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zeltzamer's review
As I suspected, Wodehouse works much better in short story format than in novels. I plunged headfirst into The Code of the Woosters, sank further under the muck with every twee simile, trudged through self-conscious ironic fillip after fillip, and emerged desperately on the other side, swearing to never be taken in again by the candy-coated bog. But I did read these, and the patented soufflé style is much less enervating as an appetizer than it is as a 200-page meal.
This was published smack in the tumult of the sixties, and even though it’s mostly as light as you’d expect, there’s something a tad ominous peeking over the margins. Idioms referencing Latin American revolutions, student demos, Lenny Bruce. See Plum recant his travels through mid-century America, tee-tottering on the edge of chaos. I wouldn’t call it a dark cloud hanging over head, more like a faint breaking news broadcast that occasionally creeps in from the background.
This was published smack in the tumult of the sixties, and even though it’s mostly as light as you’d expect, there’s something a tad ominous peeking over the margins. Idioms referencing Latin American revolutions, student demos, Lenny Bruce. See Plum recant his travels through mid-century America, tee-tottering on the edge of chaos. I wouldn’t call it a dark cloud hanging over head, more like a faint breaking news broadcast that occasionally creeps in from the background.
swirls's review
4.0
I have officially run out of Jeeves stories now. C'est tragique. They cheered me up all through 2020.
roshk99's review
4.0
A book of short stories by the masterful Wodehouse. It is amazing that he can make you laugh with just two sentences, and each paragraph is crafted beautifully. A true master of language.
jonathanrobert's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jonmhansen's review
4.0
"Listen," said Cyril, and his voice shook like a jelly in a high wind. "Does it count if you ask a girl to marry you when you're hypnotized?"
lordofthemoon's review against another edition
5.0
This is a great collection of short stories by the master of upper class absurdity including one Jeeves and Wooster story, two Bingo Little ones and one Ukridge story. All are great fun to read and full of the warm humour that is Wodehouse's trademark.
The stories are interspersed with little vignettes of 'Our Man in America', being (supposed) newspaper cuttings and commentary on life in America. It's hard to know if they're factual or not, since many of them are extremely silly or surreal, and yet real life has a habit of being stranger than fiction, especially in America.
A great collection for any established Wodehouse fan and a great way to get a flavour of his work for the newbie.
The stories are interspersed with little vignettes of 'Our Man in America', being (supposed) newspaper cuttings and commentary on life in America. It's hard to know if they're factual or not, since many of them are extremely silly or surreal, and yet real life has a habit of being stranger than fiction, especially in America.
A great collection for any established Wodehouse fan and a great way to get a flavour of his work for the newbie.
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