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vsanghadia's review
5.0
Will always associate Wodehouse's books as being clutched by my father while tears of laughter stream down his face! I absolutely love the world created by Wodehouse, there's noone else that does humour as intelligently.
dyno8426's review
4.0
If I ever would become aristocratic enough to have a valet, I imagine to hire someone like Jeeves.
Jeeves is brilliant, with the brilliance that one associates with being innovative. Jeeves is loyal, with a loyalty so formal that sometimes you wish it wouldn't be so formal and that cracks you up. Jeeves is inhuman, with a perfection that makes one imagine what sentiments is he actually made up of. His knack of giving vocabulary when required, of providing with the most cunning of machinations when required and giving you appearances when and where you least expect it is phenomenal. And Bertie, his employer cherishes him like anything. Until things go unexpectedly. And it all moves in such a comical way that the weird situations and dramatic interactions will make you roll.
Hats off to Wodehouse for putting words in one of the funniest manners I ever had the chance to read.
Jeeves is brilliant, with the brilliance that one associates with being innovative. Jeeves is loyal, with a loyalty so formal that sometimes you wish it wouldn't be so formal and that cracks you up. Jeeves is inhuman, with a perfection that makes one imagine what sentiments is he actually made up of. His knack of giving vocabulary when required, of providing with the most cunning of machinations when required and giving you appearances when and where you least expect it is phenomenal. And Bertie, his employer cherishes him like anything. Until things go unexpectedly. And it all moves in such a comical way that the weird situations and dramatic interactions will make you roll.
Hats off to Wodehouse for putting words in one of the funniest manners I ever had the chance to read.
sashapasha's review
4.0
3.5 stars.
Accidentally illustrates the racism that a black person would’ve experienced in the early 1900s in England.
Accidentally illustrates the racism that a black person would’ve experienced in the early 1900s in England.
jamie_o's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
To use some British slang to describe this book, it's jolly good! Wodehouse can write farcical situations and humorous punchlines like no one else.
This is the first in the Jeeves and Wooster series that is not just a collection of short stories, but a full-length book. It starts out with Jeeves resigning his post as Bertie's valet because Bertie refuses to stop playing the banjolele. Bertie ends up the English countryside seeking solitude, renting a wealthy friend's cottage. Jeeves still plays a big part in the story as Bertie's friend snatches up Jeeves' services. Many antics occur, from tussles with an old fiancée's father, assisting a friend's love life, inept local policemen, a housefire, Bertie's new valet attempting to kill him with a butcher knife... all lighthearted fun.
"Despair was gripping me, and when that happens, you don't keep looking at your watch. Let us say then, that at some point... 5, 10, 15, or it may have been 20 minutes later, I became aware of somebody coughing softly at my side, like a respectful sheep trying to attract the attention of its' shepherd."
"If what Jeeves had just done wasn't entitled to rank well above a feat like that, I am no judge of form. In less than 5 minutes, he had reduced this ravening Stoker from a sort of human wildcat to a positive domestic pet."
"Whether Jeeves liked being called "hey you" I could not say. His well molded face betrayed no resentment."
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Jonathan Cecil. He's the best Wodehouse narrator.
This is the first in the Jeeves and Wooster series that is not just a collection of short stories, but a full-length book. It starts out with Jeeves resigning his post as Bertie's valet because Bertie refuses to stop playing the banjolele. Bertie ends up the English countryside seeking solitude, renting a wealthy friend's cottage. Jeeves still plays a big part in the story as Bertie's friend snatches up Jeeves' services. Many antics occur, from tussles with an old fiancée's father, assisting a friend's love life, inept local policemen, a housefire, Bertie's new valet attempting to kill him with a butcher knife... all lighthearted fun.
"Despair was gripping me, and when that happens, you don't keep looking at your watch. Let us say then, that at some point... 5, 10, 15, or it may have been 20 minutes later, I became aware of somebody coughing softly at my side, like a respectful sheep trying to attract the attention of its' shepherd."
"If what Jeeves had just done wasn't entitled to rank well above a feat like that, I am no judge of form. In less than 5 minutes, he had reduced this ravening Stoker from a sort of human wildcat to a positive domestic pet."
"Whether Jeeves liked being called "hey you" I could not say. His well molded face betrayed no resentment."
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Jonathan Cecil. He's the best Wodehouse narrator.
ellenplum's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
jess_mango's review
3.0
3.5 stars.
This is the first book I've read by P.G. Wodehouse. In this book, our narrator is the bumbling, slightly daft Bertram (Bertie). At the start of the novel he employs the titular Jeeves as his personal manservant in London. But, Bertie's banjolele playing drives Jeeves to seek employment elsewhere AND causes Bertie to move to the countryside where he is less likely to disturb neighbors with his playing. Jeeves and Bertie both end up in the same neck of the woods where some drama/hi-jinx ensue do to a misunderstanding over Bertie's American ex.
