Three Men In A Boat

Humor, a topic that I adore more next to music, is obviously a powerful stress buster. Not just a stress buster but it will also be a good flavor that makes our talk tasteful when added with the usage of filtering by emotional intelligence. Recently I have added another book to my “done-reading” list which of course a hilarious writing by a person with an extra ordinary sense of humor.  I have read 4 books so far, all of them I really enjoyed thoroughly though each one of them varies a lot at the core.

To brief

1)    The diary of a young girl – As it’s a real diary of a little girl and the writing consists of her genuine thoughts, it    just stands out despite no rich literature and no professional writing.

2)     To kill a mocking bird- The novel’s big strength is its literature along with the humanity lessons it teaches, I would say

3)   The little Prince- As a children’s book, simple; symbolic and poetic writing takes a firm stand forever. Being simple is the ultimate form of beauty and this book is a perfect example for that I would say.

And the fourth one is what I’m going to talk about today – “Three Men In A Boat” by Jerome.K.Jerome.BTW, “Jerome” is a nice name :)

I have learnt one important thing from the above mentioned reads. That is all five fingers are not the same and they should not be compared for any reason. They are perfect in their own way and that’s all about it. We humans too, each and every one of us, are like that- special, unique and talented in our own way and there is no reason to compare with each other.

Let’s come to the topic at least now. :)

First of all it’s a novel of 18^th century and it’s still praised in 21^st century which is the ultimate reward to the author and his writings. It’s not only timeless but also penetrates minds of people from various countries and various cultures in spite of the differences. The book is said to be a great travel guide as well. But I couldn’t grasp anything regarding that as I’ve never been to those places. Still the humor it emits, balances everything and makes us engaged in reading. I’ve rarely seen a person with such a sense of humor so that simply makes him outstanding. But the best thing about its hilarity is, it’ not deliberately created but what emerges with the basic human nature.

The author must have been a poet as well as his writings offer some appreciation for the calmness and beauty of the nature, which I really enjoyed as I’m also on the same wavelength as him, I guess. Yes, it contains some poetic expressions as well but the percent is very low. And the novel goes around three men and a dog named as “Montmorency”. I think there should be a meaning for this weird name “Montmorency” but I have no idea about it. The writer gives voice/text to the dog’s expressions and that’s the most creative thinking from him I would say. (Here I remember a comedy scene from a tamil film (can’t remember the name) where the comedian Vivek acquiring the ability to listen to the mind voices of animals and it irritates him a lot.)

In overall, it was maximum fun and I would recommend it if you are a fun loving person.

The Little Prince

Another wonderful read I had earlier this week. It was simple but very beautiful and touching fiction story where the leading character is a little boy who is originally from a small unnamed planet, visits to many other planets including the earth at last and there he meets the narrator (a Pilot) in the Sahara desert, where the Aviator was left alone after an unexpected crash of his plane. Types of human nature, especially of the grown-ups, is analyzed quite well in the novella and it is expressed mostly in a symbolic form.

The story starts with a small art work done by the narrator when he was a Kid and he claims that no adult was able to interpret it in a way which he really meant when he drew that. It is true that, in general as we grow older our creative thinking or creative ability starts to decline. As we print some fixed concepts or some fixed images in the mind, we normally don’t see beyond that, in other words, what we see there may not be what they really are. “Know-it-all” attitude plays an important role here, I reckon. Not only this but also several other criticisms are made on grown-ups by the Author mostly through the little boy character.

We adults normally tend to judge people by their look rather than their real value which may be unknown at the first look. You may argue that outer look is very important but the point here is, it should not lead us to a poor judgment. We can’t judge a book by its cover. But normally we do, a bitter truth.

“On making his discovery, the astronomer had presented it to the International astronomical congress, in a great demonstration. But he was in Turkish costume and so nobody would believe what he said.
Grown-ups are like that.
So in 1920 astronomer gave his demonstration all over again, dressed with impressive style and elegance (European style). And this time everybody accepted his report."

The writing reminds us that he is not just a writer but a great poet too. The poetic expressions are all over there but I would like to give an example for that.

