Guest post by author Varsha Dixit #TheBookClub

It is often said (wrongly) that women don’t have much sense of humor. In fact, much of it gets lost because most women carry a lot on their minds. I think we are making mental lists most of the time. But laughter definitely needs a place in life, no matter how busy you are. At times when you lose your sense of humor, creative works can restore it to you. Romcoms are my favorite type of movies to relax with. Today I’ve asked author Varsha Dixit to talk about the role of humor in women’s fiction. Let’s hear her take on it. Please welcome Varsha Dixit, the author of Right Fit Wrong Shoe, Wrong Means Right End, Xcess Baggage and Only Wheat Not White. The last part of her ‘Right and Wrong’ love trilogy will be out in Summer 2016.

Over to Varsha

Humor in Women’s Fiction

When I think of funny women, I think of Tina Fey, Amy Poehler and Mindy Kaling. Thankfully for an avid reader like myself, they also wrote books. Books rich in humor, observations and opinions! I would like to share with you some quotes from their books.

“Once a woman turns 40 she has to start dealing with two things: younger men telling her they are proud of her and older men letting her know they would have sex with her.” – Amy Poehler, Yes Please

“In most cases being a good boss means hiring talented people and then getting out of their way.” ― Tina Fey, Bossypants

“I just want ambitious teenagers to know it is totally fine to be quite, observant kids. Besides being a delight to your parents, you will find you have plenty of time later to catch up.” ― Mindy Kaling, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?

What makes people laugh is wit and wit can only come from a person who is smart, observant and has struggled. All that we women face growing up; lack of equal opportunities, lack of sexual freedom, born in families that makes decisions for us based on society’s expectations rather than our desires, lack of equal pay and the ultimate – the feeling of guilt when we like to work as much we like to have kids.

Tragedy I feel makes for great comedy especially when you look back at it, a drink in your hand sitting on a balcony overlooking something big and powerful as oceans or mountains.

Women writers have a large source to draw their inspiration and ironic reflections from – each of their lives. A sexy woman is not frightening but a woman with brains and humor is deadlier than a live bomb for she will get your job and make it seem your fault.

Women writers don’t hold back on anything. They go after age, sex, job, men, children, society the world and even god. That’s what makes them so good at their job, they see the whole chessboard.

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Thanks for sharing your views, Varsha.

I agree that humor comes from deep understanding. That is why jokes are often relevant with culture. These days, I’m very involved with humor through sarcasm. Sarcasm always carries humor in it, though it is snide in its way. I often use it with my students who are not doing the tasks, of course not the sharp type of sarcasm. But telling them I don’t like you and don’t want to see you around next year makes them laugh while taking the point that they might flunk if they don’t shape up. Though they get confused what to say when I ask them, do you like the class so much you want to stay here next session? It can’t be answered in a yes or no 🙂

Do you love to read humorous fiction? Which are your favorite reads? What do you think about humor in women’s fiction?

This post is part of blog tour for Varha’s book, Right Fit, Wrong Shoe.

Right Fit Wrong Shoe

Varsha Dixit

Blurb

Right Fit Wrong Shoe, begins at a point where all love stories end. The tale weaves around Nandini and all that is important to her, with two contenders gunning for the top spot; Aditya Sarin and Sneha Verma.

Aditya Sarin, the man Nandini is madly in love with, yet compelled, for some unsolved reason to shun. Aditya, on his part, in the past declared Nandini to be a ‘millennium bhehenji (conservative girl)’ and ‘lassi (yoghurt drink) in a wine glass’. Yet he fell for her . . . hard! However, some mysterious episode caused the lovers to, acrimoniously, part.

Now, Aditya is back in Kanpur, all his guns blazing (the real and the imagined), determined to devastate her life. Fortunately for the readers, and unfotunately for Aditya, Nandini is determined not to‘bite the dust’ oh so quietly. Wonder, in the battle royal, who wins or who loses it all?

Sneha Verma, the other contender, is Nandini’s BFF, that one friend who knows us better than we do. The one we trust more than Stayfree or Clearasil. Sneha maybe headstrong, hammer fisted and stern mouthed, but for Nandini, she will willingly stand in the path of imminent lightning bolt or a nasty tornado, even if it’s named Aditya Sarin. In standard X, Sneha took Nandini under her wing and that equation hasn’t changed much. Sneha, a recent wife and even more recent mom, appears to be fighting some unknown demons of her own.

Right Fit Wrong Shoe, observes and opinionates the society, affected and amused. It fleetingly touches on issues; fleeting as watching discourses (courtesy Astha Channel), is trendier and quicker, than reading them.

The book is an AAA (anytime, anywhere, anyone) read. It promises to make your day better, and a bad one not any worse.

Grab your copy

amazon.in | amazon.com

About The Author

Varsha Dixit, the best selling author of four successful contemporary romance books. Her debut book, Right Fit Wrong Shoe was a national bestseller for the year 2010. Varsha was a part of the Indian Television Industry and worked as an assistant director and online editor. She considers herself a dreamer who thinks deep but writes light. Even though creativity is gender free, Varsha feels blessed and enriched to be a woman. Currently, with her family, Varsha resides in CA, USA.

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