I felt cringe-y reading this due to some black face and other discussion of black musicians. I realize that black face wasn't as lambasted back when this was written, but it still made it an uncomfortable read for me.
I could appreciate the dry British humor that was abundant in this book. I wouldn't be averse to reading more Jeeves books but I am not going to rush out and read the whole series ASAP.
This is the first book I've read by P.G. Wodehouse. In this book, our narrator is the bumbling, slightly daft Bertram (Bertie). At the start of the novel he employs the titular Jeeves as his personal manservant in London. But, Bertie's banjolele playing drives Jeeves to seek employment elsewhere AND causes Bertie to move to the countryside where he is less likely to disturb neighbors with his playing. Jeeves and Bertie both end up in the same neck of the woods where some drama/hi-jinx ensue do to a misunderstanding over Bertie's American ex.
I felt cringe-y reading this due to some black face and other discussion of black musicians. I realize that black face wasn't as lambasted back when this was written, but it still made it an uncomfortable read for me.
I could appreciate the dry British humor that was abundant in this book. I wouldn't be averse to reading more Jeeves books but I am not going to rush out and read the whole series ASAP.
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Book on CD performed by Jonathan Cecil
In this full-length novel, Jeeves gives notice after yet another nearby resident complains of Bertie Wooster’s incessant banjolele playing. It seems that while Jeeves has somewhat smoothed relations with the neighbor, he cannot stand listening to the instrument any longer himself. Just as Bertie has agreed to go to the country estate of his school friend Baron Chuffnell, he learns that Jeeves has taken a position in Chuffy’s household. Say what?! Good thing Jeeves is still nearby, because an American millionaire and his lovely daughter are also staying in the vicinity of the country estate aboard their yacht. Bertie had become briefly engaged to Pauline Stoker when visiting America but they parted when her father objected to the match. Now she is engaged to Chuffy, but one misunderstanding after another puts everything in a twist. Until Jeeves calmly and capably sorts it all out.
This was a delightful romp. Lighthearted, fun, entertaining and extremely visual. I will warn modern readers, however, Bertie and another character don blackface for much of the second half of the novel. The dialogue includes one particular racist slur that would never be used so casually today; the book was originally written in 1934 and the audio edition I had did not edit the words for modern sensitivity. Had someone been able to rewrite these scenes to use a different device that was not so racially demeaning I would probably rate it higher.
Jonathan Cecil does a marvelous job narrating the audio version. His pacing is very good and his skill with voices breathes life into the laid-back Bertie, the blustering Mr Stoker, and the inimitable Jeeves.
In this full-length novel, Jeeves gives notice after yet another nearby resident complains of Bertie Wooster’s incessant banjolele playing. It seems that while Jeeves has somewhat smoothed relations with the neighbor, he cannot stand listening to the instrument any longer himself. Just as Bertie has agreed to go to the country estate of his school friend Baron Chuffnell, he learns that Jeeves has taken a position in Chuffy’s household. Say what?! Good thing Jeeves is still nearby, because an American millionaire and his lovely daughter are also staying in the vicinity of the country estate aboard their yacht. Bertie had become briefly engaged to Pauline Stoker when visiting America but they parted when her father objected to the match. Now she is engaged to Chuffy, but one misunderstanding after another puts everything in a twist. Until Jeeves calmly and capably sorts it all out.
This was a delightful romp. Lighthearted, fun, entertaining and extremely visual. I will warn modern readers, however, Bertie and another character don blackface for much of the second half of the novel. The dialogue includes one particular racist slur that would never be used so casually today; the book was originally written in 1934 and the audio edition I had did not edit the words for modern sensitivity. Had someone been able to rewrite these scenes to use a different device that was not so racially demeaning I would probably rate it higher.
Jonathan Cecil does a marvelous job narrating the audio version. His pacing is very good and his skill with voices breathes life into the laid-back Bertie, the blustering Mr Stoker, and the inimitable Jeeves.
worldwidewebb's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I mean, it's definitely racist.
Very much a product of the time. The plot literally revolves around people not being able to tell the difference between two men in blackface. There are a lot of hard Rs used.
But if you ignore like....the plot and stuff, it's a fun and lighthearted romp through the thirties.
Very much a product of the time. The plot literally revolves around people not being able to tell the difference between two men in blackface. There are a lot of hard Rs used.
But if you ignore like....the plot and stuff, it's a fun and lighthearted romp through the thirties.
grahamjohnson's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The blackface plot is… difficult to get through.
angela_king's review against another edition
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0