Wodehouse

William H. · 11th January 2004, 03:31 PM

I was going to post this under "What are you reading?", but I enjoyed my first Wodehouse book so much I thought that he deserved his own thread. I've just finished reading "Very Good, Jeeves!" and I'm was looking to read another one by the same author, but there are so many to choose from that I thought I would ask for opinions here.

Anyone have any favorite Wodehouse books?

kittynh · 11th January 2004, 03:35 PM

It's been years, but there are so many funny ones. There was one where Bertie was in NY City. Wodehouses take on Americans was hilarious. (can't remember the name!)

There was a BBC series featuriing Bertie and Jeeves, but I've never seen it! I'd like to see if it lives up to the books.

bug_girl · 11th January 2004, 03:54 PM

i have yet to read a bad wodehouse book. and i've read many of them many times.

i loved the blandings castle series, and a fun one that is hard to find is "Mr. Mulliner", a series of short stories told by Mr. Mulliner at a bar about his relatives.
i'm currently reading "the drones club."

epepke · 12th January 2004, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by William H.
Anyone have any favorite Wodehouse books?

All of them, basically. It's pretty hard to go wrong with Wodehouse.

Bluegill · 12th January 2004, 04:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kittynh
It's been years, but there are so many funny ones. There was one where Bertie was in NY City. Wodehouses take on Americans was hilarious. (can't remember the name!)

There was a BBC series featuriing Bertie and Jeeves, but I've never seen it! I'd like to see if it lives up to the books.

There was also a radio series that was very well done.

epepke · 12th January 2004, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bluegill

There was also a radio series that was very well done.

And, in the 1970's, there was a series called Wodehouse Playhouse that I believe was done by an PBS-affiliate.

Lord Emsworth · 12th January 2004, 05:58 AM

The Blandings Castle series of course.

Tricky · 12th January 2004, 06:47 AM

I love all the Wodehouse too (and I own both the Jeeves and Wooster series and the Wodehouse Playhouse series). My current favorite is an obscure one called "Uncle Dynamite ". Lots of new characters there, (including, oddly, one named Harry Potter.)

I've thought about starting a thread with your favorite Wodehouse quotes, and this seems like a good place to start. My favorites are his descriptions:

"He made a sound like an elephant removing it's foot from a Serrengeti mud hole."

"She looked as if she had been poured into her clothes and had forgotten to say "when."

Lord Muck oGentry · 12th January 2004, 01:14 PM

One that has stuck in my mind is "---laughing like a hyena that has just heard a good one from another hyena."
Unfortunately, I can't remember the story it comes from. Does anyone know?

Sundog · 12th January 2004, 02:56 PM

Oh my. Must-read Wodehouse? There's a ton of it.

"Joy in the Morning" (American: Jeeves in the Morning)
"Cocktail Time"
"Very Good, Jeeves" or anything with Jeeves in the title
"Lord Emsworth and Others"
"Laughing Gas"
"The Code of the Woosters"
"Right Ho, Jeeves"
"The Drones Club"
"Summer Lightning"
"Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit"
"Meet Mr. Mulliner"

Any of the Lord Emsworth stories, especially "Crime wave at Blandings" and "Pig-HOOOEY!"

There's a pretty good collection commonly available called "The Most of P.G. Wodehouse".

I envy you, just beginning on this journey. Enjoy.

William H. · 12th January 2004, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tricky

I've thought about starting a thread with your favorite Wodehouse quotes, and this seems like a good place to start.

Great idea. I haven't read his golf stories yet, but I did find this quote:

"I suppose their feelings were rather what those of a golf professional would be, if he had to submit to seeing people dancing on his putting greens in high heeled shoes."

I just found out that our library has over 200 items by Wodehouse (although I'm sure some are duplicates), I'll be sure to look for the recommended books there. Thanks to all who have posted so far.

Tricky · 12th January 2004, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by William H.

Great idea. I haven't read his golf stories yet, but I did find this quote:

"I suppose their feelings were rather what those of a golf professional would be, if he had to submit to seeing people dancing on his putting greens in high heeled shoes."

I just found out that our library has over 200 items by Wodehouse (although I'm sure some are duplicates), I'll be sure to look for the recommended books there. Thanks to all who have posted so far.

As the golf stories go, "The Coming Of Gowf" is, IMHO, the very best.

Julia · 12th January 2004, 08:56 PM

I agree that after reading them all, I can't think of a bad, or even so-so Wodehouse. I also agree that anything with jeeves in the title, and also Laughing Gas are some of the best of the best.

chrisqqgx4 · 13th January 2004, 11:09 AM

I too have only praise for all his books.

