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50th out of 74 books
—
10 voters
Big Money
Berry Conway and his old school friend Lord Bickerton, otherwise known as Biscuit, are out to make money-big money. An opportunity presents itself when T. Paterson Frisby, for whom Berry works as a secretary, is looking for a chaperon for his American niece, Ann Moon. Berry knows that Biscuit has an Aunt Vera who will be ideal for the job, and he and Biscuit set it up, hop...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
September 3rd 1991
by Penguin Books
(first published 1931)
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Berry Conway falls in love at first sight with a girl named Ann Moon. Too bad she's already engaged to his best friend, "Biscuit" Biskerton. Fortunately, Biskerton is also engaged to a girl named Kitchie Valentine. Throw in a subplot about a penniless noble and a copper mine that may or may not be worthless and watch things come together...
For me, a P.G. Wodehouse novel is like a drive down a familiar road to a well-loved destination. You already know the way but that doesn't make it any less en...more
For me, a P.G. Wodehouse novel is like a drive down a familiar road to a well-loved destination. You already know the way but that doesn't make it any less en...more
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I chanced upon a piece the other week which said, and I paraphrase here, that if you read one of Wodehouse’s major series – Jeeves or Blandings – then you’re pretty much guaranteed pleasure, but if you wander off the beaten track you’re taking your life into your own hands. I’m not sure I’d agree. My experience has been that, in the main, no matter which Wodehouse you pick up you are more than likely to have a pip and a dandy in your hands.
This one has impoverished members of the aristocracy, un...more
This one has impoverished members of the aristocracy, un...more
To try and explain the plot of this book would make it sound complicated and unfunny, neither of which is really true, but I couldn't do it justice. Let's just say that it has one or more of the following elements: the peerage, the suburbs, fiancés, love at first sight, formidable aunts, an old copper mine and a dyspeptic millionaire.
I really enjoyed this book. It's got a different tone to the Jeeves books, but it really came together for me. The protagonists, Lord "Biscuit" Biskerton and John B...more
I really enjoyed this book. It's got a different tone to the Jeeves books, but it really came together for me. The protagonists, Lord "Biscuit" Biskerton and John B...more
There's a weird timelessness and sense of deja vu in a Wodehouse novel. Basically all the books have the same plot, a couple of men love a couple of women, there are angry and difficult relatives, the women are, at points, paired with the "wrong men," and, after a series of ups and downs, everything works out. Even knowing that going in, there's a lot of charm and often wit that drives the reader's experience..
I think this one went on a little too long and was not funny in stretches, but was oth...more
I think this one went on a little too long and was not funny in stretches, but was oth...more
In Adjacent houses in Wodehouse’s suburban ideal Valley Field, Berry Conway and Lord Biskerton are residing. Berry is in love with Ann Moon whom is engaged to Lord Biskerton who in turn is in love with Ann’s friend whom also lives in Valley Field. Berry is currently employed by Lord Biskerton’s uncle T. Patterson Frisby whom is keen for the Biscuit to marry the very wealthy Miss Moon but equally keen to prize Berry’s shares in the Dream Come True cooper mine away from him before he realises thei...more
A fun book to read. Two old-school boys, "Biscuit" Biskerton and Berry Conway, both penniless but hopeful, connive to make money by unloading a dud of a copper mine, called The Dream Come True. Along the way, they fall in love, get engaged (of course) and unengaged (bound to happen), confuse a lot of people, and generally run rampage through the story. Suffice it to say that things work out well in the end. I prefer the stories with Wooster and Jeeves, but there's still a lot to like in this sto...more
Anything from Wodehouse's prime (roughly 1924-1939) is worth reading: no matter what the story, he could hardly stop himself from constructing phrases that turn so adroitly and unexpectedly that one often weeps while choking with laughter. This romantic comedy is no exception. It has a few too many characters and too predictable a plot to make it one of the very best, but it will still make any fan refrain from drinking milk while reading lest the bovine essence exit through the nares.
Wodehouse tangles with the corporate scene in this nicely paced book about an impecunious lord, his cash-strapped son and friend, and some evil corporate types. Much of the action is centred on the dreaded suburbs of London (Valley Fields in particular), with a number of first class bits covering the landed gentry's confusion at how to cope with suburban life. The fight scene towards the end of the book is a cracker.