"First would come the turn of lamplighters of New Zealand and Australia. Having set the lamps alight these would go off to sleep. Next the lamp lighters of China and Siberia would enter for their steps in the dance, and then they too would be waved back in to the wings. After that would come the turn of the lamplighters of Russia and Indies; then those of Africa and Europe; then those of South America; then those of North America. And never would they make a mistake in the order of their entry upon the stage. It would be magnificent.”

There are quite a few lessons you will learn while reading it. ”Words are the source of misunderstandings”. What a truth it is! Most often our words are misinterpreted especially when we deal with the people who don’t know much about us. Clarify it with the owner of the words would be the best way to handle it rather than making your own misinterpretations and this theory is applicable to almost all kind of relationships.

If you want a friend tame me. “Said the fox.
“What must I do, to tame you”? Asked the little Prince.
“You must be very patient.” Replied the Fox. “First you will sit down a little distance from me- like that – in the grass. I shall look at you out of the corner of my eye, you will say nothing. Words are the source of misunderstandings. But you will sit a little closer to me every day”

The more we learn the more we realize how little we know and how little we have.

“I thought that I was rich with a flower that is unique in all the world; and all I had was a common rose and three volcanoes that come up to my knees—and of them extinct forever—that doesn’t make me a great Prince”

Some fun intended and malicious talks might hurt people.  We should be aware of the feelings of others (emotional intelligence).

“I tell you-it is also because of the snake. He must not bite you. Snakes, they are malicious creatures. This one might bite just for fun.”

 As I said, it is mostly a symbolic writing and the following paragraph is a good example for that.

“You are not at all like my rose” Said the Little Prince.
And the roses were very much embarrassed.
“You are beautiful. But you are empty “The little Prince went on. “One could not die for you. To be sure an ordinary passerby would think that my rose just looked like you-the rose that belongs to me. But in herself alone she is more important than all the hundreds of you other roses. Because it is she that I have watered; Because it is she I have put under the glass globe; Because it is she that I have sheltered behind the screen; Because it’s for her I have killed the caterpillars; Because it is she that I have listened to; when she grumbled or boosted or said nothing. Because she is my rose”

As we are in a world where people act like machines or forced to do so, we run towards money and success- no the better term would be “so-called success” forgetting the real values of life. It is all about the right balance. 

“Men” said the little Prince, “Set out on their way in express trains, but they don’t’ know what they are looking for. They rush about and get excited and turn round and round.”
And he added “it’s not worth the trouble”

I have shared my thoughts here. But the book has lot more to say and lot more to teach you. As it is a children’s book (short novel), it would be such a short but sweet read.

To Kill A Mocking Bird

It is international women’s day today (8^th of March), the whole world is celebrating it. The day is not meant just to convey your wishes or gift something to women but it’s all about reminding everyone to treat the woman kind well without any discrimination. Today’s post is not directly related the special day. But still it could be linked somehow as I’m going to talk about a novel which I completed reading a day back, written by the “Pulitzer prize” winning novelist Nelle Harper Lee, one of the most Victorious women, who has won many awards and honorary degrees including “Presidential medal of freedom” for her very first and the same novel what I’m referring to “To Kill a Mocking Bird”.

It is one the great books I’ve ever read, lets you grab some wisdom thoughts and life morals. And it varies quite a bit from any typical novel as it not just gives you pleasure while reading but teaches you, guides you, it purifies your thoughts towards fellow human beings and moreover it gives you an enduring impact. Persecution is an incurable disease from which the whole world has been suffering all along the way, where people are discriminated by gender, race, religion and skin-color, to name a few. This novel is also talking about one kind of discrimination, the ill-treatment of black people. Atticus Finch, the protagonist of the novel, plays a great role model. First and foremost, I would like to say that I’m writing whatever surfaces in my mind regarding the read and it does not need to be a typical review.

Scout, 7 years old little girl (at the start of the story), the narrator of the story and the daughter of the novel hero Atticus Finch, plays a “Tomboy” character. As per Wikipedia, “Scout” character is none other than the Author “Nelle Harper Lee” herself and it’s almost an autobiography, though Nelle Lee has denied that. The “Tomboy” scout plays a vital role in making the novel a hit, I would say. Let me share a few things proving that from the novel. (Jem is Scout’s brother 4 years older than her.)

