Martin Rowson's graphic version of Tristram Shandy
Sterne's novel has
caused trouble enough in the past to readers; KRG won't be the
last group tormented by the fanciful prose and the meandering
narrative of this famous book. If the fault be Sterne's wayward
tendency to stray wide and far from the narrative, listen to his
defence: “Digressions, incontestably, are the sunshine;—they are
the life, the soul of reading!”
Talitha reads about the right use and application of auxiliary verbs, according to Walter Shandy
KumKum's
whingeing made Joe expect 'storm and rage' at the reading … but the
surprise was the immense mirth that took hold once the readings
started. Each reader tried to bring out the sense of fun and mild
bawdiness which pervades much of the book.
KumKum swears she'll never again allow Joe to select a novel alone
'God'
occurs 106 times and you might think it a treatise on religion.
Indeed, Sterne subjects religion to satire, and brings the learning
of an ordained minister to bear on the Inquisition, the rites of
excommunication, circumcision, papists, hypocrisy, and other
religious subjects. But his purpose is ungodly.
Sunil reads Sterne's dictum that an ounce of a man's own wit is worth a ton of other people's
Perverse as Sterne might have been in his idea of a novel, there is no sign of fatigue on the faces of the group below ― only the sense of having had a good time!
Sterne's humour and satire prevailed over his troublesome digressions -
Priya Talitha, Zakia, Thommo, Gopa, KumKum, Sunil, Joe
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