Chestertonian mentioned the humorousness of Kurt Griffen's "Lunacy to the Editors" in the comboxes below, but another seriously humorous episode occurred on page 43, titled, "The Best Introduction Yet."
This is a review of Dale Ahlquist's latest endeavor to introduce us to the work and person of G.K.Chesterton in his new book, Common Sense 101--Lessons from G.K. Chesterton.
Here is the funny stuff:
"Over the last few years, I have periodically asked Dale Ahlquist what the best book is to introduce G.K.Chesterton to enquiring minds who'd like to know. I'm looking for one of Chesterton's titles, but Dale always answers, "David, that's easy--it's my book, The Apostle of Common Sense."That had me laughing out loud! As you can guess, the humble Mr. Ahlquist would not recommend his book first, he would have a Chesterton title to recommend. However *I* do recommend Ahlquist's books to newbies, and often. And this new book is highly recommended.
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"...Commone Sense?"
ReplyDeleteIs that like 'commode'-sense? Is it UN-like 'common' sense? Or is it unlike sense, but commode-ious?
Prithee, tell, fair Nancy!
Eye like an eagle, pen like a sharp umbrella: nothing, not the slightest of editing mishaps escapes the sharpness, the quickness, the eagleness of.....DAD29!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete;-)
No. Commode sense has to do with bathrooms and/or knowing when to use the john.
Commone Sense is the french form of something. But my french is rusty so I can't say what. It is pronounced "come-mm-own cents".
Commode sense is what you get if you read Chesterton in the john.
ReplyDelete:-)
Oh, to use a phrase which those who know me in person will understand: Hee hee! (Once, I think on her own blogg, Nancy explained just how little those two words express of the real effect on me of such things. Yes, my office mate even asked for earplugs for Christmas...)
ReplyDeleteHee hee again! This is so funny - two things!
(1) "pen like a sharp umbrella"
(which I first typed as "pen sharp as an umbrella")
and:
(2) "...is the french form of something. But my french is rusty so I can't say what."
Oh, my. It's the English form of something, but I can't saw what either; I'm laughing too hard.
You mean: "The French of me, she is rusty." If you are Yoda, you would say: "The French of me, rusty is. Ah."
Also, there's a figure-of-speechy feel to that pen thing - it's sort of a Clerihew inside out, but turned into something else.
Actually, "-one" is (I think) the "large" ending in Italian - er, the opposite of diminutive.
You may remember that the real name of a certain saint is "John Bernardone" - that is, "John of Big Bernard" You know who that is, don't you?
So actually, Nancy is right.
Reading GKC does give one Commone Sense.
My Advice? Leave off the wine on big blogging nights, Nan.
ReplyDelete~ JP
No, on second thoughts, give us a whole bunch more of the same.
Frist ye tell me to dringk more wine, now you *hick* tell me to lay offa...too laghte! Sooorey.
ReplyDeleteThisa letter recognatition thingamjobbie is terribley difficalt to do at thimes louike thiss..
She's not as think as you drunk she is.
ReplyDeleteThere are few things as cathartic as writing late at night, fueled by a bottle or two of plonk.
ReplyDeleteA voice from the back of the classroom:
ReplyDeleteMuch as I enjoy reading the magazine, I am sick of the sychophancy and the tiny world which the inhabitants reside. I am a lowly undergraduate at the University of Chesterton, but I sincerely doubt our patron would have spent time in the company of people who think themselves to be so important.
I came here hoping to find others which embraced the window-opening freshness of Chesterton, the lightness, the engaging, the jesting the wit and good humour. Instead I find a bunch of people who have microscopically analysed every word of a poet and turned it into a tool to bludgeon others. I don't know you, and I don't know that I would want to spend an afternoon with you.
Listen to yourselves - the notion that Chesterton was solely responsible for everything from the co-operative movement (which is a massive distortion of the much more complex truth), through the detective novel (which he wasn't) to the only form of systematic theology which matters (relegating CS Lewis and Kirkegaard to the role of semi-literate nobodies) is proposterous. GKC would have surely chuckled at the stone image you've carved of him.
Then again, I don't recommend writing while toasted to everybody...
ReplyDeleteJoe: We're all undergraduates. I can't think of one person here whom I would describe as thinking highly of himself. Least of all me, probably a poor choice as blogmistress, with my only criteria being I found the work of Chesterton, and it set my mind free to think clearly--at least, I am trying, not that I always do think clearly. For that, I feel I owe Uncle Gilbert a large debt.
ReplyDeleteI actually haven't noticed anybody here "microscopically analysed every word of a poet and turned it into a tool to bludgeon others. " an accusation I feel is unfounded. At best, this blog is a bunch of friends who happen to all have read Chesterton and liked him. At worst, this blog is a waste of time for all of us, who should be out wondering at the world--creation-- and all it's Creator has amazingly done.
However, this blog at least gives us the chance to share those moments of wonder, and at other times, be reminded to find life wonderous, not a bad thing to be reminded of every once in a while.
One of Chesterton's traits which I most admire is his ability to have a disagreement with someone, and yet still be very friendly. This isn't a stone image, but a very living image, kept alive by all those who try to imitate our friend Mr. Chesterton. That is exactly the tone which I hope to maintain here.