“His maddening superiority was unbearable these days. He didn’t want to do anything but read and go off by himself. Still everything he read he passed along to me but with the difference: formerly because he thought I would like it; now for my edification and instruction

Jee crawling hova, Jem! Who do you think you are?

Now I mean it Scout you antagonize aunty and I’ll- I’ll spank you.

With that I was gone. “You damn morphodite. I’ll kill you. “He was sitting on the bed and it was easy to grab his front hair and land one on his mouth. He slapped me and I tried another left, but a punch in the stomach sent me sprawling on the floor. It nearly knocked the breathe out of me, but It didn’t because I knew he was fighting, he was fighting me back. We were still equals.

“Ain’t so high and might now are you! “ I screamed, sailing in again. He was still on the bed and I couldn’t get a firm stance, so I threw myself at him as hard as I could, hitting, pulling, pinching, gouging. What had begun as a fist fight became a brawl. We were still struggling when Atticus separated us.

“That’s all.” Said atticus.”Both of you go to bed right now”

“Who started it?” asked Atticus in resignation.

“Jem did. He was trying to tell me what to do. I don’t have to mind him now. Do I?”

Atticus smiled “Let’s leave it at this. You mind Jem whenever he can make you. Fair enough?”

Even though the book is more about some serious social issues, flavors like humor and poetic expressions brilliantly placed by the author makes it an interesting read and that is where the great Novelist Harper Lee stands out, I reckon. Let me give you an example for the “poetic expression “even though it is there throughout the whole story.

“Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tried old town when I first knew it. In rainy weather streets turned to red slop; grass grew on the sidewalks, the courthouse sagged in the square. Somehow it was hotter then: a black dog suffered on a summer’s day; bony mules hitched to Hoover harts flicked flies in the sweltering shade of live oak on the square. Men’s stiff collars wilted by nine in the morning. Ladies bathed before noon after their three o’clock naps, and by night fall were like soft teacakes with frosting of sweating and sweet talcum”

“Dill was off again. Beautiful things floated around his dreamy head. He could read two books to my one. But he preferred the magic of his own inventions. He could add and subtract faster than lightening but he preferred his own twilight world, a world where babies slept, waiting to be gathered like morning lilies. He was slowly taking himself to sleep and taking me with him, but in the quietness of his foggy island there rose the faded image of gray house with sad brown doors.”

Well, let’s get into some lessons now.

Atticus Finch, as a lawyer, defended a Negro man-Tim Robinson that was accused of raping a white girl, disregarding the disapproval of fellow white citizens. And folks of his county call him a “Nigger-lover”.

Lesson 1: Respect the thoughts and views of others regardless of the fact that they align with ours.

“Scout” said Atticus “When summer comes you will have to keep your head about far worse things. It’s not fair for you and Jem, I know that, but sometimes we have to make the best of things and the way we conduct ourselves when chips are down…………………..  This case, Tom Robin’s case, is something that goes to the essence of Man’s conscience- Scout, I could not go to church and worship God if I didn’t try to help that man. ”

“Atticus, you must be wrong.”

“How’s that?”

“Well more folks seem to think they’re right and you are wrong…”

“They’re certainly entitled to think that, they are entitled to full respect for their opinions” said Atticus “But before I can live with other folks I’ve got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s conscience.”

Lesson 2: Ignore the nonsense talk. Fighting with a pig does not get you anywhere other than mud.

“Scout, simply by the nature of the work, every lawyer gets at least one in his lifetime that affects him personally. This one is mine I guess. You might hear some ugly talk about it at school but do one thing for me if you will: you just hold your head high and keep those fists down. No matter what anybody says to you, don’t you let them get your goat. Try fighting with your head for a change. It’s a good one even if it resists learning.”

Lesson 3:  "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."

Lesson 4:  We are supposed to hate sins but not sinners. But I know how difficult it would be to achieve it. Sometimes it might seem quite impossible.

“One maniac and millions of Germans. Looked to me like they’d shut Hitler in a pen instead of letting him shut them up. There was something else wrong. I’d ask my father about it. I did and he could not possibly answer my question because he didn’t know the answer.”

“But it’s okay to hate the Hitler?”

“No. It’s not ok”.He said “it’s not ok to hate anybody”

In overall, it was a great read and in my point of view it’s a “MUST READ”.