lalalioon's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
edjgrierson's review against another edition
4.75
Brilliant read. Everything that's great about Wodehouse is here. Only docking a quarter of a star because some other Wodehouse books are better.
jadziadax's review
5.0
“Then heaven bless it, and may it continue to bind indefinitely. Fate's happenstance may oft win more than toil, as the fellow said.”
“What fellow would that be, sir? Thoreau?”
“No, me.”
A noted aspect of the book is that Jeeves and Bertie’s roles are slightly reversed – Bertie expresses caution over the club book, Jeeves believes that it will be fine and nothing can come of it, and of course, the club book does make trouble. Jeeves has too much faith in other valets. In the end, their words are also reversed. Bertie usually asks Jeeves if Jeeves said the quote “one of your own?” Jeeves will reply it’s not, and that it’s actually Shakespeare someone similar. Here Bertie comes up with a quote, Jeeves asks if it’s a poet, and Bertie says it’s his (the last sentence is indeed his, though the first sentence is a play on a Christian hymn). It’s a fun little wordplay and unfortunately only in the US version. Jeeves and the Ties that Bind(US)/Much Obliged Jeeves (UK), there are two different endings. The US one has an extended ending, which PG Wodehouse’s American editor had him add on and includes that above exchange.
This scene gives more of an in-depth and rather touching explanation of how Jeeve’s justified breaking the club rules and getting rid of club book page’s on Bertie. Namely, that because he hopes no other valet will ever work for Bertie, so there’s no need for there to be recorded for that potential future valet to read. The reasoning being, that there is a “tie that binds.” Here is the hymn: https://hymnary.org/text/blest_be_the_tie_that_binds
I do…find it interesting how they are essentially saying that there are tied together for, well, forever. And as far as we know, it’s true! In the book Ring for Jeeves, which takes place post-WWII (although written before this book) Jeeves is still with Bertie, although Jeeves is temporarily on loan to one of Bertie’s friends and Bertie is learning how to sew on a school for dumb rich men (I’m serious).
I'm not exactly saying I'm reading their relationship is wildly romantic or anything. But there's something to be said for a queer reading of it - again, I'm not under any impression PG Wodehouse was coding in a queer relationship, rather than he was focused on weaving an intricate and hilarious story. However, there is queer domesticity to their relationship, as Brian Holcomb says in his essay in Middlebrow Wodehouse. To me, it's comforting to know that these two men likely stayed together, in whatever arrangement it was, all of their lives. And seemingly, found the most contentedness with their relationship with each other, rather than in marriage with a woman. By the later books, their relationship has definitely gone from "a valet that probably manipulates his employee a little and gets a chuckle out of his misadventures" to "a valet that seems to get geniune enjoyment out of assisting Bertie and his wild family/friends and J&W commiserating over the problems that the more intense acquintances bring." In short, they become friends.
On the other note, I may simply have been in quarantine too long and am devoting a ridiculous amount of time thinking about a comedic book series. Also, raise a glass to PG Wodehouse for writing this at age ninety.
“What fellow would that be, sir? Thoreau?”
“No, me.”
A noted aspect of the book is that Jeeves and Bertie’s roles are slightly reversed – Bertie expresses caution over the club book, Jeeves believes that it will be fine and nothing can come of it, and of course, the club book does make trouble. Jeeves has too much faith in other valets. In the end, their words are also reversed. Bertie usually asks Jeeves if Jeeves said the quote “one of your own?” Jeeves will reply it’s not, and that it’s actually Shakespeare someone similar. Here Bertie comes up with a quote, Jeeves asks if it’s a poet, and Bertie says it’s his (the last sentence is indeed his, though the first sentence is a play on a Christian hymn). It’s a fun little wordplay and unfortunately only in the US version. Jeeves and the Ties that Bind(US)/Much Obliged Jeeves (UK), there are two different endings. The US one has an extended ending, which PG Wodehouse’s American editor had him add on and includes that above exchange.
This scene gives more of an in-depth and rather touching explanation of how Jeeve’s justified breaking the club rules and getting rid of club book page’s on Bertie. Namely, that because he hopes no other valet will ever work for Bertie, so there’s no need for there to be recorded for that potential future valet to read. The reasoning being, that there is a “tie that binds.” Here is the hymn: https://hymnary.org/text/blest_be_the_tie_that_binds
I do…find it interesting how they are essentially saying that there are tied together for, well, forever. And as far as we know, it’s true! In the book Ring for Jeeves, which takes place post-WWII (although written before this book) Jeeves is still with Bertie, although Jeeves is temporarily on loan to one of Bertie’s friends and Bertie is learning how to sew on a school for dumb rich men (I’m serious).
I'm not exactly saying I'm reading their relationship is wildly romantic or anything. But there's something to be said for a queer reading of it - again, I'm not under any impression PG Wodehouse was coding in a queer relationship, rather than he was focused on weaving an intricate and hilarious story. However, there is queer domesticity to their relationship, as Brian Holcomb says in his essay in Middlebrow Wodehouse. To me, it's comforting to know that these two men likely stayed together, in whatever arrangement it was, all of their lives. And seemingly, found the most contentedness with their relationship with each other, rather than in marriage with a woman. By the later books, their relationship has definitely gone from "a valet that probably manipulates his employee a little and gets a chuckle out of his misadventures" to "a valet that seems to get geniune enjoyment out of assisting Bertie and his wild family/friends and J&W commiserating over the problems that the more intense acquintances bring." In short, they become friends.
On the other note, I may simply have been in quarantine too long and am devoting a ridiculous amount of time thinking about a comedic book series. Also, raise a glass to PG Wodehouse for writing this at age ninety.
zenithharpink's review
3.0
This was amusing, but not as raucous as previous books, and therefore not my favorite. I wouldn't say this fell flat, but this one was just a lot more...light, on content. The high jinks was mostly absent, and that is my favorite aspect of all of Bertie's adventures! I was let slightly disappointed.
I recommend to faithful fans of the series, but to those who haven't started it yet, there are better places to start with Jeeves and Bertie.
I recommend to faithful fans of the series, but to those who haven't started it yet, there are better places to start with Jeeves and Bertie.
damopedro's review against another edition
5.0
Hilarious tale of Jeeves and Wooster getting into scrapes and getting back out of them again. Witty comic writing at its best.
poachedeggs's review against another edition
5.0
To be frank, I really can't judge if this is one of the better Wodehouse novels anymore, nor can I remember if I have actually read this before (I went through this Wodehouse phase when I was a teenager, and just like I did with Agatha Christie, blazed through a lot of his books). I just haven't read a proper Wodehouse in so long (the last one, Hot Water, was disappointing, and is atypical in that it doesn't include his usual cast of characters) that I enjoyed myself a lot! Wooster is an articulate himbo, I realised. And Jeeves is his usual genius self here. There are sentences that are laugh-out-loud funny. A completely joyous ride!
percybysshes'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Jeeves, you sap.
jonathanrobert's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
emelkay24's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Spoiler
They get married by the end. Wtf, they actually get married. Bertie writes his own vow and everything. Jesus fucking Christ.This is the novel of Jeeves reciprocation. Jeeves asks Bertie what the word he’s thinking of is and uses it later. Bertie gives Jeeves the end-of-novel request that resolves their beginning-of-novel conflict and Jeeves acquiesces. Jeeves asks Bertie where a quote comes from (it’s from Bertie himself.)
jojoinabox'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? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0