so-soNot quite the thoughtless diversion I first took it for, which actually makes sense, because the sharply satirical Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town is the whole reason I picked up another work by Stephen Leacock.
I'll admit some of these entries - it's a collection of ten short stories - read a little goofier than others, but once you realize it's as much a commentary on different types of classic stories as it is a collection of individual 1/?
My new (old?) definition of a comfort read: a book which “may bring some passing amusement...or some brief respite when the sadness of the heart or the sufferings of the body forbid the perusal of worthier things.“
pickThis was a lot of fun. I snorted out loud with every story. The sea story made me laugh so hard that my other half, at the other end of the apartment, asked what was so funny 🤣
Completely ridiculous. ?
“"This singular occurrence was interpreted by Q, no doubt correctly, to indicate his own approaching death. I did what I could to remove this feeling, but it was impossible to do so, and he presently wrung my hand and left me, firmly convinced that he would not live till morning."
“Good heavens!" I exclaimed, "and he died that night?"
“No, he did not," said Annerly quietly, "that is the inexplicable part of it."”
pickThis is a review of “Christmas Triptych” three short stories about Christmas frim Canadian humorist Stephen Leacock who died in 1944. In the final story a writer is visited at Christmas by Father Time who asks him to help with Father Christmas who is bedraggled and has been blown up by mines, machine guns, and been unable for 3 years to deliver to his children in Belgium and Serbia because of war...the plea is to not let the children die in vain.
Fun Photo Friday! Thank you, Stephen Leacock, for treasured memories of my grandmother, tears of merriment rolling down her cheeks as she enjoyed such deathless lines as this: "He flung himself from the room, flung himself upon his horse and rode madly off in all directions." Happy Canada Day!
Nonsense Novels | 
These are genre send-ups, so the form is fooled with to the extent that most stories are actually a dark comedy of errors, many people are obviously made fools of by conmen or shown to be fools by their own actions, naming schemes are often ridiculous (which I fear wanders past stereotypical into xenophobic/racist when the tales have a clear cultural origin 😬), 1mo
I don't actually think this book offers enough to the modern reader that you need to seek it out, but it hasn't completely put me off checking out Leacock's other works either.
⚠️mention of suicide, cannibalism, child abandonment, infanticide, misogyny (edited) 1mo