I’ve only read one of his books, but it was one widely regarded to be his “funniest” (The Code of the Woosters.) I wouldn’t call it a slog, but it didn’t exactly fly by. Most of my favorite books are comic novels, and it’s not like I can’t laugh at more benign comedy (I love Charles Portis), but Wodehouse’s brand of kooky similes left me almost completely stone-faced. I see people quote “convulsed like a Pekingese taking a pill” and other lines like it as if they were the most hilarious creations to ever be conjured by the human mind, and maybe they are. But I never laughed, I barely even smirked if I’m being honest.

With a lot of authors, I would just assume one particular book didn’t click with me. But Wodehouse, from what I understand, wrote almost 100 books that are more or less functionally the same. Maybe it was a mistake starting with a novel instead of his short stories, although the Psmith books seem the most interesting to me.

Is it worth bothering with any more of his books, though?

  • skybluepink77@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    Humour is in the eye - and mind - of the reader, so if PG doesn’t make you laugh, another writer will.

    I like his humour, but even at its funniest, it’s never a ‘lol’ thing, more of a smile.

    If that Wooster book didn’t work for you, PG is not your jam , don’t sweat it. Plenty of comic stuff out there!