Dan Schwent's Reviews > Right Ho, Jeeves

Right Ho, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse

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870755
's review
Feb 04, 12

bookshelves: wodehouse, plan-on-rereading-one-day, 2012
Read from January 23 to February 03, 2012

The 2012 re-read
Gussie Fink-Nottle is in love with Madeline Bassett but can't seem to talk to her. Madeline Bassett is in love with Gussie Fink-Nottle but thinks Bertie Wooster wants to marry her. Bertie's cousin Angela was engaged to Tuppy Glossop but they had a bust-up over whether or not Angela saw a shark. Can Jeeves put them all back together? He might have been able to, had he and Bertie not had a falling out over Bertie's white mess jacket...

First off, this review will hardly be unbiased. My love for P.G. Wodehouse is such that if the zombie apocalypse occured and Wodehouse came staggering toward me with a lust for brains, I would be completely unwilling to shoot him.

The second full-length Jeeves and Wooster novel is a big improvement over the first. The writing is crisper, the similes even more hilarious, and Jeeves and Wooster function like a well-oiled machine. Once again, the rift between Jeeves and Wooster was used as a plot device, more effectively than in Thank You, Jeeves.

As usual, quotable lines are in abundance. As usual, I did not write any of them down while I was reading.
"Lack of appetite? I'm as hollow as the Grand Canyon!"
"The exquisite code of politeness of the Woosters prevented me clipping her one on the ear-hole."

The strength of the Jeeves and Wooster books is that Bertie is a bit of a fathead, and he performs the role admirably in Right ho, Jeeves. Bertie thinking he could be as good as Jeeves at solving problems? Pshaw, I say! Once things are suitably muddled, Jeeves saves the day, as he always does. I do not consider the previous sentence a spoiler since it happens in every Jeeves book.

Funny moments abound, many of them centering on a drunken Gussie Fink-Nottle. Aunt Dahlia is in fine form. Tuppy, Angela, and Madeline Bassett were negligible but still had their moments.

Right Ho, Jeeves, the second Jeeves and Wooster novel, is a much better read than the first. Wodehouse is the master of the bumbling romantic comedy. Four easy stars.

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Comments (showing 1-21 of 21) (21 new)

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Nandakishore Varma IMO, the funniest Jeeves book: Gussie Fink-Nottle distributing the prizes.


message 2: by Dan (new) - rated it 4 stars

Dan Schwent Nandakishore wrote: "IMO, the funniest Jeeves book: Gussie Fink-Nottle distributing the prizes."

Gussie's one of my favorites of Wodehouse's supporting cast. I'm planning on starting the re-read February 1 with the Wodehouse group.


message 3: by Richard (new)

Richard Which one of Bertie's fiancees was it who called the stars "God's daisy chain?" She was a fright.

Loved the review. Now I'm Jeevesing for some Wodehouse.


message 4: by Dan (new) - rated it 4 stars

Dan Schwent Richard wrote: "Which one of Bertie's fiancees was it who called the stars "God's daisy chain?" She was a fright.

Loved the review. Now I'm Jeevesing for some Wodehouse."


That would be Madeline Bassett. Bertie mentioned that incident in the beginning of this book.

Love the phrase "Jeevesing for some Wodehouse.


Nandakishore Varma Poor Bertie. He was one character whom Wodehouse could not find a suitable match for. Even Freddie Widgeon got married.


message 6: by Dan (new) - rated it 4 stars

Dan Schwent Nandakishore wrote: "Poor Bertie. He was one character whom Wodehouse could not find a suitable match for. Even Freddie Widgeon got married."

There's a Jeeves book written by someone else where Bertie settles down:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25...


Lance Greenfield Mitchell What I always love about the Jeeves and Wooster books is the abundance of names which can only be described as posh and hilarious!


message 8: by Dan (new) - rated it 4 stars

Dan Schwent Lance Greenfield wrote: "What I always love about the Jeeves and Wooster books is the abundance of names which can only be described as posh and hilarious!"

Gussie Fink-Nottle is at or near the top of the list of best character names.


Lance Greenfield Mitchell Inspired by Wodehouse, when I was about fifteen, I wrote a story about Brigadier Lucius Poncenby-Smythe (Lucy P-S) to his very good friends. It never went further than my notebook.


message 10: by Richard (new)

Richard Dan wrote: "That would be Madeline Bassett. Bertie mentioned that incident in the beginning of this book."

Thank you! The only one of Bertie's fiancees I remember by name is Honoria Glossop, and that could be only because of her epic pill-ness. And her horrid father, Sir Roderick the nerve specialist. Wasn't there some complete dishrag named Gwladys at one point? I don't remember them being engaged, though...could be wrong....


message 11: by Dan (new) - rated it 4 stars

Dan Schwent Richard wrote: "The only one of Bertie's fiancees I remember by name is Honoria Glossop, and that could be only because of her epic pill-ness. And her horrid father, Sir Roderick the nerve specialist. Wasn't there some complete dishrag named Gwladys at one point? I don't remember them being engaged, though...could be wrong.... "

Honoria Glossop is the worst! I don't remember a Gwladys but I'll keep an eye out for her as I re-read the Jeeves novels.


Nandakishore Varma Gwladys appears in a short story, in the story collection Very Good, Jeeves!, if I remember correctly. She was an artist.


Nandakishore Varma Of course, apart from Madeline Basset and Honoria Glossop, Florence Craye is another important member of the "Bertie Fiance Club".


message 14: by Dan (last edited Feb 04, 2012 04:44am) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Dan Schwent Nandakishore wrote: "Of course, apart from Madeline Basset and Honoria Glossop, Florence Craye is another important member of the "Bertie Fiance Club"."

Don't forget about Bobbie Wickham or Pauline Stoker!


message 15: by Richard (new)

Richard Wow, y'all got some major memories there! I don't remember any of those names. It would probably come back to me as I read the book.


message 16: by Mark (new)

Mark Loved your review as always and your undoubted enthusiasm comes bounding across like an excitable gun dog let loose amongst the pheasant but my wariness of Wodehouse, having tried four times last year to catch the germ and failed, almost exists like a real person now and whispers gently in my ear ' mark, you have so tried, give him up and move on'


message 17: by Dan (new) - rated it 4 stars

Dan Schwent Mark wrote: "Loved your review as always and your undoubted enthusiasm comes bounding across like an excitable gun dog let loose amongst the pheasant but my wariness of Wodehouse, having tried four times last y..."

Sometimes, you have to know when to give up, Mark. None of us will think less of you.


message 18: by Lance Greenfield (new)

Lance Greenfield Mitchell Dan wrote: "Sometimes, you have to know when to give up, Mark. None of us will think less of you...."

Yes we will!

Certainly, Bertie would!

Only joking.


Sharon I would give anything to grab a weekend at Aunt Dahlias!! Of course, the guest list would have to feature Bertie, Gussie and Madeline!!! Hilarious:D


message 20: by Dan (new) - rated it 4 stars

Dan Schwent Me too. Feel free to join the Wodehouse group here on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/6...


Nandakishore Varma I agree on one thing with Bertie...Aunts Aren't Gentlemen. Not by a long chalk!


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