The hopeful readers group discussion

Nothing like P.G. Wodehouse for some sweetness and light. And a good laugh.

We haven't decided on which of the books (all? Only our favorites? Only the full-length novels amd not the short stories?) or when at the moment :)

For those unfamiliar with P.G. Wodehouse and his superior characters see the full list of Jeeves books.

I'd be quite happy to do a full series read through from beginning to end (including all the shorts as I'm a bit of an OCD completest) The series starts with an anthology of shorts in My Man Jeeves, which is a good introduction to the characters.

Sounds good to me. Now all we have to decide is when :D
I would like to finish two of my other books first, so maybe this weekend or next week?

Next week would be good for me as finishing a few monthly challenges this weekend

Ok then. Next week it is!

I have the audiobooks but I am thinking about purchasing the kindle.

Not good at BRs so please be patient with me, but I will join you.

No worries Gio, happy to wait on you being ready xxx

Wealie wrote: "No worries Gio, happy to wait on you being ready xxx"

Hugs!!

Ok, I think I have gathered all the Jeeves books. Can't wait.!!

Agreed, we are happy to have you join us :)

Just to check. Does everyone's edition of My Man Jeeves contain the stories

Leave it to Jeeves
Jeeves and the unbidden guest
Jeeves and the hard-boiled egg
Absent treatment
Helping Freddie
Rallying round old George
Doing Clarence a bit of good
The aunt and the sluggard

@Andrea

Yes. I have them all. Thanks for checking. =))

When do we want to start?

Wednesday?

Fine by me :)

So. I had to start. I'm reading the totally hyped The Priory of the Orange Tree, and it's so bland that I need sth fun. Sorry guys. I'll wait for you to catch up, but I NEED Wodehouse right now 🤣
Anyway. So my thoughts on Leave it to Jeeves and Jeeves and the unbidden guest:
(view spoiler)[I love that both of them were woven into the plot of the TV show. When I read Corky's name in the first story, I couldn't help smile, because I love the story on the show (especially how the boys get Aunt Agatha to be a patron ^^). But I feel like I like the story more there, because it's longer and more fleshed out. They're a great introduction to the wonder that is Jeeves, but I like the full-length novels more, when the wit and zany characters get more time to shine. The same is true for the second story. I loved Motty on the show, he was so hilarious. I love his line "all my life I have been cooped up in the ancestral home in Much Middlefold, in Shropshire, and until you've been cooped up in Much Middlefold you don't don't know what cooping is!" I loved the way Jeeves had him arrested, because he just couldn't tolerate him anymore 🤣 (hide spoiler)]
Btw, a question about Gussie. In the second story, Bertie says Gussie married a girl on the music hall stage. But I seem to remember Gussie marrying Emerald Stoker? I think there was a plot somewhere with her being a cook, and that he was in love with her? Or is that just the TV show? Cause I know that's how Gussie's story ended there. Do either of you remember?
Anyway. About to start Jeeves and the hard-boiled egg. I remember the Duke of Chiswick fondly from the TV show. He was fun!

I want a Jeeves. Not as a servant but as an adviser. He is the perfect sidekick. LOL

I have to say I am happy I listened to the audible version first before reading as Stephan Fry's voice for Jeeves is now and forever in my head. Deep throat slow cadence...makes me smile.

I cannot get enough of the "Rummy's and What Hoe's" 40s slang.

Reading it is eye-opening to the characterization. P.G. is so clever with the way he describes people.

(view spoiler)["One of the rummy things about Jeeves is that, unless you watch like a hawk, you very seldom see him come into a room. He’s like one of those weird chappies in India who dissolve themselves into thin air and nip through space in a sort of disembodied way and assemble the parts again just where they want them." (hide spoiler)]

Cracks me up the continuing story of Jeeves telling him what to wear.

Not sure about the show vs the books.


Middlefold in Shropshire line was hilarious.

I always love the fight about the mustache. I love Stephen Fry's expression when Hugh Laurie walks in with a mustache :D

Andrea wrote: "I always love the fight about the mustache. I love Stephen Fry's expression when Hugh Laurie walks in with a mustache :D"

I need to watch this after we are finished. =))

So, are you two reading it at the moment?