The "Jeeves and Wooster" series is one of the best Wodehouse screen adaptations. It stars Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, and both of them get the duo down perfect. All the supporting cast are on form too, especially Gussie the newt fancier.

It's here at Amazon in the US and no doubt other places too.

A few years ago the BBC did a Blandings Castle adaptation, with Richard Briers (I think) as Lord Emsworth. that was a corker too.

(edited for typo)

Ove · 13th January 2004, 10:24 PM

Quote:

It stars Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, and both of them get the duo down perfect.

Yes they were brilliant but then again you must admit that they was VERY obvious choices. They have both been playing very similar roles for years. I love Woodehouse and especially the Lord Emsworth books, the Jeeves stories does tend to get stuck in the same groove but still, they are very very funny, a good word of advice though: DON'T read all Jeeves books in a row, read some of the others inbetween.

epepke · 14th January 2004, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by William H.

Great idea. I haven't read his golf stories yet, but I did find this quote:

"I suppose their feelings were rather what those of a golf professional would be, if he had to submit to seeing people dancing on his putting greens in high heeled shoes."

I just found out that our library has over 200 items by Wodehouse (although I'm sure some are duplicates), I'll be sure to look for the recommended books there. Thanks to all who have posted so far.

Maybe, but he was incredibly prolific, and that's of the order of his output. He wrote on the order of a hundred novels, three hundred short stories, the books and libretti for a half dozen Broadway musicals, and about a dozen straight plays.

I used to have asthma and a few old books of his that had not been recently reprinted. Reading the books pushed me toward anaphylactic shock in about 45 minutes. So I went out and bought surgical masks, and that gave me about 90 minutes before my eyes would water up so much I couldn't read. That's how good he is.

11th January 2004, 03:31 PM	#1
William H. Critical Thinker Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 467	Wodehouse I was going to post this under "What are you reading?", but I enjoyed my first Wodehouse book so much I thought that he deserved his own thread. I've just finished reading "Very Good, Jeeves!" and I'm was looking to read another one by the same author, but there are so many to choose from that I thought I would ask for opinions here. Anyone have any favorite Wodehouse books?

11th January 2004, 03:35 PM	#2
kittynh The Hupsu Detective auctioneer Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: If I told the aliens could find me, and you know they read this forum Posts: 22,706	It's been years, but there are so many funny ones. There was one where Bertie was in NY City. Wodehouses take on Americans was hilarious. (can't remember the name!) There was a BBC series featuriing Bertie and Jeeves, but I've never seen it! I'd like to see if it lives up to the books.
	__________________ WWW.BADALIEN.ORG - not all the buttons work yet, and the science content is coming...but it's ALIVE!

12th January 2004, 04:23 AM	#4
epepke Philosopher Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 7,950	Re: Wodehouse Quote: Originally posted by William H. Anyone have any favorite Wodehouse books? All of them, basically. It's pretty hard to go wrong with Wodehouse.
epepke Philosopher Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 7,950

12th January 2004, 05:35 AM	#6
epepke Philosopher Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 7,950	Quote: Originally posted by Bluegill There was also a radio series that was very well done. And, in the 1970's, there was a series called Wodehouse Playhouse that I believe was done by an PBS-affiliate.
epepke Philosopher Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 7,950

12th January 2004, 01:14 PM	#9
Lord Muck oGentry Muse Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 986	Wodehouse quotations One that has stuck in my mind is "---laughing like a hyena that has just heard a good one from another hyena." Unfortunately, I can't remember the story it comes from. Does anyone know?
Lord Muck oGentry Muse Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 986

11th January 2004, 03:54 PM	#3
bug_girl übernerd Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Very Low Earth orbit Posts: 3,013	i have yet to read a bad wodehouse book. and i've read many of them many times. i loved the blandings castle series, and a fun one that is hard to find is "Mr. Mulliner", a series of short stories told by Mr. Mulliner at a bar about his relatives. i'm currently reading "the drones club."

12th January 2004, 04:35 AM	#5
Bluegill Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Louisville Posts: 1,188	Quote: Originally posted by kittynh It's been years, but there are so many funny ones. There was one where Bertie was in NY City. Wodehouses take on Americans was hilarious. (can't remember the name!) There was a BBC series featuriing Bertie and Jeeves, but I've never seen it! I'd like to see if it lives up to the books. There was also a radio series that was very well done.

12th January 2004, 05:58 AM	#7
Lord Emsworth Je ne suis pas une de vos élèves Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Through the Cables and the Underground ... Posts: 2,827	The Blandings Castle series of course.

