I'm not quite sure why, but I'm pretty sure at least part of the blame belongs to Yo, Gabba Gabba! With songs like, "There's a Party in my Tummy! (So yummy! So yummy!)" running through my head all. the. time, it's no wonder I can't think of anything intelligent to write.
The show is utter nonsense, but downright hypnotic. The other night Hot Stuff turned it on after the kids went to bed and I simply couldn't look away. It has an absurd sort of charm to it.
This has gotten me thinking about different humor styles. I think I'm a fan of absurdist wit. Off-the-wall, it makes you laugh and think, how on earth does their brain work that they could think of that? (This is obviously why I recommend the blogs that I do.) Some good examples of books that excel at this are J. M. Barries' Peter and Wendy, the Series of Unfortunate Events, The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster, and A Pirate Yarn, by my husband, Hot Stuff.
Hot Stuff writes, too, if you didn't know. And, while he isn't interested in pursuing publication (clearly the saner of the two of us), he's freaking amazing. He wrote a pirate book for me once that is so nonsensical and ridiculous it's brilliant. I think this is what I envy most in other writers: when I read a passage, or even just a line, and think, I could NEVER have thought of that. Sometimes that's just for beautiful writing, but most of the time for me it's humor and wit. If you are witty, I will read EVERYTHING YOU EVER WRITE. (Yes, I will break into your house and read your journal and grocery lists because I just can't get enough. You have been warned.)
So, what books do you read and think, how does their mind work?? What senses of humor do you covet? Do you think I'm insane for coveting other peoples' senses of humor?
Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to go sing along to "Keep Your Hands to Yourself," my new favorite song.
19 comments:
Wow, you love wit.
I don't think I'm witty at all. I try to be, but I'm really not. So my house is safe!
I'm of the Seinfeld-type humor. Dry and stupid. British humor is great, too. "No soup for you!"
Funny, I covet your humor all the time. But for the most part I'm fine enjoying how funny other people are.
In writing, I mostly get jealous of other writers' worlds. I want to write characters in them; I wish I thought of them so I could explore them in my own head.
Yo, Gabba Gabba will rot your brain. We change the channel. It definitely has its absurd...charm?
I covet people whose sense of humor comes across in their writing. My hubby is that way as well. He does mostly folk parady songs.
If you haven't discovered him already, you must must must must MUST read Jasper Fforde. Anything by him. I especially love his "Nursery Crimes" series. He is BRILLIANTLY absurd. The first book in that series follows detectives Jack Spratt and Mary Mary as they try to solve the case of Humpty Dumpty's murder. The end is so freakin' fabulous I had to put the book down and let it sink in. Totally a "I could NEVER have thought of that" moment.
Read. Him.
Sara, I have read "The Eyre Affair," but I'll have to check that one out!
I have never even heard of Yo, Gabba Gabba, so I have no idea what you're talking about there. Sorry.
I'd say you're pretty witty. I'd be interested to read *your* grocery lists.
Wow. That sounded a lot creepier than I thought it would.
Oh, I completely agree about enjoying those kinds of books from your post. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to read books that I wonder how in the world the author came up with them. It is a such a motivation to make my own writing more unique.
Jasper Fforde is a genius. And that's all that I have to say about that.
I'm all for silly word humor. The sillier the better. But really, any kind of humor is thumbs up in my book. If you can make me laugh, you'll have a friend for life kind of thing. Yes, I'm the kind of friend who will dress up in a ninja costume and take funny pictures posing outside your house and send them to you in the mail, but I'm still your friend. :)
Is there a better kind of friend??
I'm tempted to say 'absurd' — but then, I also like subtle.
Ultimately, I prefer my funny stuff fresh, so I can laugh at it before I've figured out why it's funny.
Theoretically, everyone is capable of this, so I have no singular guru, and like you, I choose to hang out where the surprisability factor is high.
I think you need to see Gilbert & Sullivan plays (particularly the Pirates of Penzance) and real Jasper Fforde's "The Eyre Affair," which along with its sequels is off the wall and quite funny.
I enjoy most humor, except the crude obnoxious stupid humor (sorry Jim Carey and Will Farrell fans).
I loved reading "A Series of Unfortunate Events" and other books along those lines (although right now my brain refuses to point them out to me). Or movies like "O Brother, Where art Thou?"
And yes, I get jealous of those who can write like that. Alas, my own cleverness does not extend that far.
I'd commit evil acts upon innocent creatures to have even a smidge of David Sedaris's talent. His genius makes me weep.
When I first saw DJ Lance from Yo Gabba Gabba (yes, I know his name,) with his wacky glasses and beanie hat, dancing around with these big puppet people, I was like, "That dude has reached rock bottom."
That said, my kids LOVE the darn show. Their favorite is the wiggle song. (And I quote: Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, GO! Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, HEY! Wiggle, wiggle, wiggle, YEAH! HOLD STIIIIIIILLL)
Kasie and I are good friends with the creater of Yo Gaba Gaba's wife. She used to put it on for her kids before they sold it to Nickelodeon, and we thought it was so weird!! So did she, actually. LOL! But now I'm like you, I can't get the songs out of my head.
I think who ever wrote Malcolm in the Middle was a genius. That show kills me. I have like 50 episodes on my DVR.
I think I can be witty on the page. But in life? And in conversation? I'm a wit dud. Drives me a little crazy at times.
I like the way my brain works, but time and time again I'll see another playwright's work and be completely flummoxed. Why doesn't my brain work like THAT?
It's very passe to like Neil Simon, but I think his early comedies are hilarious and heart felt. I'd love to have one of those in my cannon. And on the other side, Sarah Kane was a blistering, brutal writer. Sometimes I'm filled with despair I can't write like that, and then just as often I'm thankful I can't write like that...
I love witty too. If it's funny I want to read it too. I'm so glad my kids have outgrown the really obnoxious little kid shows.
Oh my gabba gabba, that show is awful. I know what you mean about the hypnotic effects, though. I would love to read the pirate story. Maybe you could get copyright permission from the allusive author to post on your blog?
"f you are witty, I will read EVERYTHING YOU EVER WRITE."
Um, hai. This iz y I reed ur blog.
(Also, so I can randomly breakout into LOLcat speak in your comments. Apparently.)
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