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4.22 AVERAGE
4.22 AVERAGE
Wodehouse, P. G. The Code of the Woosters. 1938. Jeeves No. 7. Norton, 2011.
Science fiction author Connie Willis was recently asked to name a few books she likes to reread in these troubled times. One of the books on her list was The Code of the Woosters by P. G. Woodhouse, one of the best of the Jeeves and Bertie Wooster stories. So, naturally, I had to reread it myself. And then I had to dive into YouTube to scare up the Jeeves and Wooster television series, starring a young Hugh Laurie (these days best remembered for playing Dr. House) and Stephen Fry. By now my Wodehouse addiction is well and truly cranked up. Soon I will be striding around the house saying, “What ho!” to all and sundry and dreaming about Donald Trump as Spode harassing Madeleine Bassett and Gussy Fink-Nottle at Mar Lago. May the dog Bartholomew bite him on the ankle. Really, kids, you should read yourself some Wodehouse—it’ll give you sweet comic dreams.
Science fiction author Connie Willis was recently asked to name a few books she likes to reread in these troubled times. One of the books on her list was The Code of the Woosters by P. G. Woodhouse, one of the best of the Jeeves and Bertie Wooster stories. So, naturally, I had to reread it myself. And then I had to dive into YouTube to scare up the Jeeves and Wooster television series, starring a young Hugh Laurie (these days best remembered for playing Dr. House) and Stephen Fry. By now my Wodehouse addiction is well and truly cranked up. Soon I will be striding around the house saying, “What ho!” to all and sundry and dreaming about Donald Trump as Spode harassing Madeleine Bassett and Gussy Fink-Nottle at Mar Lago. May the dog Bartholomew bite him on the ankle. Really, kids, you should read yourself some Wodehouse—it’ll give you sweet comic dreams.
A coveted silver cow-creamer drops hapless gentleman of leisure Bertie Wooster into the middle of two engaged couples, an incriminating notebook, an insufferable Scottie, and blackmail - in short, a situation impossible for any brain but Jeeves' to unravel.
Bertie's troubles begin with "a sort of silver cow with a kind of blotto look on its face", which Aunt Dahlia needs for her collector husband. But when the cow-creamer is usurped and a friend's engagement threatens to unravel, Bertie springs into action. By the end of an eventful day in the country, Bertie manages to get engaged to two separate girls, joins a fistfight with an aspiring dictator, and winds up on the wrong end of the law. Fortunately Jeeves is there to shimmer in and smooth everything out.
Wodehouse one-ups Chekhov's gun with a silver cow creamer and a loaded notebook - two items that both go off by the end of the day. More than once. As complex and funny as the plots are, the real pleasure in reading any Wodehouse novel is his prose. He has a silver ear for getting just the right phrase, piling up slang and classical allusion in a hilarious way that may be imitated but never bettered.
For other humorists known for being quotable and witty, start with Dorothy Parker Stories by Dorothy Parker, or James Thurber's short stories, especially "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" or "The Catbird Seat."
Quotable:
"I could see that, if not actually disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled" - 3
"Aunt Agatha, who eats broken bottles and wears barbed wire next to the skin." - 4
"There are moments, Jeeves, when one asks oneself, 'Do trousers matter?'"
"The mood will pass, sir."
"Prismatic is the only word for those frightful tweeds and, oddly enough, the spectacle of them had the effect of steadying my nerves. They gave me the feeling that nothing mattered."
Bertie's troubles begin with "a sort of silver cow with a kind of blotto look on its face", which Aunt Dahlia needs for her collector husband. But when the cow-creamer is usurped and a friend's engagement threatens to unravel, Bertie springs into action. By the end of an eventful day in the country, Bertie manages to get engaged to two separate girls, joins a fistfight with an aspiring dictator, and winds up on the wrong end of the law. Fortunately Jeeves is there to shimmer in and smooth everything out.
Wodehouse one-ups Chekhov's gun with a silver cow creamer and a loaded notebook - two items that both go off by the end of the day. More than once. As complex and funny as the plots are, the real pleasure in reading any Wodehouse novel is his prose. He has a silver ear for getting just the right phrase, piling up slang and classical allusion in a hilarious way that may be imitated but never bettered.