12th January 2004, 06:47 AM	#8
Tricky Briefly immortal Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Group W bench Posts: 42,359	I love all the Wodehouse too (and I own both the Jeeves and Wooster series and the Wodehouse Playhouse series). My current favorite is an obscure one called "Uncle Dynamite ". Lots of new characters there, (including, oddly, one named Harry Potter.) I've thought about starting a thread with your favorite Wodehouse quotes, and this seems like a good place to start. My favorites are his descriptions: "He made a sound like an elephant removing it's foot from a Serrengeti mud hole." "She looked as if she had been poured into her clothes and had forgotten to say "when."

12th January 2004, 02:56 PM	#10
Sundog Master Poster Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,071	Oh my. Must-read Wodehouse? There's a ton of it. "Joy in the Morning" (American: Jeeves in the Morning) "Cocktail Time" "Very Good, Jeeves" or anything with Jeeves in the title "Lord Emsworth and Others" "Laughing Gas" "The Code of the Woosters" "Right Ho, Jeeves" "The Drones Club" "Summer Lightning" "Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit" "Meet Mr. Mulliner" Any of the Lord Emsworth stories, especially "Crime wave at Blandings" and "Pig-HOOOEY!" There's a pretty good collection commonly available called "The Most of P.G. Wodehouse". I envy you, just beginning on this journey. Enjoy.
Sundog Master Poster Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,071	__________________ I come not to bring peace, but a sword. -- Jesus H. Christ

12th January 2004, 03:20 PM	#11
William H. Critical Thinker Join Date: Feb 2002 Posts: 467	Quote: Originally posted by Tricky I've thought about starting a thread with your favorite Wodehouse quotes, and this seems like a good place to start. Great idea. I haven't read his golf stories yet, but I did find this quote: "I suppose their feelings were rather what those of a golf professional would be, if he had to submit to seeing people dancing on his putting greens in high heeled shoes." I just found out that our library has over 200 items by Wodehouse (although I'm sure some are duplicates), I'll be sure to look for the recommended books there. Thanks to all who have posted so far.

12th January 2004, 08:44 PM	#12
Tricky Briefly immortal Moderator Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: The Group W bench Posts: 42,359	Quote: Originally posted by William H. Great idea. I haven't read his golf stories yet, but I did find this quote: "I suppose their feelings were rather what those of a golf professional would be, if he had to submit to seeing people dancing on his putting greens in high heeled shoes." I just found out that our library has over 200 items by Wodehouse (although I'm sure some are duplicates), I'll be sure to look for the recommended books there. Thanks to all who have posted so far. As the golf stories go, "The Coming Of Gowf" is, IMHO, the very best.

12th January 2004, 08:56 PM	#13
Julia Muse Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 519	I agree that after reading them all, I can't think of a bad, or even so-so Wodehouse. I also agree that anything with jeeves in the title, and also Laughing Gas are some of the best of the best.
Julia Muse Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 519	__________________ Julia

13th January 2004, 11:09 AM	#14
chrisqqgx4 Critical Thinker Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 291	I too have only praise for all his books. The "Jeeves and Wooster" series is one of the best Wodehouse screen adaptations. It stars Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, and both of them get the duo down perfect. All the supporting cast are on form too, especially Gussie the newt fancier. It's here at Amazon in the US and no doubt other places too. A few years ago the BBC did a Blandings Castle adaptation, with Richard Briers (I think) as Lord Emsworth. that was a corker too. (edited for typo)

13th January 2004, 10:24 PM	#15
Ove Master Poster Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Denmark Posts: 2,881	Quote: It stars Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie, and both of them get the duo down perfect. Yes they were brilliant but then again you must admit that they was VERY obvious choices. They have both been playing very similar roles for years. I love Woodehouse and especially the Lord Emsworth books, the Jeeves stories does tend to get stuck in the same groove but still, they are very very funny, a good word of advice though: DON'T read all Jeeves books in a row, read some of the others inbetween.
	__________________ I am sitting here, completely surrounded by NO BEER..... (Onslow)

14th January 2004, 03:36 AM	#16
epepke Philosopher Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 7,950	Quote: Originally posted by William H. Great idea. I haven't read his golf stories yet, but I did find this quote: "I suppose their feelings were rather what those of a golf professional would be, if he had to submit to seeing people dancing on his putting greens in high heeled shoes." I just found out that our library has over 200 items by Wodehouse (although I'm sure some are duplicates), I'll be sure to look for the recommended books there. Thanks to all who have posted so far. Maybe, but he was incredibly prolific, and that's of the order of his output. He wrote on the order of a hundred novels, three hundred short stories, the books and libretti for a half dozen Broadway musicals, and about a dozen straight plays. I used to have asthma and a few old books of his that had not been recently reprinted. Reading the books pushed me toward anaphylactic shock in about 45 minutes. So I went out and bought surgical masks, and that gave me about 90 minutes before my eyes would water up so much I couldn't read. That's how good he is.
epepke Philosopher Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 7,950