Read this if you have nothing else to do
My all time favourite author, P.G Wodehouse has some serious competition. And from a direction grossly underestimated. Harold Robbins.
Time used to be, I would read a Plum book overnight, and then begin another one the next morning. I went through Jeeves and Wooster like a tornado. Absolutely shattering their idyllic lives with my breakneck speed of reading. I collected Wodehouse books like an angry red-indian with a fetish for white-skinned heads.
And then the glut. I haven’t read a P.G. Wodehouse book in decent time. (and that is not a spello. I meant what I meant with Decent)
I find more pleasure in the rather childish style of Harold Robbins. His absolutely simple way of connecting words and phrases, his mediocre vocabulary, the rather steamy love scenes, and the tried, tired and tested plots.
I’m not supposed to like him at all. I should, in actual fact, have a morbid fear of his books. That is what I have been telling myself. Yet, I see myself tomorrow at the library. Looking earnestly for a book. And by its own will, I see my hand picking up another Harold Robbins.
Somebody, save me!
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Chandrachoodan Gopalakrishnan is a copywriter, photographer and goofball from Chennai. He is also an archaeologist, historian and a city lover. He is currently a documentary film-maker and desk-monkey for a film production house.
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August 18th, 2004 - 01:06
Harold Robbins
Phew!
August 18th, 2004 - 02:07
Hi CCG,
Don’t limit yourself to an idea of whether you should read an author or not. Some of Robbins’ works are really good, like “A Stone for Danny Fisher”, or the “Carpet Baggers”.
Chenthil (again at Kakinada).
August 18th, 2004 - 06:24
Wooster rocks. I read Wodehouse to replenish my vocabulary(?!) especially while using some words against aunts.
August 18th, 2004 - 08:09
Chenthil from Kakinada
I’m not limiting myself. If I did, i would never have read One. Or Illusions. ANd you know how much I like One.
All I am saying is that I have run through all of PG Wodehouse and suddenly, I find Harold Robbins more interesting. Or atleast, for a temproray period.
I like Robbins. I liked his Dream merchants. I liked Stallion. I liked some of his other books.
Will read Carpet Baggers.
Jax: He isn’t all that bad. Only unstylish at times.
August 18th, 2004 - 08:12
Krithika, he is super good. He really is.
Glad you enjoyed his books
August 19th, 2004 - 06:05
although I read nothing of this post – why do u reply to comments thru email?
Beats the purpose dude!
August 19th, 2004 - 09:05
I reply in both places, through mail to carry the conversation ahead. AT the blog to keep the thread alive.
Like I am doing now.
August 19th, 2004 - 10:16
I agree some of Robbin’s works are good. In fact i can never forget the role of Diogenes Alexander Xenos in one of his work (Oops! I forgot the name of the novel). You cannot use clichés with his work.
August 20th, 2004 - 01:15
hey Ravages, how are you doin’? waz here.
August 20th, 2004 - 02:18
in my personal opinion, I prefer PGW to robbins. though i used to like him before i read sidney and i like sidney before i read jeffrey and i liked jeffrey before i read len deighton and so on …......till i reached PGW.
does that sound like a crib. it actually isn’t. it’s how i evolved.
August 20th, 2004 - 02:45
Wow! You’ve read a lot of people LG. I liked Sidney Shldon too. But
off late, his books are vapid and boring.
PG Wodehouse is da best.