I had to google the collection when I came to "Absent Treatment". I completely forgot there are stories that don't feature Bertie and Jeeves. Apparently, Reggie was the prototype which later became Bertie. Some storyline were apparently later rewritten with Bertie and Jeeves. I can see the similarities between the two, but I have to say I prefer Bertie as a narrator. His voice is just more distinct and fun for me. Thoughts?

Andrea wrote: "So, are you two reading it at the moment?

I had to google the collection when I came to "Absent Treatment". I completely forgot there are stories that don't feature Bertie and Jeeves. Apparently,..."

I agree,

I had to check to see that I purchased the right ones.
Although I enjoyed the stories they do not have the vivid, quirkiness that comes with Bertie.

P.G. is hilarious the way he describes women. You can tell he adores them at the same time they perplex him.

(view spoiler)["Elizabeth, mind you, is one of those tall, splendid girls who look like princesses. Honestly, I believe women do it out of pure cussedness."(view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

🤣 that is hilarious. I never thought about that. But it seems to be true for all women who are not in the Madeline Basset camp 🤣

And are you saying you haven't. Watched. The. Show????

Which story are you reading at the moment?

Andrea wrote: "🤣 that is hilarious. I never thought about that. But it seems to be true for all women who are not in the Madeline Basset camp 🤣

And are you saying you haven't. Watched. The. Show????"

I haven't watched the show. *sorry* :(

Andrea wrote: "Which story are you reading at the moment?"

Doing Clarence A Bit Of Good.

FRIENDSHIP OVER!!!!!!!

Just kidding 🤣 the whole thing is still up on YouTube. Want me to send you the link again?

Oh good, than we're on the same chapter 🤣

Andrea wrote: "FRIENDSHIP OVER!!!!!!!

Just kidding 🤣 the whole thing is still up on YouTube. Want me to send you the link again?

Oh good, than we're on the same chapter 🤣"

Tehehehe!! =))

No, I can get the link. Thanks though...

It seems as though all of Bertie's friend have a leisurely life.

The Aunt And The Sluggard.
All my sympathy goes to Rocky. lol

Gio wrote: "It seems as though all of Bertie's friend have a leisurely life."

There's a story somewhere about one of his friends who once almost had a job. But the strain was too much for the poor thing 🤣 wait until you meet Bertie's aunts. They have some nice ways of describing him 🤣🤣

Ah yes. Rocky. It's so cute, on the show, Jeeves has a little breakdown when he hears he never takes off his PJs 🤣

So, I finished Rocky's story. I'm glad it's exactly like on the show, where he's really sweet in his hatred of the big city. Bertie at some point visits him in his cottage on the show, and is driven completely crazy by the silence. It's hilarious 🤣

So, when you're finished, do you want to move on directly to The Inimitable Jeeves?

Andrea wrote: "Gio wrote: "It seems as though all of Bertie's friend have a leisurely life."

There's a story somewhere about one of his friends who once almost had a job. But the strain was too much for the poor..."

We have all turned into Rocky. LOL

Andrea wrote: "So, I finished Rocky's story. I'm glad it's exactly like on the show, where he's really sweet in his hatred of the big city. Bertie at some point visits him in his cottage on the show, and is drive..."

I am finished. I would love to have you tell me which one to read. I find it is easier.

Andrea wrote: "So, I finished Rocky's story. I'm glad it's exactly like on the show, where he's really sweet in his hatred of the big city. Bertie at some point visits him in his cottage on the show, and is drive..."

I found it for 99 cents. Ready when you are...

🤣 true. We are all like Rocky now. You really need to see Stephen Fry's reaction to that statement 🤣

Let's just read them in the order GR puts them if you can find them all?

https://www.goodreads.com/series/5264...

I have them all except 11.5 and 13.5

Gio wrote: "Found it for 99 cents. Ready when you are..."

Ready. The next one introduces Bingo Little. He's hilarious. Always falling in love... you'll see

Andrea do you follow Stephen Fry on Twitter?
I would love to be in his house during Covid19 as he is a baking machine. lol.

