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caseytuggle's review against another edition
4.0
This progressed more toward the typical Wodehouse formula. A charming heroine is mostly idolized, but carries a flawed streak that sees her embroiled in multiple near-calamities until circumstances align to see it all turn out correctly in the end. However, the challenging circumstances are less dire than in later books, and the pure chance of luck as the restorative agent seems a stretch too far here. The guiding hand of Jeeves in the Wooster books performs much more believably as this calming force. Overall, it was an enjoyable read with even pacing and quotable lines.
showell's review against another edition
4.0
Effortlessly funny. I've noticed other reviewers panning Wodehouse for failing to provide sufficiently deep characterization or plots with substance. To me, that misses the point. Wodehouse revels in language. The things that man can do to a cliché! I read Wodehouse to remember how much fun it can be to string words together and I was not disappointed.
saroz162's review against another edition
4.0
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this one. It's the first Wodehouse I've read since The Pothunters to really include no deliberate comedy, at least outside of a few turns of phrase; it might more accurately be termed a kind of romance, or perhaps just a "novel of young people."
The book follows young Sally, who - having come into a certain amount of money - gets buffeted from one young man in her life to another, guided by her allegiances (real or assumed) to her brother, her fiance, a kindly older acquaintance, an arrogant young man on the prowl, and her daffy new best friend, "Ginger"—whom she comes to regard with the most affection, of course. It's never heavy enough to be a melodrama, but there are sequences with melodramatic aspirations, as well as romantic ones.
Wodehouse's grasp of language keeps it light, but what probably keeps it from turning too emotional is his circumspection. Several major, dramatic events happen entirely outside of the view of the reader, almost exactly as in a stage comedy, and one significant shift takes place over a short epistolary interlude. It's almost as if Wodehouse is admitting that his strength is in scenes where two people banter with each other, and he really can't be bothered with very much else.
Still, it's enjoyable to see Wodehouse take on a female protagonist and treat her completely respectfully, with only one or two groan-worthy sexist cliches that might be put down to her generous nature. Sally is as close to a real person as Wodehouse ever wrote, and it's interesting to see Wodehousian characters in a context outside of farce. Here, they may banter and preen and talk in slang, but there's none of the neat and tidy assurance of a closed sphere (such as a gentleman's club, a boys' school, or a country estate) that everything will come out all right. It does, of course - but only because in a Wodehouse world, it would be too harsh for anything else to happen. They still experience heartache, loss, and even ruined dreams along the way.
The book follows young Sally, who - having come into a certain amount of money - gets buffeted from one young man in her life to another, guided by her allegiances (real or assumed) to her brother, her fiance, a kindly older acquaintance, an arrogant young man on the prowl, and her daffy new best friend, "Ginger"—whom she comes to regard with the most affection, of course. It's never heavy enough to be a melodrama, but there are sequences with melodramatic aspirations, as well as romantic ones.
Wodehouse's grasp of language keeps it light, but what probably keeps it from turning too emotional is his circumspection. Several major, dramatic events happen entirely outside of the view of the reader, almost exactly as in a stage comedy, and one significant shift takes place over a short epistolary interlude. It's almost as if Wodehouse is admitting that his strength is in scenes where two people banter with each other, and he really can't be bothered with very much else.
Still, it's enjoyable to see Wodehouse take on a female protagonist and treat her completely respectfully, with only one or two groan-worthy sexist cliches that might be put down to her generous nature. Sally is as close to a real person as Wodehouse ever wrote, and it's interesting to see Wodehousian characters in a context outside of farce. Here, they may banter and preen and talk in slang, but there's none of the neat and tidy assurance of a closed sphere (such as a gentleman's club, a boys' school, or a country estate) that everything will come out all right. It does, of course - but only because in a Wodehouse world, it would be too harsh for anything else to happen. They still experience heartache, loss, and even ruined dreams along the way.
samyukta_24's review against another edition
3.0
This was not as lighthearted as some of Wodehouse’s other novels. It was kind of getting depressing towards the end but as usual, it culminated in a happy ending.
There were some really funny parts but on a whole, I didn’t like it as much as the Blandings or Jeeves series.
Sally was increasingly turning out to be one of those women who talk and act as if they own the earth and go about treating people like their playthings, but Wodehouse thankfully, averted that by giving her actual human qualities and showing her inner emotions and regrets, which made her quite endearing and easy to root for.
All in all, it had enough material to hold me till the end, but personally, it's only a one time read.
There were some really funny parts but on a whole, I didn’t like it as much as the Blandings or Jeeves series.
Sally was increasingly turning out to be one of those women who talk and act as if they own the earth and go about treating people like their playthings, but Wodehouse thankfully, averted that by giving her actual human qualities and showing her inner emotions and regrets, which made her quite endearing and easy to root for.
All in all, it had enough material to hold me till the end, but personally, it's only a one time read.
yvettekeller's review against another edition
5.0
Sucker for a Happy Ending
You’ll love this tale if you’re a sucker for a happy ending. The prose and humor of Wodehouse is at its finest in this little book about a spirited independent woman in the Jazz age. The book is full of twists and turns, revealing the hopes and dreams of the prohibition era.
You’ll love this tale if you’re a sucker for a happy ending. The prose and humor of Wodehouse is at its finest in this little book about a spirited independent woman in the Jazz age. The book is full of twists and turns, revealing the hopes and dreams of the prohibition era.
coupes's review against another edition
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
4.0
swirls's review against another edition
3.0
It's early Wodehouse, not quite the nonstop comedy of his later books. It's still a screwball comedy, but it has SAD moments (how dare) and is one of the few Wodehouse novels where reality occasionally rears its ugly head. There's heartbreak and loss, and while he doesn't go so far as to let any character actually die, the Spanish flu is raging in the background and actually affecting the lives of the characters.
I didn't hate it, but I started devouring Wodehouse for comfort in 2020 and prefer them to be a bit more "everything is beautiful and nothing hurts" all the time. But he was just getting started here!
I didn't hate it, but I started devouring Wodehouse for comfort in 2020 and prefer them to be a bit more "everything is beautiful and nothing hurts" all the time. But he was just getting started here!