Marco Etheridge's Blog, page 5

Book Review: "The Feral Detective" by Johnathan Lethem

The Feral Detective by Jonathan Lethem
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

American author Jonathan Lethem returns to the detective genre with "The Feral Detective." I read the eBook, 336 pages. published November 6th 2018 by Ecco. This is another of Lethem's quirky, Alt-Detective detective novels, following "Gun, with Occasional Music" and "Motherless Brooklyn." Which leads us to Caution Number One: This is not Mickey Spillane or Dashiell Hammett.

The skeleton of the story is simple. Phoebe Siegler is an attractive New Yorker looking for a missing teenage girl. Phoebe engages the aid of Charles Heist, a hunky and mysterious detective. They begin criss-crossing the Inland Empire between Los Angeles and the Mojave Desert. As the novel progresses, they go deeper and deeper into the desert, both geographically and metaphorically. I am trying to avoid spoilers here. If you are a fan of the genre, you have enough to go on at this point.

Reading the first act of Letham's novel, I was struck with a familiarity that I could not quite pin down. Granted, I know the geographic setting for the story, but it was more than that. As the story moved through the shabby fringe realm that borders the Mojave Desert, the familiarity began to take shape. The Feral Detective was bringing back memories of Thomas Pynchon's novel "The Crying of Lot 49." I mean this comparison only in a thematic, descriptive way. It is a compliment to both authors, and a bit unsettling as well. So, a touch of the Pynchon-esque: Remember Caution Number One.

Caution Number Two: This novel has more than enough of the satirical to go around. Different groups of folks are going to be irritated, or even angered, by different sections of the book. The story begins with a very specific political slant that may have one demographic slamming shut the cover, whilst another demographic nods in sad, thoughtful agreement. My advice would be to not get too comfortable. Things are going to change. Blue and Red are both going to get their comeuppance. The same is true for drum-beaters of the Men's Movement and their Feminist counterparts. No one is getting out of this story with their precious Dogma fully intact.

There is enough of the Detective genre to carry the plot, and carry it quite well, but that is not what we are here for. It is true that Charles and Phoebe are detecting away in the Mojave, circling further and further off the grid. At the same time, the reader is being taken on another journey, one of colliding cultures; a clash of deeply held, diametrically opposed beliefs. This is where the Dogmas take 'a good slap in the mouth or a slug from a forty-five,' to quote Woody Allen quoting Bogart. The damaging of Dogma is going to piss off various readers at various points. See Caution Number Two.

There are Dogs in the works as well, and a Feral Child. These characters (yes, the dogs are characters) run on instinct rather than frontal lobe workings. As such, they have an easier time navigating the twists and turns of the strange landscape that Phoebe are Charles are inhabiting.

A reader who requires tidy bows neatly tied may not be thrilled with "The Feral Detective." But loose ends are not always a bad thing, even in the classic detective tales. Think of the film The Big Sleep, for example. Or the spin-off from that film, The Big Lebowski: "Well, Dude, we just don't know."

I recommend "The Feral Detective" for a number of reasons. First, Jonathan Lethem is a top-notch writer; creative, imaginative, and challenging. Second, everyone needs to have their firmly-held beliefs shaken, if not stirred; myself included. No one emerges from the story unscathed. I like that.
As an aside recommendation, if you read this novel and enjoy it, double back to Lethem's "Gun, with Occasional Music."

Thanks for taking the time to check out my review and, as always, Happy Reading!

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Thanks for reading my book review. I hope you enjoyed it. If you liked what you read here, how about  a free short story? My short fiction piece "Ghost Hats" has been featured at Literally Stories"
You can check it out here:

"Ghost Hats" by Marco Etheridge -- Literally Stories 


Or perhaps one of my novels? All of the information is at my website:

Marco Etheridge Fiction

You can check out books, blog posts, book reviews, or even get a free book. Just look for the big button that says "FREE BOOK." It's kind of hard to miss. Happy reading!!


 

New Short Story: "Broken Luggage"

I am thrilled to announce the publishing of another of my short fiction pieces. Five on the Fifth has just published my story "Broken Luggage." I am grateful to the editors for publishing my work.

You can read it here at Five on the Fifth:

"Broken Luggage" by Marco Etheridge

Thanks so much for being readers. Readers Rock!!





















