Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed it. Not as much as Diary of a Nobody, but yes. Pleasant and affable, great for Summer reading. The styles are similar, in that not much happens and you are shown episodes, which make you laugh about the narrator and his stupidity.
I would recommend it to anyone because it's a simple, easy read and fun.
I would recommend it to anyone because it's a simple, easy read and fun.
makes for a good travelling read. this is not the book to read if one is looking for plot, but it's a nice, enjoyable read all the same.
This is one of my purse books; it's small, endlessly re-readable, and it can be read a few paragraphs at a time if you like. It's one of my favorite travel narratives, and maybe one of my favorite books.
It's very much a book of its time - there are what we might euphemistically term "flights of fancy" (in other words, sections that are obviously totally made up or very exaggerated in a book that purports to be true) and what I tend to think of as bouts of literature (where Jerome suddenly goes all allegorical and polysyllabic and serious on us - it's kind of like a measles of the written word). These just add to the fascination of the book, at least for me, but I wouldn't recommend this to someone who doesn't have some experience with Victorian narrators.
The book is, quite simply, the story of Jerome's week-long trip boating on the Thames in company with Harris, George, and Montmorency. (My favorite character is, quite naturally, Montmorency.) And it's funny and fun; I rank it above Innocents Abroad in the annals of early travel humor.
Worth reading for the chapter summaries alone. Worth reading multiple times for anyone who loves travel humor, Victorian times, or dogs. (And if you've read this, I recommend [b:To Say Nothing of the Dog|77773|To Say Nothing of the Dog (Oxford Time Travel, #2)|Connie Willis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1469410460l/77773._SY75_.jpg|696], by Connie Willis.)
It's very much a book of its time - there are what we might euphemistically term "flights of fancy" (in other words, sections that are obviously totally made up or very exaggerated in a book that purports to be true) and what I tend to think of as bouts of literature (where Jerome suddenly goes all allegorical and polysyllabic and serious on us - it's kind of like a measles of the written word). These just add to the fascination of the book, at least for me, but I wouldn't recommend this to someone who doesn't have some experience with Victorian narrators.
The book is, quite simply, the story of Jerome's week-long trip boating on the Thames in company with Harris, George, and Montmorency. (My favorite character is, quite naturally, Montmorency.) And it's funny and fun; I rank it above Innocents Abroad in the annals of early travel humor.
Worth reading for the chapter summaries alone. Worth reading multiple times for anyone who loves travel humor, Victorian times, or dogs. (And if you've read this, I recommend [b:To Say Nothing of the Dog|77773|To Say Nothing of the Dog (Oxford Time Travel, #2)|Connie Willis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1469410460l/77773._SY75_.jpg|696], by Connie Willis.)
In brief: Three English bachelors take a boat ride up the Thames to relax. They’re used to housekeepers and fine dining. What could possibly go wrong?
Thoughts: Hee! And more hee! This is meandering and relatable and silly and almost infinitely charming. It’s pastiche and satire and travelogue and slice-of-life all rolled into one, with an unreliable narrator, long set-ups to the jokes, and pratfalls. So many pratfalls. Victorian literature this is not! Except that, of course, it is.
I’m still mulling over how Jerome made this work. It shouldn’t. There’s no plot or character development, just a series of moments and memories and general buffoonery. There’s barely even dialogue as we’re used to it! But the characters, especially the narrator J, absolutely shine and everything from the episodes to the colloquial narration feels timeless and familiar. I, too, have had trouble cooking scrambled eggs. I, too, have had nights out camping when I just can’t get comfortable. I, too, complain about traffic and get sentimental about views.
I think the real beauty of this book is that it works on many levels, because while I’m talking up the “look at this doofuses” comedy stuff, this is also a travelogue. It does tell you the sites and the history and the good pubs. It just also happens to be so over-the-top about it that it becomes a parody of travel guides—and there is the time capsule aspect too. Jerome’s portrait of English life and the Thames Valley of the 1880s is perfect. It’s a reminder that however stuffy the Victorians seem, they also had a fabulous sense of humour about themselves.
