Thank You, Jeeves (Bertie Wooster & Jeeves)

This review refers to the audio CD edition of "Thank You, Jeeves" by P.G. Wodehouse - Recorded Books,read by Alexander Spencer.This was the first "Jeeves" book that I read and had so much fun I have already picked up another in the series and can't wait to get to that one. "Thank You, Jeeves" is absolutely a laugh out-loud very clever situation comedy. Taking place in England in the early 20th century, a bachelor, Bertie Wooster, continually manages to get himself in sticky-wickets and depends on his faithful man Jeeves to come to the rescue by thinking up and pulling off some extreme measures - most often resulting in some hysterical situations- to save Bertie, usually from himself.In this one, Bertie has adventures and mis-adventures as he concocts plans that back-fire, while trying to unite his best friend with an old flame of his(Bertie's). He finds himself having to explain away situations that are not what they look like, as the girl, among other places, winds up in Bertie's bedroom. And oh, she has a wealthy father and stern as well that is also always misinterpting Bertie's intentions. Bertie has some narrow escapes, but also is found in some strange - very strange - circumstances, leading people to believe he may be becoming the town drunk. Jeeve's though, is the man with the plan. Always calm and collected and seems to know everything that is going on around him.All the characters are funny and delightful, most of the situations will have you laughing out loud. There are however a few that just don't carry over well through time. Some, although quite in keeping with the times and setting of the novel, made me cringe. Certain refrences to a minstril group, and a black-face episode that scared palour maids into screaming and running for their lives, can be quite offensive. I'm sure at the time it was written, it was all meant in playful fun. It is a big part of the story though; if not for that I would have gone 5 stars, and I would still recommend it, just keeping in mind the time it was written.(Kind of like watching on old classic movie with similiar situations - it's still an excellent classic.)The reading by Alexander Spencer was marvelous. I could picture all the characters(I saw Bertie as a Rupert Everett type character), and I knew just who was talking. He wonderfully gives the inflections and tone of this comedy of errors in each character and situation.A very nice CD book - everything was clear, and it changes tracks about every 3 minutes, so if you have to go back to something you missed, it's easy. There are 6 discs, making for a a very entertaining read on a long trip.Happy Trails.....Laurie

Wodehouse makes me laugh out loud. Classic British humor. Must read in todays stuffy world. A bit non-PC so don’t read it with a chip. Remember it was written in a different time. Just enjoy the goofy aristocrat.

Far more use of the N-word than you'd expect, and if you expect any, what book do you think you're reading?I love Wodehouse, I love Jeeves & Wooster in particular, and the whole time reading this book I was wondering how to write this review to say, "Hey, head's up."The basics of the book itself: Bertie has an affectation that Jeeves disapproves of, the course of true love has been stopped in its tracks putting Bertie at risk of matrimony, and the situation requires Jeeves' unique intellect to set true love aright, save Bertie from spousehood, and only at the expense of Bertie's dignity and name. In other words, it's a Jeeves and Wooster story, but the first Jeeves and Wooster novel. So the formula isn't wholly hammered out and the energy and madcap zaniness of the later works isn't present. I mean, the thing annoying Jeeves isn't even removed by Jeeves plan; that just happens on its own.But the racism. Or I'm sure some would object to me calling it racism. "Consider the context of when it was written. They just used that kind of language." Fine, but let's consider the context of when it's read. Wodehouse is light, diverting fluff, and the most excellent kind. Seeing our hero Bertie and his close friend use the n-word repeatedly in chapter 2 (so we're talking right from the jump and then throughout), and then to see Jeeves using the more polite n-word, and to then have a character use it with sauce and vitriol (Jeeves and Wooster at least use the terms exclusively as adjectives), and then to have it keep recurring once you think that surely, surely they're done with it, well, you'll understand if I didn't find the fluff so diverting.And then Bertie puts on blackface halfway through the book.And is just in it for the rest of the novel.And then another character is also in blackface.It's more than a little central to the plot and it's more than a bit much.Even without the race stuff, this is not Wodehouse at his best. The best Jeeves stories have sundry characters with overlapping problems that become a horrible, seemingly insoluble tangle that Jeeves sets aright by pulling one small string. Along the way you get delightful witticisms related through the amiable idiocy of one Bertram Wooster. This book isn't there yet; it's not up to snuff. And then you have these characters you're supposed to like just casually tossing around the N-word.Fortunately there's no shortage of Wodehouse out there and plenty other Jeeves and Wooster tales. Except for the completists, give this one a miss. Oh, and if you think I'm being too PC or whatever. With everything I've just said about the book,would you recommend it to your black friend?

I still cant get over how timeless the writing is. The character of Bertie is an absolute treasure. About to hit buy in one click on the next one

I can never read Jeeves without thinking of Stephen Fry in the role. This is the usual mess that somehow Jeeves makes right in the end for everyone. With too many twists and turns of outrageous fortune to go into along the way. Brilliant.

Bertie Wooster has taken up the banjolele in earnest and Jeeves has quit because he can't stand the racket.There are two episodes of white characters donning blackface and being mistaken for each other and being mistaken for actual African-American minstrels from a visiting troupe. One's appearance even causes a maid to faint. There is also some use of the n-word. These aren't really isolated instances that can be skipped or ignored--although Bertie Wooster is always good-natured and a friend to all, the fact that this wealthy young gentleman has taken up the banjolele, which really drives the plot, is itself meant to be a joke given the perceived unsuitability of this instrument for someone of Bertie's race and class.While was interesting to consider the casual racism of the 1920s in reading this book, these jokes are not humorous to the modern reader and will be upsetting to many. Not PG Wodehouse at his finest.

A full length Jeeves novel is a treat worth reading and coming back to, for Wodehouse will always be "the Master".

I am slowly wading my way through the J&W books and thoroughly enjoying every one. This is right up there among the best with an engaging story from start to finish. I shared Bertie's agony when he was deprived of his breakfast time and again while at the same time wondering why he didn't just snaffle a kipper, whack it on a piece of toast and munch it while hiding behind the desk.It was a masterpiece of understated writing the way that Jeeves finally came up with the clinching plan at the end to wrap things up just how they should be. My only disappointment was that the author sometimes skips over whole scenes in the play. For instance we went from Bertie saying "Lead me away Jeeves" (or something like that!) to him finally sitting down to his long awaited brekkies. I would have loved to have read the description of what happened in between, instead of it just being a given what happened with the policeman and Sir Roderick..A minor criticism though, hardly worthy of even being there at all.

I'd read most of the Jeeves and Wooster short stories before purchasing this book, it being my first full leangth novel of the series. I'd heard it praised to the skies - and it did not dissapoint one bit.We all know how completely awesome and brilliant and perfect and FUNNY both Wodehouse's style of writing and his most beloved characters, Bertie and his man, Jeeves, are, but what took me by surprised when reading 'Thank you, Jeeves' was how beautiful Bertie and Jeeves's relationshio actually is. I felt all warm and fussy inside at the night time scene where Jeeves cannot help but LAUGH (of all things Jeeves could do!) at his young master. It was adorable! The whole idea of Bertie loosing Jeeves at the beginning, and the two of them sort crossing paths all through the book is just wonderful - they make THE cutest companions ever!Once inside the world of 'Thank you, Jeeves', believe me, you'll never want to leave. I envy you who's reading this right now, because that means you haven't read this book yet.

Entertaining story but it reflects the attitudes of its time so beware if you are offended by racist terms.