I don't have a Twitter account. Really? A baker? Interesting :D I don't have enough flour to bake anything, and for some bizarre reason flour was sold out everywhere right after TP and pasta…. Which is good, because otherwise I'd end up like that and just bake and bake. And eat. And eat… A vicious cycle :D:D:D

I finished the first two "chapters" or stories, or whatever you want to call them :D

I adore Bingo! (view spoiler)[Wait till you see Jeeves react to the tie with the little horseshoes on it :D Precious!
I also love how Jeeves got himself out of the "understanding" with the cook :D Priceless. To come up with the Rosie M Banks scheme just so the cook would marry someone else… He really is a wonder :D (hide spoiler)]

You will also finally meet Aunt Agatha in the third story!!!
(view spoiler)[But have you ever noticed a rummy thing about life? I mean the way something always comes along to give it you in the neck at the very moment when you're feeling most braced about things in general … The curse has come upon us, Jeeves. She wants me to come and join her.
The Hemingways are also HILARIOUS on the show. And so is Aunt Agatha. She is really formidable. You'll see :D (hide spoiler)]

Andrea wrote: "I don't have a Twitter account. Really? A baker? Interesting :D I don't have enough flour to bake anything, and for some bizarre reason flour was sold out everywhere right after TP and pasta…. Whic..."

Yup, it is going to be interesting to see how we all look after this...

I forgot to mention how I was LMBO when (view spoiler)[Bertie had to move out of his house. His morose attitude cracked me up. I had to share it with my husband. (hide spoiler)]

🤣 yes! The indignity of having to tie his own tie 🤣 poor baby.

So I read until chapter 7. I love how Bingo is always falling in love 🤣

You will also meet Honoria Glossop. "The effect she had on me whenever she appeared was to make me want to slide into a cellar and lie low till they blew the All-Clear" 🤣

I love how Aunt Agatha is so determined to get him married off to someone. "She will mould you!" On the show, his response becomes "But I don't want to be molded, I am not a jelly!" To which Aunt Agatha replies in her haughty tone "That is a matter of opinion." 🤣

I made it to chapter 4. Bingo is a great manipulator.

His insults are hilarious. Just because Bertie doesn't like the name Mabel...

(view spoiler)["Of course, you wouldn't. You always were a fat-headed worm without any soul, weren't you?" I had to read that to my husband. (hide spoiler)]

Lol. Yeah, the man had some really good insults. Wait until you meet Aunt Dahlia (she's my favorite aunt), she says the sweetest things to Bertie :D:D:D Here are some of my favorite ones:

Am taking legal advice to ascertain whether strangling an idiot nephew counts as murder.
Stay where you are, then, and I hope you get run over by an omnibus.

"I was trying to think who you reminded me if. Somebody who went about strewing ruin and desolation and breaking up homes which, until he came along, had been happy and peaceful. Attila is the man. It's amazing," she said, drinking me in once more. "To look at you, one would think you were just an ordinary sort of amiable idiot - certifiable, perhaps, but quite harmless. Yet, in reality, you are a worse scourge than the Black Death. I tell you, Bertie, when I contemplate you I seem to come up against all the underlying sorrow and horror of life with such a thud that I feel as if I had walked into a lamp post."

"I wonder if you would mind doing something for me." "Give it a name." "It won't take you long. You know that path that runs past the greenhouses into the kitchen garden. If you go along it you come to a pond." "That's right." "Well, will you get a good, stout piece of rope or cord and go down that path till you come to the pond-" "To the pond. Right." "-and look about you till you find a nice, heavy stone. Or a fairly large brick would do." "I see," I said, though I didn't, being still fogged. "Stone or brick. Yes. And then?" "Then," said the relative, "I want you, like a good boy, to fasten the rope to the brick and tie it round your damned neck and jump into the pond and drown yourself. In a few days I will send and have you fished up and buried because I shall need to dance on your grave."

Andrea wrote: "Lol. Yeah, the man had some really good insults. Wait until you meet Aunt Dahlia (she's my favorite aunt), she says the sweetest things to Bertie :D:D:D Here are some of my favorite ones:

Am takin..."

I wish I could be as indifferent as Bertie. He takes a lot of criticism and shrugs it off.

OMG! (view spoiler)[ Honoria and Agatha want to get rid of Jeeves.

I can't wait to see how this ends. lol (hide spoiler)]

Gio wrote: "I can't wait to see how this ends. lol"

🤣🤣🤣 you'll see.

I forgot how much I loved the books. I usually just watch the show when I miss Jeeves and Bertie. I should read these more often...