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?

  • GraniteGeekNH@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    Probably not worth your time - his works are all very similar in terms of tone and over-the-top writing.

    You might try watching one of the Fry & Laurie adaptations of the Jeeves stories. Laurie’s depiction of Bertie is brilliant.

    • blank_isainmdom@alien.topB
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      1 year ago

      When I started reading Wodehouse I remember struggling a bit to find the humour, and so i watched an episode or two of this and then the tone of the writing became clear. I’ve read maybe 16 of his books now. Love him!