Jerome Klapka Jerome (1859 - 1927), English author, known for his humorous essays."What readers ask nowadays in a book is that it should improve, i...
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Jul 01, 2011
Praj
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Monday afternoons are most favorable to practice the art of idling. The anxiety of a fresh work week prevails over the dormancy of deadlines and you are back on detoxification diet after a carb loaded Sunday. On one such afternoons amid my momentary sniffing of liquid black ink( the one that fills the belly of a fountain pen), I hear a deafening sound enough to crack the inner chords of my ears. As I look up from my sniffing activity, I observe a recognizable obnoxious face of a dear friend who
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Dec 13, 2011
Anastasia
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Ho deciso che Jerome Klapka Jerome è un figo, e chi non è della mia stessa opinione non capisce niente.
Naturalmente stavo scherzando. Almeno, sulla seconda parte. Sulla prima ero serissima, ma in fondo come fa a non essere figo uno che si chiama Jerome di nome e di cognome, ed ha come intervallo un cognome (o nome?) come Klapka. E soprattutto, come fa a non essere figo uno che fa una premessa del genere:
"Poiché un paio di amici, ai quali ho mostrato il manoscritto di que More...
Naturalmente stavo scherzando. Almeno, sulla seconda parte. Sulla prima ero serissima, ma in fondo come fa a non essere figo uno che si chiama Jerome di nome e di cognome, ed ha come intervallo un cognome (o nome?) come Klapka. E soprattutto, come fa a non essere figo uno che fa una premessa del genere:
"Poiché un paio di amici, ai quali ho mostrato il manoscritto di que More...
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Feb 11, 2012
Mohamed
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مقالات أكثر من رائعة تتميز بأسلوب هزلي ساخر ، الكتاب يعد وجبة خفيفة لفصل بين الكتب الثقيلة ، ستندهش عندما تعلم أن الكتاب من عام 1889 ومازال يلمس الكثير من المواضيع التي نعاني منها نحن الآن ، الكتاب يتكون من 14 مقال في مجالات مختلفة مثل الكأبة ، الإفلاس ، الوقوع في الحب ، الكسل وغيرها ، أكثر ما أعجبني الكأبة والوقوع في الحب ، الكتاب من ترجمة دكتور أحمد مستجير أي أنها ترجمة لا غبار عليها لكن إن كنت تستطيع قراءة النص الأصلي فأنصحك بذلك لأنه سيكون أكثر إضحاكا
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Jan 21, 2012
Jamie
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"I like idling when I ought not to be idling; not when it is the only thing I have to do."
I enjoyed this collection of essays on a variety of topics such as Being Hard Up, Being In Love, Being Shy, Dogs and Cats, and The Weather. Jerome's prose meanders; he's lyrical, sentimental and melancholy; but he is sometimes poignant and frequently hilarious.
One must either forgive the sexism of a man born in 1859 or suspect that he's joking when he assumes that the reade More...
I enjoyed this collection of essays on a variety of topics such as Being Hard Up, Being In Love, Being Shy, Dogs and Cats, and The Weather. Jerome's prose meanders; he's lyrical, sentimental and melancholy; but he is sometimes poignant and frequently hilarious.
One must either forgive the sexism of a man born in 1859 or suspect that he's joking when he assumes that the reade More...
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Jan 29, 2012
Maria
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The book's sarcastic tone is very entertaining and his insights are wonderful.
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Jun 12, 2011
Shaz
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This is one of the wittiest, most hilarious books I have read in quite a while. I was quite uncertain about picking up this book because the only humour or sarcasm that I really enjoy is written by Oscar Wilde. Previous experiences have taught me not to expect much LOL-inducing wittiness from other authors because they generally pale in comparison. But with The Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow, even before the book, the introduction caught me, hook, line and sinker.
"One or two More...
"One or two More...
3 comments
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Feb 04, 2011
Shannon
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I read and loved Jerome's "Three Men in a Boat," so I picked up this series of his essays on a variety of topics. Pub'd in 1886, before "Three Men in a Boat," it was the intro by the author that sold me:
"One or two friends to whom I showed these papers in MS having observed that they were not half bad, and some of my relations having promised to buy the book if it ever came out, I feel I have no right to longer delay its issue. But for this, as one may say, More...
"One or two friends to whom I showed these papers in MS having observed that they were not half bad, and some of my relations having promised to buy the book if it ever came out, I feel I have no right to longer delay its issue. But for this, as one may say, More...
Sep 28, 2011
George
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BIT OF A STODGY READ.
“Irreverence for the dreams of youth soon creeps like a killing frost upon our hearts.”—page 15
I expected more from ‘Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow,’ than Jerome K. Jerome seemed able to deliver. What, at fist, I took to be pithy phrases, worthy of quoting, on reread took on a patina of melancholy and maudlin. I expected a more humorous read.
The first essay, ‘On Being Idle’ and the last, ‘On Memory’ were by far the best, but were also heavi More...
“Irreverence for the dreams of youth soon creeps like a killing frost upon our hearts.”—page 15
I expected more from ‘Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow,’ than Jerome K. Jerome seemed able to deliver. What, at fist, I took to be pithy phrases, worthy of quoting, on reread took on a patina of melancholy and maudlin. I expected a more humorous read.
