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jon288's review against another edition
4.0
I'm really enjoying finding Wodehouse. Can't believe it took me so long to read him
jordannedunn's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
4.0
jadziadax's review against another edition
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.
ridgewaygirl's review against another edition
4.0
The Wooster and Jeeves books all follow a predictable, but none the less delightful path. Some item offends Jeeves and there is a coolness between Man and Valet. One of Bertie's aunts is involved, either Agatha, a fearsome creature who Does Not Approve of Bertie, or his more easy going aunt Dahlia, whose years riding to the hounds have left her red of face, loud of voice and possessing a vocabulary that would startle a sailor. There are romantical entanglements, often involving Wooster's near escape from an unfortunate engagement, scrapes aplenty, wild misunderstandings and in the end Jeeves and his prodigious brain puts all to right.
In this installment, the offending article is neither an article of clothing, nor a banjolele, but a book held by Jeeves's club, the Junior Ganymedes. Bertie is menaced by the threat of engagement to not only Florence Craye, the beautiful but bossy juggernaut, but also Madeline Basset, who believes that every time a fairy blows its nose a baby is born. There is an election in Market Snodsbury to help an old pal win, a misunderstanding involving a silver porringer and hijinks galore. So much the usual.
These books are always fun, insubstantial and silly, but also clever and funny.
In this installment, the offending article is neither an article of clothing, nor a banjolele, but a book held by Jeeves's club, the Junior Ganymedes. Bertie is menaced by the threat of engagement to not only Florence Craye, the beautiful but bossy juggernaut, but also Madeline Basset, who believes that every time a fairy blows its nose a baby is born. There is an election in Market Snodsbury to help an old pal win, a misunderstanding involving a silver porringer and hijinks galore. So much the usual.
These books are always fun, insubstantial and silly, but also clever and funny.
dantastic's review against another edition
4.0
My Jeeves reread is nearing its conclusion. In this volume Bertie heads down to Aunt Dahlia's. Ginger Winship is running for parliament and engaged to Bertie's ex, Florence Craye. Roderick Spode and Madelyn Basset are also in attendance, as is Bertie's former valet Bingley and a certain book from the Junior Ganymede club.
This is a late era Wodehouse, just a couple years away from his death, but it's exceptional. You get political machinations, sundered engagements, new love, someone getting slipped a Mickey Finn, and Bertie Wooster caught in the middle, as always.
Wodehouse's bag of tricks is as fresh as ever, even if he's continuously telling different versions of the same story over and over. Yes, Bertie winds up engaged. Yes, Jeeves saves the day. The fun is in the new routes taken to get there and this one ticks all the boxes. Four out of five stars.
This is a late era Wodehouse, just a couple years away from his death, but it's exceptional. You get political machinations, sundered engagements, new love, someone getting slipped a Mickey Finn, and Bertie Wooster caught in the middle, as always.
Wodehouse's bag of tricks is as fresh as ever, even if he's continuously telling different versions of the same story over and over. Yes, Bertie winds up engaged. Yes, Jeeves saves the day. The fun is in the new routes taken to get there and this one ticks all the boxes. Four out of five stars.
kategci's review against another edition
3.0
This was my first Jeeves and it came at a good time. I would never have picked it up, as I thought I had no interest in Wooster or Jeeves. During an intense week of work, they provided lightness and levity. Well-written with an incredible amount of detail, almost nothing really goes on. Wooster has gone to his Aunt's house to canvas for a friend running for political office. After knocking on one door, he is done. It seems that everyone wants to marry Wooster rather than the men they are betrothed to already. Light and frothy, this series might be a good escape from everyday life and weighty, difficult subjects.
smitchy's review against another edition
3.0
Jeeves manages to drag Wooster out of the usual chaos caused by Aunts, Bassets, and various Friends. Entertaining and as usual fun word play.
mrswythe89's review against another edition
4.0
Not one of the best Wodehouses ever (though of course as felicitously written as ever), but it did what it was supposed to do, i.e. comfort me after three days of torturing myself with Thomas Hardy. Ugh. References to Bertie's Scripture Knowledge Prize unusually frequent.