READERSVOICE.COM aims to highlight a few interesting out of print books. The Best of Joyce Stirling was published in 1963 by Jacaranda Press, which was based at 73 Elizabeth Street Brisbane. Ms Stirling wrote humor columns for Women’s Day, and Brisbane’s The Sunday Mail, The Telegraph, and The Courier-Mail. The book is a collection of these columns. Here are a few samples of Ms Stirling’s gags. 

Lifts:

We have some terrifying lifts in this town. Some have undoubtedly reached the age of sixty-five and should apply for a pension.

On someone looking to buy her car:

I said nervously, ‘What do you think of her?’

‘I don’t like her,’ said Hawkeye Harry with terrible simplicity.

I said, ‘If it’s not a rude question, would you mind telling me why you’ve been examining her for the last ninety minutes?’

‘She fascinates me,’ Hawkeye said briefly, and packed up his tool kit.

On an avante garde musician’s statement that she can only play the works of certain composers when wearing specific colors:

I was particularly interested in the musician’s contention that she cannot play Grieg in red. Neither can I. As a matter of fact I have tried every colour under the sun, including the newest shades. I still can’t play Grieg.

-continued next page