14 of 15: “The Catnappers” by P.G. Wodehouse
Inspired by two of my fellow travelers on the 15/15/15 challenge, Farheen and Jessica, I took a Wodehouse book, The Catnappers, off the shelf. I’ve watched the Jeeves and Wooster series, but never yet read the stories or books. It was past time. I chose The Catnappers, which my friend Queenie lent me ages ago, because it was the shortest one I had. This was the last Jeeves and Wooster book, so I worried I’d miss something, but continuity is not important.
“Jeeves,” I said at the breakfast table, “I’ve got spots on my chest.”
“Indeed, sir?”
“Pink.”
“Indeed, sir?”
I don’t like them.”
“A very understandable prejudice, sir. Might I inquire if they itch?”
“Sort of.”
“I would not advocate scratching them.”
“I disagree with you. You have to take a firm line with spots.”
A doctor tells Bertie to rest in the country. He retreats to the village of Maiden Eggesford, but finds anything but peace. Lovers are torn apart, then brought together. Mistakes happen, and are compounded upon. Bertie is gallant but dim. Jeeves is unflappable and clever. Aunt Dahlia is imperious. Other people are odd and crazy.
This was a very cheering read, especially given the dark nature of some of my more recent books. I’ll have to remember that for the next time I’m feeling blue; Jeeves and Wooster would be great antidotes.
April 30th, 2010 at 3:41 am
Jeeves is brilliant, isn’t he? I’m glad you enjoyed the book!
http://beanbagtales.blogspot.com/2010/04/book-14-brave-new-world.html
April 30th, 2010 at 5:33 am
14 of 15 … Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. I celebrated day 14 and “Poem in Your Pocket Day” with this funny little volume. I don’t like cats, but this was a great read-aloud with the boys.
http://alwayschasingboys.blogspot.com/2010/04/i-carried-it-in-my-pocket.html
Do you know what you are reading today? Does it have some special meaning? Or is it just a book so you can finally be done? I have my book picked out … and I put a little thought into it. I can’t wait.
April 30th, 2010 at 6:20 am
I’ve never read any Wodehouse. Big gap in my reading history.
I tried to fill another gap with book 14, A Short History of Myth: http://www.newcenturyreading.com/2010/04/the-151515-projectday-14.html
With only 20 pages left in book 15, I’m cautiously optimistic that I’m going to finish this challenge on time!
April 30th, 2010 at 7:25 am
I love Jeeves and Wooster. This reminds me I should keep a look out for them at used bookstores to have around as cheery antidotes.
April 30th, 2010 at 7:49 am
My update is embedded in today’s “On the nightstand” entry:
http://mentalmultivitamin.blogspot.com/2010/04/on-nightstand.html
Love Wodehouse. Have you read Stephen Fry’s article on the author?
http://www.pgwodehousebooks.com/fry.htm
MFS
April 30th, 2010 at 6:31 pm
I finished Aristotle! I admit, I read him in the gaps of the previous 13 books, because there was no way I was finishing him all in one day:
http://churchyear.blogspot.com/2010/04/book-14-of-15-nicomachean-ethics-by.html
I’m glad you enjoyed Wodehouse! I like your comment about him being cheering in the midst of your darker reads. I remember reading an article on Wodehouse once where the author argued that Wodehouse’s critics (who dismiss him as trivial) should look at his laughing literature as a wartime effort that kept spirits high during a very dark time in England. I don’t remember the rest of the context, but it struck me that it might be true that writing so brightly (and so well) during a war might have been very hard indeed.
April 30th, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Ooh, okay, I just went and read the Fry essay that Mental Multivitamin linked to . . . Fry says about the same thing in the end, about what Wodehouse is good for. I love that last paragraph; it’s excellent.
May 1st, 2010 at 10:29 pm
Love Wodehouse. Bertie and Jeeves are a great antidote to the blues. I didn’t quite make it through 15. But I did read about 10 books in the 15 days, so I’m saying I did OK.
May 2nd, 2010 at 8:11 am
Sherry & Tulip, you did great! No apologies!