I turned on the pillow with a little moan, and at this juncture Jeeves entered with the vital oolong. I clutched at it like a drowning man at a straw hat.
P. G. WodehouseRead
I believe there are two ways of writing novels. One is mine, making a sort of musical comedy without music and ignoring real life altogether; the other is going right deep down into life and not caring a damn.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote contrasts two approaches to writing novels: one that is light and entertaining, and another that strives for a deeper, more serious exploration of life.
P. G. Wodehouse presents two distinct styles of novel writing: one that is whimsical and amusing, embodying a carefree and entertaining spirit, and the other that delves into the complexities and realities of life, regardless of its seriousness. This distinction highlights the diversity of literary expression and the varying intentions behind storytelling, suggesting that both approaches hold value in the world of literature.
Themes
WritingNovelsArtLiteratureHumorLife
In practice
Example use cases
During a writers' conference, to highlight different styles of storytelling.
More from P. G. Wodehouse
All quotes →While not exactly disgruntled, he was far from feeling gruntled. He spoke with a certain what-is-it in his voice, and I could see that, if not actually disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled.
P. G. WodehouseRead
She fitted into my biggest arm-chair as if it had been built round her by someone who knew they were wearing arm-chairs tight about the hips that season
P. G. WodehouseRead
It was a nasty look. It made me feel as if I were something the dog had brought in and intended to bury later on, when he had time.
P. G. WodehouseRead
Memories are like mulligatawny soup in a cheap restaurant. It is wiser not to stir them.
P. G. WodehouseRead
It was a confusion of ideas between him and one of the lions he was hunting in Kenya that had caused A. B. Spottsworth to make the obituary column. He thought the lion was dead, and the lion thought it wasn't.
P. G. WodehouseRead
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