I have come to the realization that we all have to find more reasons to laugh. In the scheme of things, our lives are really blips on a time line, and we tend to take ourselves way too seriously. Americans are known for working way too many hours a week with little time for family and fun. Most people end up losing unused vacation days each year because they feel that their place of business just couldn't go on without them. Newsflash...when this irreplaceable employee finally collapses from stress and exhaustion, someone does pick up the slack, and it is business as usual. The lack of humor in politics is painful. If both sides would lighten up, a great deal more could be accomplished.
Even sitcoms have become sitdrams. The other day we watched one with a recovering alcoholic woman who lives with her recovering alcoholic mother and her teen daughter who is an unwed mother. This particular episode dealt with the death of grandma's boyfriend...in her bed...at an inopportune moment. Yes there were laughs, but mostly there were tears. Then there is the series about marriage, featuring two couples and a divorced man. Most of them do drugs and/or drink and they are all fighting and obviously unhappy with their "significant" other. Where is Lucille Ball when we need her. Even Seinfeld, which makes me laugh in reruns as much as in the original shows, features four relative "losers" who can't maintain a relationship with anyone but each other.
There are a few sitcoms today that do make me laugh in a non-drug, non-fighting and acceptably sexual way. My favorite has to be Big Bang Theory. The chemistry between the ensemble is amazing, and the science is actually factual. Four guys who are scientists at Caltech try to fit into a world that doesn't always appreciate nerds. The girls they matched them up with are equally hilarious, and I can watch an entire show without overwhelming depression taking over.
One of the books I reviewed today is The Science of TV's The Big Bang Theory by Dave Zobel. If you do watch the show, you are familiar with the huge poster boards filled with scientific theories that decorate Leonard's and Sheldon's apartment each week. What you might not know is that every theory that is shown is legit and has been approved by working scientists. Since most of us understand only slightly more then Penny does about the science behind their discussions, a book like this is invaluable to real fans. It explains the scientific realities of each episode in a very understandable way. Definitely a worthwhile and educational read!
If you like a bit of education in your books, The Eight by Katherine Neville will be right up your alley. Her historical thriller jumps back and forth from the 1790's to the 1970's, and features two strong female protagonists. Many historical figures are mentioned in this search for a hidden chess set with magical powers that must be kept out of the hands of evil doers. The Eight, the second of my reviews this week, will involve you in an adventure you will remember for a while.
Both of these reviews follow my blog as they do every week. Please enjoy yourself this week and find plenty of things to laugh about each day.
Happy Reading,
- Beverly