Saturday, February 02, 2008
Jeeves in the Morning by P G Wodehouse
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Last spring I asked for suggestions of humorous books to read; and Tristi Pinkston recommended this one. I'm so glad she did. There were some laugh-out-loud moments while I was reading; and, like sometimes while watching British comedy, a sense of irritation at the slapstickishness (New Word Alert). However, I keep revisiting scenes in my mind and chuckling over them. Just like I need a dictionary for Australian slang, I find It would be nice to have one for English slang as well. What on earth does "bung a spanner" mean? or "gas and gaiters?" Jeeves, of course, is the epitome of the "veddy proper" British manservant and is famous for his knowledge and gift of solving every dilemna. His employer, Bertie Wooster, is charming, aristocratic, vaguely cowardly, and totally inept. He reminds me of Melrose Plant of the Richard Jury series. And the young Boy Scout, Edwin, cracked me up. As I read, I kept picturing the story being played out on PBS. I wonder if I will be disappointed when I finally get around to watching it. I will definitely pick up Wodehouse any time I need a quick giggle.
Rating: 3.75
Posted by Framed at 7:49 PM
11 comments:
GeraniumCat said...
Not sure about the context of "bung a spanner" here, but if you say someone has "bunged a spanner in the works" it means they have done the equivalent of throwing a large piece of unyielding metal in the working parts of an engine, thereby causing considerable disruption.
Senior Church of England clergymen used to wear gaiters - they were made of black cloth and buttoned to the knee (they wore breeches with them). So "all gas and gaiters" referred to the tendency to excessive wordiness of these individuals.
Any more? :)
10/26/2007 3:51 AM
Framed said...
Thanks, Geraniumcat. I checked the context and it was "bung a spanner in the works." Now it makes perfect sense. I couldn't find "gas and gaiters", but there were some characters in the book that definitely fit this description.
10/26/2007 7:57 AM
Cassie said...
Sounds interesting and I rarely come across funny books. Everyone is so serious these days. Is this a series? If not, then I may add it to my list.
10/26/2007 8:56 AM
Tristi Pinkston said...
I'm so glad you liked it, Framed!
10/26/2007 4:11 PM
Booklogged said...
Sounds good. I had the same problem with English slang when reading Spot of Bother. Unfortunately, I didn't mark any of the phrases. Bung a spanner in the works is a great phrase and one I could use often.
10/26/2007 9:11 PM
Candace Salima (LDS Nora Roberts) said...
Tristi is a great one for recommending books. Framed, if you ever want to review one of my books, let me know and I'll email you a copy.
10/28/2007 7:01 AM
gautami tripathy said...
I love Wodehouse any time. He was a prolific writer and there are lot many books to read.
I even own 6 of his rare books.
This I read long time back. I think I will read it again.
10/29/2007 7:45 AM
SuziQoregon said...
This sounds fun. I've never read any of Wodehouse's books. Maybe I can work one into the Decades Challenge for 2008.
10/29/2007 9:47 PM
Bookfool said...
I love, love, love Wodehouse. And, there are actually British slang books available. I've got a British English/American English dictionary and a couple of other books about the language differences (all of which have been helpful, although there's nothing like having an English friend to "translate").
You will soooo not be disappointed in the series. It's hilarious. Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry were perfect in the roles of Wooster and Jeeves. The only annoyance was that they changed some of the actors, from season to season. Madeleine (the woman who says goofy things like, "The stars are God's daisy chain") was played by three different actresses. Ugh. But, fortunately, Fry and Laurie were consistent as Jeeves and Wooster and they were the most important characters.
10/29/2007 10:06 PM
gautami tripathy said...
I received crow lake by mary lawson and finished reading too. I really like it. Thanks!
10/30/2007 10:17 AM
Framed said...
Cassie, it is a series but I think they can be enjoyed on an individual basis. This isn't the first in the series and I didn't feel like I missing something. Better yet, let's get the series and watch it together.
Tristi, thanks for the recommend.
Booklogged, can you say "bung a spanner in the works" with an British accent. I don't think it will work otherwise.
Candace, I would love to review one of your books. However, my computer is so slow that I would never try to download a book.
Gautami, Wow, you got the book so quickly. And read it already. I haven't even opened my copy yet. I'll be visting to read the review.
SusieQ, great choice for the Decades Challenge. Maybe I should add Jeeves to my Decades list.
Bookfool, I really want to watch the series. Sounds hilarious.