The first essay, ‘On Being Idle’ and the last, ‘On Memory’ were by far the best, but were also heavi More...
Mar 17, 2011
Durdles
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I listened to the LibriVox recording of this while jogging and the deadpan delivery by the reader of the biting satire and sparkling wit of JKJ was a perfect accompaniment to a 5 mile run. Although 100 years have elapsed since the thoughts were penned, the sentiments remain fresh.
Nov 16, 2011
Nancy
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Typical Jerome - very dry humor and while a little dated now still a very good and funny read. The author of the phrase "messing about in boats" which inspired not a few books and other quotes, his views on life and living are valid today.
Sep 26, 2011
M
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I read this expecting something lighthearted, entertaining and humorous like Jerome's Three Men in a Boat. Instead I found somewhat depressing musings and sexist commentary. There were a few good bits, but if you come into it expecting a sequel you will be disappointed.
Dec 10, 2010
William
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When Jerome is at his best (he is not always, but is often enough), he seems second only to Mark Twain in witty and poignant observations on humanity -- starting with himself and reaching out to society in general.
Jan 08, 2012
Mike
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A highly entertaining and insightful read. This book made me yearn for the days when people were able to use language in a beautiful way to communicate, with no fear of being thought of as prententious. I may take to wearing a billycock hat.
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Aug 13, 2010
Ange
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There is no story--essays. Very fun, but not to be consumed in one gulp. Part I thought the funniest:
Or you'd like to be quiet and think. Very well. Pussy can sit on the arm of the chair and purr, and Montmorency will curl himself up on the rug and blink at the fire, yet keeping one eye on you the while, in case you are seized with any sudden desire in the direction of rats.
Or you'd like to be quiet and think. Very well. Pussy can sit on the arm of the chair and purr, and Montmorency will curl himself up on the rug and blink at the fire, yet keeping one eye on you the while, in case you are seized with any sudden desire in the direction of rats.
Aug 22, 2009
Tosh
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Ah the roots of Tom Hodgkinson! This is a British writer I know too little about - and that should change. Jerome K. Jerome wrote this work sometime in the early 20th Century -and in ways it reminds me of British Mark Twain, but also it is obvious that he's the spiritual father to Hodgkinson's thoughts on the life of an idle man. His essay on dogs and cats is hysterical.
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Sep 24, 2009
Eric
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Writing humor is extraordinarily difficult, and Jerome is one of the best humorist ever. His essays continue to to be dryly funny after over a century. A true classic.
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Nov 20, 2011
For someone thought of as terribly bluff and British, it's strange how Jerome's almost stand-up thoughts on everyday life always tend to veer towards mystical, melancholy and lyrical conclusions on the bittersweet pleasures of a world where all things must pass.
May 20, 2010
Kelli-ann
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Some of the best satirical essays I have ever read. Full of random topics, wit and tangents. Some of which I felt could be relevant today.
Aug 05, 2011
very of its time, but a short enjoyable read with some words of wisdom that seem as true now as they did then.
Apr 08, 2011
Scott
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This book is funny and touching. The last essay gave me the chills it was so melancholy and perfect in its humor.
Jul 19, 2010
Judy
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Essays -- about almost every conceivable subject -- well thought and well written!
Mar 17, 2011
Bhan13
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I don't agree with everything he writes but this is a very entertaining book and he is very accurate about some aspects of human nature that are not much discussed.
Dec 17, 2009
Kay
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Meandering humorous essays on such themes as Love, Eating and Drinking, Cats and Dogs and other eternal questions. This is all diverting fluff, of course, but it's not so much what is said as how it's said, which is highly diverting, though I find it best consumed in small portions. It's rather like a rich dessert -- too much at one sitting produces an undesirable effect. Still, when you crave nonsense, there's nothing quite like Jerome K. Jerome for the confirmed anglophile and modern-day V
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Sep 16, 2010
Augustus
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this one is a tad more preachy than the boat-bummel books and Jerome has always been a mite patronizing of women -thing that really shows on this one- for him, women seem to be just foolish yet sweet children who must be humored, I still like him a LOT, maybe because I feel I'm really spying into the 19th century mind, not just through a novel but through the thoughts -however idle- of someone who actually lived.
Oct 27, 2008
Gloriavirtutisumbra
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This is hard to find, but available on Project Gutenburg if you absolutely cant get it anywhere else. Oh how I adore Mr. Jerome!! I came across this book first of all of his by complete accident and how very grateful I am to have discovered him! A turn of the last century humorist with a light heart and wry smile, he is an excellent choice when you want something completely different!
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Nov 18, 2010
Diva
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trivial, humorous and dead serious - a philosophical and funny account of "every one's " life. something you can read and think over in your idle hours,it is slow paced , but gets really near the heart. after a long time some book made me cry :) so, if you one who can appreciate good writing, this one is for you.
Nov 16, 2008
Alexandra
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Никога няма да забравя историята за немското легло. Тя е сред тези, при всяко препрочитане на които ме напушва неовладяем смях, въпреки че съм я чела толкова пъти, че би трябвало вече да съм претръпнала.
