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ahobbitsreadinglist's review
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
saroz162's review against another edition
3.0
Wodehouse's second novel, and his first to take a decidedly comic slant. This is still a school story, with large chunks of the second half taken up by cricket games that mean very little to me, unfortunately. In the intervening year between The Pothunters and this novel, though, Wodehouse has clearly been praised for his dry turn of phrase; the tone feels more familiar, with at least some of the dry, ironic observation that peppers his later work.
The "Prefect's Uncle" of the title is the most Wodehousian invention, in the most Wodehousian plotline—so it's a shame that it basically fizzles away right at the middle of the book. He hasn't quite learned to balance the different elements of his plot, and there are still too many characters, but . . . he's getting there.
The "Prefect's Uncle" of the title is the most Wodehousian invention, in the most Wodehousian plotline—so it's a shame that it basically fizzles away right at the middle of the book. He hasn't quite learned to balance the different elements of his plot, and there are still too many characters, but . . . he's getting there.
gavinsteyn's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-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
2.0
quisby's review against another edition
3.0
Lots of amusing turns of phrase, but feels a bit disjointed and requires some patience with lengthy descriptions of cricket. Still pretty funny for a second novel.
chanelson'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
3.5
jonathanrobert's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
bookstweetkl'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? No
4.0
mayhap's review against another edition
4.0
Many Wodehouse fans do not care for his school stories, dismissing them as mere juvenilia. I am not among their number. There is nowhere on earth Plum was happier or more comfortable than the studies and cricket pitches of the British public school, and it shows.
This is a particularly early effort and structurally, it shows. It is not sound. It rattles along, like Gethryn's bicycle with the punctured tire. But it has lovely Wodehousian sentences and boys and cricket and pretty much does what it says on the tin.
This is a particularly early effort and structurally, it shows. It is not sound. It rattles along, like Gethryn's bicycle with the punctured tire. But it has lovely Wodehousian sentences and boys and cricket and pretty much does what it says on the tin.
captainlexington's review
3.0
More of the same sort as the last one, with equal charm but feeling keenly the loss of Dallas and his friend from the last book.
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