For other humorists known for being quotable and witty, start with Dorothy Parker Stories by Dorothy Parker, or James Thurber's short stories, especially "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" or "The Catbird Seat."
Quotable:
"I could see that, if not actually disgruntled, he was far from being gruntled" - 3
"Aunt Agatha, who eats broken bottles and wears barbed wire next to the skin." - 4
"There are moments, Jeeves, when one asks oneself, 'Do trousers matter?'"
"The mood will pass, sir."
"Prismatic is the only word for those frightful tweeds and, oddly enough, the spectacle of them had the effect of steadying my nerves. They gave me the feeling that nothing mattered."
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
Content Warnings
Minor: Misogyny, Racism
A masterpiece. The funniest Wodehouse I've read yet, had me in tears throughout. The lark's on the wing, and the snail's on the thorn indeed.
A bit silly and far fetched (even for Wodehouse) but fun nonetheless.
I grew up with A Bit of Fry and Laurie as well as the occasional Jeeves and Wooster film, so it was fun to enter their world of wit, luxury, and drama through reading. So funny, it was light and silly, all of which I was expecting based on the film adaptations. But it was so cleverly executed, it completely exceeded expectations.
I had Fry and Laurie as the leads in my head while reading, and the dynamic of the two characters in the book was every bit as well matched as the real life friends. And the supporting characters were every bit as well developed and clear to imagine, making the whole funny tale of twists and turns an absolute riot.
The language took me a chapter to adapt to but once in the rhythm, I was completely immersed. I enjoyed reading entirely through Bertie's perspective, tho I was worried his pompous voice may turn me off to it all. Yet the very same humorously pompous voice lended further meaning to the sense of social and physical setting as well as the title. Now I need to find some others in the series!
Some especially funny bits:
A confirmed recluse you would have called him, if you had happened to know the word, and you would have been right.
It was a serious disaster, of course, and one which might have caused a lesser man to feel that it sad no use going on struggling. But the whole point about the Woosters, as I have had occasion to remark before, is that they are not lesser men. They keep their heads. They think quickly, and they act quickly.
One doesn't want to make a song and dance about one's ancient lineage, of course, but after all the Woosters did come over with the Conqueror and we're extremely pally with him: and a fat lot of good it is coming over with Conquerors, if you're simply going to wind up by being given the elbow by Aberdeen terriers.
Here, with a sniff like the tearing of a piece of calico, she buried the bean in the hands, and broke into what are called uncontrollable sobs.
I had Fry and Laurie as the leads in my head while reading, and the dynamic of the two characters in the book was every bit as well matched as the real life friends. And the supporting characters were every bit as well developed and clear to imagine, making the whole funny tale of twists and turns an absolute riot.
The language took me a chapter to adapt to but once in the rhythm, I was completely immersed. I enjoyed reading entirely through Bertie's perspective, tho I was worried his pompous voice may turn me off to it all. Yet the very same humorously pompous voice lended further meaning to the sense of social and physical setting as well as the title. Now I need to find some others in the series!
Some especially funny bits:
A confirmed recluse you would have called him, if you had happened to know the word, and you would have been right.
It was a serious disaster, of course, and one which might have caused a lesser man to feel that it sad no use going on struggling. But the whole point about the Woosters, as I have had occasion to remark before, is that they are not lesser men. They keep their heads. They think quickly, and they act quickly.
One doesn't want to make a song and dance about one's ancient lineage, of course, but after all the Woosters did come over with the Conqueror and we're extremely pally with him: and a fat lot of good it is coming over with Conquerors, if you're simply going to wind up by being given the elbow by Aberdeen terriers.
Here, with a sniff like the tearing of a piece of calico, she buried the bean in the hands, and broke into what are called uncontrollable sobs.
good laugh as always. it still amazes me how far we have come.. what may be deemed out of this world at that time is the norm today...you will know what i mean at the end of the book
Started reading it in London. Some think it's the best Jeeves novel. I loved it. Whenever I am in a slump or have to go on a plane I read Wodehouse.
Wodehouse makes you laugh. Hyperbole and euphemism are used as clever literary devices rather than annoying diversions or lazy shortcuts. Visual. Kinetic. Cinematic. **Still waiting for someone with power to realize these would make a great Netflix or Amazon series. Feel free to hire me as a consultant.**