Reviews

Right Ho, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse

Only show reviews with written explanations

crystalstarrlight's review against another edition

3.0

"Woosters may quail, but they do not edge out."

Bertram "Bertie" Wooster is playing matchmaker. He's trying to get his old classmate, Gussie Fink-Nottle, together with Miss Angela Bassett and Tuppy and his cousin, Angela, to "kiss and make up". But the best laid plans of mice and men fall flat and before you know it, Bertie's engaged!!

After a slew of depressing books chosen in our Book Club (the last one embarrassingly chosen by yours truly), this was chosen to liven the spirit. If it hadn't been chosen by my book club compatriots, despite seeing a couple of episodes of Fry and Laurie's "Jeeves and Wooster" TV show, I probably would never have read this book--not because I didn't enjoy the TV show, just because it's not something I would typically pick. Which is a shame, because this is a nice little book, pretty funny once you start to "get in the groove".

"Getting in the groove" of the book was my biggest obstacle. Because I was a bit startled to see how goofy the story was and how extreme the characters were. For me, a newbie to this book and this author, I found my previous viewings of the TV show (with the superb actors, Stephen Fry as Jeeves and Hugh Laurie and Wooster) helped me really feel the swing of things. What also helped was realizing that this was NOT to be taken too seriously (I mean, Aunt Dahlia could be pretty mean to Wooster! I probably would have bawled if she told me half the things she said to Wooster).

But once I got into the groove (and started getting a feeling for the writing), I found the humor in the book. Wooster's naivete and ignorance. These silly characters doing silly things. Misconceptions and misinterpretations and silly beliefs of what would make two people fall in love. And of course, Jeeves somehow figuring out how to bring everything back together (though how he did so was a bit disappointing and easy--I guess that was the point, after all, but I was a bit shocked at how easy it was accomplished).

There are a few awkward stereotypes (including a n-word), sexist remarks (how to woo a lady), and my version (Project Gutenberg's free ebook) had a lot of incomplete words (such as "f." or "viz."--some I was able to figure out, others I had to skip and move on). But honestly, I had a good time reading it and wouldn't hesitate to read other Wodehouse books in the future.

sashapasha's review against another edition

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5.0

The show does an excellent job staying true to the source material and really bringing it to life, but nothing can beat the book’s language and turn of phrase.

Bertie and Jeeves are excellent. Bertie is a bit arrogant and egotistical in this one, but it serves to add to the hilarity of the situation. Gussie Fink-Nottle, Tuppy, The Bassett, and all of the other characters are superb.

"Well, it's the most extraordinary thing. It must be five years since he was in London. He makes no secret of the fact that the place gives him the pip. Until now, he has always stayed glued to the country, completely surrounded by newts."

"Sir?"

"Newts, Jeeves. Mr. Fink-Nottle has a strong newt complex. You must have heard of newts. Those little sort of lizard things that charge about in ponds."

"Oh, yes, sir. The aquatic members of the family Salamandridae which constitute the genus Molge."

"That's right. Well, Gussie has always been a slave to them. He used to keep them at school."

"I believe young gentlemen frequently do, sir."

"He kept them in his study in a kind of glass-tank arrangement, and pretty niffy the whole thing was, I recall. I suppose one ought to have been able to see what the end would be even then, but you know what boys are. Careless, heedless, busy about our own affairs, we scarcely gave this kink in Gussie's character a thought. We may have exchanged an occasional remark about it taking all sorts to make a world, but nothing more. You can guess the sequel. The trouble spread,"

"Indeed, sir?"

"Absolutely, Jeeves. The craving grew upon him. The newts got him. Arrived at man's estate, he retired to the depths of the country and gave his life up to these dumb chums. I suppose he used to tell himself that he could take them or leave them alone, and then found—too late—that he couldn't."

"It is often the way, sir."

~~~

And as for Gussie Fink-Nottle, many an experienced undertaker would have been deceived by his appearance and started embalming him on sight.

~~~

He spoke with a sort of dull despair, and so manifest was his lack of ginger and the spirit that wins to success that for an instant, I confess, I felt a bit stymied. It seemed hopeless to go on trying to steam up such a human jellyfish.

~~~

A man who can set out in a cab for a fancy-dress ball and not get there is manifestly a poop of no common order.

~~~

Gussie is the butt of no small number of witticisms, a triumph of a character.

Comedic genius.

esther_2409's review against another edition

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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? Yes

4.75

philbojones's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted relaxing fast-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

4.5

beeayy's review against another edition

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funny 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? Yes

4.75

cassiakarin's review against another edition

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3.0

So silly! Frivolously so! I felt as though I were binge-watching a British comedy out of sheer fleshly indulgence by reading this book! Pure ridiculous humor. A goofy book - SO well written, marvelously so, brilliant, really. I love imagining the writing process of this book - it just sounds like fun! But - I must confess to my shame - I did not particularly care for the book much myself. I suppose I'm a sourpuss. I didn't laugh too much, and though I found it amusing and terribly clever, the ever rising woes and troubles and foibles and follies wore me out. I know I'm a scrooge. Why can't I just enjoy a book for its elaborate characters and ridiculous plot all wrapped in the beauty of old British modernity- as it were- pop-culture? I don't know. I'm more for stories with real suffering, sadness, and riveting redemption. Sorry. But I am very gratified to have put my eyes (or ears in this case) into the words of one of the greats. For P.G. Wodehouse is of course one of the great (and found among the 9 of Doug Wilson's 9 Writers to Rad!). So, I finished one, and may pick up another to enjoy with my kids by audio when they're older enough to follow a plot audibly.