10/30/2007 4:28 PM
Last spring I asked for suggestions of humorous books to read; and Tristi Pinkston recommended this one. I'm so glad she did. There were some laugh-out-loud moments while I was reading; and, like sometimes while watching British comedy, a sense of irritation at the slapstickishness (New Word Alert). However, I keep revisiting scenes in my mind and chuckling over them. Just like I need a dictionary for Australian slang, I find It would be nice to have one for English slang as well. What on earth does "bung a spanner" mean? or "gas and gaiters?" Jeeves, of course, is the epitome of the "veddy proper" British manservant and is famous for his knowledge and gift of solving every dilemna. His employer, Bertie Wooster, is charming, aristocratic, vaguely cowardly, and totally inept. He reminds me of Melrose Plant of the Richard Jury series. And the young Boy Scout, Edwin, cracked me up. As I read, I kept picturing the story being played out on PBS. I wonder if I will be disappointed when I finally get around to watching it. I will definitely pick up Wodehouse any time I need a quick giggle.
Rating: 3.75
Posted by Framed at 7:49 PM
11 comments:
GeraniumCat said...
Not sure about the context of "bung a spanner" here, but if you say someone has "bunged a spanner in the works" it means they have done the equivalent of throwing a large piece of unyielding metal in the working parts of an engine, thereby causing considerable disruption.
Senior Church of England clergymen used to wear gaiters - they were made of black cloth and buttoned to the knee (they wore breeches with them). So "all gas and gaiters" referred to the tendency to excessive wordiness of these individuals.
Any more? :)
10/26/2007 3:51 AM
Framed said...
Thanks, Geraniumcat. I checked the context and it was "bung a spanner in the works." Now it makes perfect sense. I couldn't find "gas and gaiters", but there were some characters in the book that definitely fit this description.
10/26/2007 7:57 AM
Cassie said...
Sounds interesting and I rarely come across funny books. Everyone is so serious these days. Is this a series? If not, then I may add it to my list.
10/26/2007 8:56 AM
Tristi Pinkston said...
I'm so glad you liked it, Framed!
10/26/2007 4:11 PM
Booklogged said...
Sounds good. I had the same problem with English slang when reading Spot of Bother. Unfortunately, I didn't mark any of the phrases. Bung a spanner in the works is a great phrase and one I could use often.
10/26/2007 9:11 PM
Candace Salima (LDS Nora Roberts) said...
Tristi is a great one for recommending books. Framed, if you ever want to review one of my books, let me know and I'll email you a copy.
10/28/2007 7:01 AM
gautami tripathy said...
I love Wodehouse any time. He was a prolific writer and there are lot many books to read.
I even own 6 of his rare books.
This I read long time back. I think I will read it again.
10/29/2007 7:45 AM
SuziQoregon said...
This sounds fun. I've never read any of Wodehouse's books. Maybe I can work one into the Decades Challenge for 2008.
10/29/2007 9:47 PM
Bookfool said...
I love, love, love Wodehouse. And, there are actually British slang books available. I've got a British English/American English dictionary and a couple of other books about the language differences (all of which have been helpful, although there's nothing like having an English friend to "translate").
You will soooo not be disappointed in the series. It's hilarious. Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry were perfect in the roles of Wooster and Jeeves. The only annoyance was that they changed some of the actors, from season to season. Madeleine (the woman who says goofy things like, "The stars are God's daisy chain") was played by three different actresses. Ugh. But, fortunately, Fry and Laurie were consistent as Jeeves and Wooster and they were the most important characters.
10/29/2007 10:06 PM
gautami tripathy said...
I received crow lake by mary lawson and finished reading too. I really like it. Thanks!
10/30/2007 10:17 AM
Framed said...
Cassie, it is a series but I think they can be enjoyed on an individual basis. This isn't the first in the series and I didn't feel like I missing something. Better yet, let's get the series and watch it together.
Tristi, thanks for the recommend.
Booklogged, can you say "bung a spanner in the works" with an British accent. I don't think it will work otherwise.
Candace, I would love to review one of your books. However, my computer is so slow that I would never try to download a book.
Gautami, Wow, you got the book so quickly. And read it already. I haven't even opened my copy yet. I'll be visting to read the review.
SusieQ, great choice for the Decades Challenge. Maybe I should add Jeeves to my Decades list.
Bookfool, I really want to watch the series. Sounds hilarious.
10/30/2007 4:28 PM
# posted by Framed @ 9:47 AM 