Just starting to get into P.G. Wodehouse with this book. Though I haven't finished it yet, I am enjoying the stylization of the characters - each is the extreme version of themselves, and this makes for a fun read. I'm sensing some class-based satire, but I haven't read enough or know enough about the author to yet totally understand his viewpoint. It is, however, a very funny, satisfying read so far.
This seemed to plod rather, compared to other Wodehousian stories: rather tame, I thought. Usually any new Wodehouse will charm me, even if all or most of the themes have been encountered in others of his books, but this one didn't quite gel with me. Good enough, but not outstanding.
I saw two guys on a tube and one was reading an extract of this to the other and they were both howling with laughter. I bought it and became the bloke howling with laughter on a train. Want to laugh out loud in public? Read this book.
Though I'm partial to the Jeeves and Wooster and the Blandings Castle books, I occasionally venture out into the other realms of the Master's ouvre. And my venture into Big Money was fruitful. What a wonderful read.
Amusing as ever. The 'Biscuit' is a wonderful portrayal of a shambling upper class gent - the persona Boris Johnson would like to be perceived as - with no money and even less prospects of marrying it.
Nov 02, 2009
Ivelina Atanasova
added it
This book is the strangest sensation. If feels as if you are looking into the icy blue and all-seeing, all-knowing eye of a prehistoric creature that has awoken from its sleep but remains calm and cool—and into the very depths of ongoing battles full with laughter and unexpected outcomes. I loved it. I love most of Woodhouse's works!
Not Wodehouse's best, but certainly has moments. I felt that the characters were less interesting then in many other Wodehouse novels, the the plot seemed a bit meandering.
Big Money is a stand alone novel and not part of a series. As the title suggests, the story is about money and a couple of fellows who are old school chums. There are also girls, romance, engagements, copper mines. Oh, and a gun. A good plot to follow with a sprinkling of humour that is Wodehouse.
Completely charming, this is modern chic-lit in its earliest beginnings (80 yrs ago), and written by a man. I attempted another Wodehouse on audio, and that didn't take at all; I definitely prefer the printed word for his writing.
Much the same themes as many others but different set of characters. Mildly amusing here and there but a bit "ordinary"
Its a sin, sacrilege for a book lover not to have read PGW.
My first book of PGW was "Do Butlers Burgle Banks?". My wife strictly sent me out of the house not able to stop my convulsive laughter while reading the book at unearthly hours of the night.
What a simple plot it would seem until you hand it over to Mr. PGW to bring in some much needed twists and turns to the plot that would even make the sternest of faces to chuckle.
Two guys, one girl, two engagements, money to be made ... do I need to s...more
My first book of PGW was "Do Butlers Burgle Banks?". My wife strictly sent me out of the house not able to stop my convulsive laughter while reading the book at unearthly hours of the night.
What a simple plot it would seem until you hand it over to Mr. PGW to bring in some much needed twists and turns to the plot that would even make the sternest of faces to chuckle.
Two guys, one girl, two engagements, money to be made ... do I need to s...more
Hilarious. Not his best, but still funny.
Fantastic. Wodehouse tells the story like only he can - so many twists and turns. Loved it.
Hilarious, as always. You can't NOT enjoy a book whose lead character is called 'the Biscuit'. The wonderful world of Wodehouse never fails to bring cheer... :)
Wodehouse once described these books as a sort of "musical comedy without the music". None of his recurring characters showed up in this one, but it's still delightful.
My 1st PG Wodehouse, delightful humour and a thoroughly enjoyable read.
An entertaining read that was good for a few laughs.
Wodehouse never gets less than four stars.
A great anecdote to Wolf Hall! I always love the joy of immersing myself in Wodehouse's world now and again.
A very pleasant, essentially romantic, novel about some toffs, their money and love worries written in Wodehouse's gentlemanly whimsy manner. Lot's of 'golly!'s and 'bally-good old boy' and that sort of stuff. Charming, a nice read if not a literary masterpiece.
I adore Plum and the silly little antics he plays with the English language. And his plots are such that I know everything will end up working itself out for the best, but with just enough complications that I still find much pleasure in following the progression.
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Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, KBE, was a comic writer who enjoyed enormous popular success during a career of more than seventy years and continues to be widely read over 30 years after his death. Despite the political and social upheavals that occurred during his life, much of which was spent in France and the United States, Wodehouse's main canvas remained that of prewar English upper-class so...more
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