In a recent discussion related to books, Steve made an uncommon analogy between essays and the limited meals in Vasantha Bhavan, and then went on to describe why he loves Chesterton.
Here’s the blog in its entirety:
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The last book I finished was 4 years ago – Orthodoxy by GK Chesterton I like non-fiction. Love essays as a form – they’re like limited meals in vasantha bhavan – while it leaves you longing for that second helping, its light, organized and can be easily squeezed into your 30 minute lunch break (and 32 waist size).
Photograph: Steve’s copy of Orthodoxy
Chesterton’s work is witty, hearty and full of mischief. He was a jolly old, cigar smoking fatso with a distinct reputation for mirth. I say mirth, because one of my favourite passage from Orthodoxy is the last paragraph. It goes like this:
The tremendous figure which fills the Gospels towers in this respect, as in every other, above all the thinkers who ever thought themselves tall. His pathos was natural, almost casual. The Stoics, ancient and modern, were proud of concealing their tears. He never concealed His tears; He showed them plainly on His open face at any daily sight, such as the far sight of His native city. Yet He concealed something. Solemn supermen and imperial diplomatists are proud of restraining their anger. He never restrained His anger. He flung furniture down the front steps of the Temple, and asked men how they expected to escape the damnation of Hell. Yet He restrained something. I say it with reverence; there was in that shattering personality a thread that must be called shyness. There was something that He hid from all men when He went up a mountain to pray. There was something that He covered constantly by abrupt silence or impetuous isolation. There was some one thing that was too great for God to show us when He walked upon our earth; and I have sometimes fancied that it was His mirth.
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Steve’s blog:
http://www.stephenjothiraj.blogspot.com/