Recommended to anyone who likes silly British people or silly British books, but especially to fans of P.G. Wodehouse.
Warnings: One instance of the n-slur. Two instances of the g-slur within a single paragraph. One use of “Oriental” in reference to fashion. Victorian opinions of women not necessarily shared by the author.
8/10
Thoughts: Hee! And more hee! This is meandering and relatable and silly and almost infinitely charming. It’s pastiche and satire and travelogue and slice-of-life all rolled into one, with an unreliable narrator, long set-ups to the jokes, and pratfalls. So many pratfalls. Victorian literature this is not! Except that, of course, it is.
I’m still mulling over how Jerome made this work. It shouldn’t. There’s no plot or character development, just a series of moments and memories and general buffoonery. There’s barely even dialogue as we’re used to it! But the characters, especially the narrator J, absolutely shine and everything from the episodes to the colloquial narration feels timeless and familiar. I, too, have had trouble cooking scrambled eggs. I, too, have had nights out camping when I just can’t get comfortable. I, too, complain about traffic and get sentimental about views.
I think the real beauty of this book is that it works on many levels, because while I’m talking up the “look at this doofuses” comedy stuff, this is also a travelogue. It does tell you the sites and the history and the good pubs. It just also happens to be so over-the-top about it that it becomes a parody of travel guides—and there is the time capsule aspect too. Jerome’s portrait of English life and the Thames Valley of the 1880s is perfect. It’s a reminder that however stuffy the Victorians seem, they also had a fabulous sense of humour about themselves.
Recommended to anyone who likes silly British people or silly British books, but especially to fans of P.G. Wodehouse.
Warnings: One instance of the n-slur. Two instances of the g-slur within a single paragraph. One use of “Oriental” in reference to fashion. Victorian opinions of women not necessarily shared by the author.
8/10
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
questo è uno dei libri più divertenti che io abbia mai letto, e per divertente intendo che porta a situazioni quali 'ridacchiare sull'autobus mentre l'anziana signora che ti siede accanto ti guarda di sottecchi e scuote la testa'. Jerome ha uno stile brillante, scorrevole, incredibilmente ironico e - in un certo qual modo - 'senza tempo': sebbene questo viaggio di tre amici ed un cane - il temerario Montmorency - lungo il Tamigi sia ambientato più di cento anni fa i discorsi e le riflessioni partorite dalla mente di Jerome non sentono il peso degli anni.
La cosa che stupisce è la presenza in un libro così ironico - in fondo è presentato sempre come uno dei classici dell'umorismo - di alcune pagine dedicate a riflessioni più 'serie' e malinconiche.
ps. il buon Montmorency incontra un gatto, tale Gatto è - indiscutibilmente (almeno per me) - il Greebo di Gytha Ogg XD
La cosa che stupisce è la presenza in un libro così ironico - in fondo è presentato sempre come uno dei classici dell'umorismo - di alcune pagine dedicate a riflessioni più 'serie' e malinconiche.
ps. il buon Montmorency incontra un gatto, tale Gatto è - indiscutibilmente (almeno per me) - il Greebo di Gytha Ogg XD
I read this book because I've always been curious what sort of book would be the favorite of Kip's father in [b:Have Space Suit—Will Travel|20417|Have Space Suit—Will Travel|Robert A. Heinlein|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1425593094s/20417.jpg|1984753].
It was well written, and is even one of the few books that has been funny enough to make me chuckle out loud in a few places. Beyond that, there just wasn't much going for it--I tend to find find annoying people to still be annoying, even if they are intentionally and amusingly written that way. This would probably be an excellent book for fans of [a:P.G. Wodehouse|7963|P.G. Wodehouse|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1198684105p2/7963.jpg], it just wasn't quite my cup of tea.
It was well written, and is even one of the few books that has been funny enough to make me chuckle out loud in a few places. Beyond that, there just wasn't much going for it--I tend to find find annoying people to still be annoying, even if they are intentionally and amusingly written that way. This would probably be an excellent book for fans of [a:P.G. Wodehouse|7963|P.G. Wodehouse|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1198684105p2/7963.jpg], it just wasn't quite my cup of tea.