Thanks for reading my short fiction. I hope you enjoyed it. If you liked what you read, you might also enjoy one of my novels. All of the information is at my website:

Marco Etheridge Fiction


You can check out books, blog posts, book reviews, or even get a free book. Just look for the big button that says "FREE BOOK." It's kind of hard to miss. Happy reading!!

New Short Story: "Ghost Hats"

I am very please to announce that another of my short stories has been picked up for publication and is now live. "Ghost Hats" is available for your reading pleasure on the great site Literally Stories. Just click the link below for a free read!

"Ghost Hats" by Marco Etheridge at Literally Stories

And... cue the drum roll: in the short time since this story was picked up, two more of my stories have been accepted by new journals. So I wish to send a huge shout-out to Dime Show Review and Five on the Fifth. The accepted stories are "Orphaned Lies" and "Broken Luggage."

Look for updates on these two upcoming stories.

Ciao for now, and thank you so much for being readers!!

Marco's Old Thai Lady (almost) Curry

I was making a batch of chicken curry the other evening. I make this dish often. It looked so lovely simmering on the stovetop, I felt compelled to take a photo. Foolishly, I posted the photo to my Facebook site.

“What’s in it?”
“Ingredient list, Please!”
“So where’s the recipe?”

Very well, Friends and Neighbors, let me bare my soul and expose the recipe that I have been tinkering with for two years. Not only will this curry get you laid, it will make you a hero in your neighborhood. So share it around, be generous. Live large and spicy.

But first, a few cautions and clarifications. This is not a recipe for home-made curry paste; not even sorta-kinda. I hate to be the one to break the news, but even in Thailand, most folks don’t make their own curry paste. Hell, the majority of working folks don’t cook at all. It is far easier (and cheaper) to park one’s scooter at the local market stall and pick up a plastic bag of the whatever. The old Thai ladies that hawk curry paste are the good witches and sorcerers of the spice universe. I’m not trespassing into that universe because I don’t want to get turned into a newt. For this recipe, I get my curry paste at Prosi, an amazing Ethnic Food Shop in Vienna.

There are some interesting ingredients on the list below. Finding these ingredients is half the fun of making this dish. Search out your local Ethnic market. Better yet, find a nice old Thai woman at one of the Farmer’s Markets. The thing is, you really do need all the odd ingredients on the list. One thing compliments another. If you have ever been at a steaming hot noodle stand in Bangkok, you will have seen the four little tubs of condiments on the rickety plastic table: Fish Sauce, Vinegar Chilies, Powdered Chilies, and Sugar. Yes, sugar. The sugar compliments and mellows the Fish Sauce. The Thai folks very much believe in adding all four to their breakfast of Boat Noodles. Think of these flavors as the four compass points. Ditto the Kafir Lime leaves. Without them, you don’t have Thai curry; you have coconut milk soup.

Ready? Okay here we go! I am going to lay out the basic curry recipe. After that, I am going to throw a few variations at you; things you can try after you master the base curry. You can serve this curry over good Asian noodles or rice, your choice.

Ingredients:   (Yes, you REALLY need all of these!)

Two medium potatoes
Three-Four cloves fresh garlic
High Heat Oil — 1 Tbsp (15 ml)
Quality Thai Red Curry Paste — 2-5 Tbsp (30-75 ml)
Coconut Milk - 12 oz Can (400 ml)
Castor or Powdered Sugar — 1 Tsp (5 ml)
Thai Fish Sauce — 2 Tsp (10 ml)
Dried Kafir Lime Leaves — 3-4 leaves
Protein: (More details on this as we go)
Chicken, Pork, or Tofu — 1 Lb (450 grams)
Bamboo Sprouts — About half a small jar
Vege — Your choice, fresh or frozen, more on this as we go.
Fresh Basil — 1 small bunch of leaves

Preparation:

Cube the potatoes into 1/2” pieces and simmer them until tender to the fork. Peel on, peel off, your choice. While the spuds are simmering you can move on to other prep. The potatoes are the secret weapon for preventing your curry from separating. Once they are tender, drain the spuds and set them aside.

De-germ and mince the garlic fine. De-vein the Kafir lime leaves. This means pull out the hard stem. You will find that your thumbnail is a great tool for this. Chop the lime leaves fine.

Hint: The lime leaves are going to splinter and jump all over the place when you try to cut them. Use a chef’s knife and a rolling motion. Use your free hand like a tent over the back of the knife blade. This will contain the flying leaf bits to a degree. Mind your meaty bits!

Measure out the curry paste and have it ready. I would say that three tablespoons is a good starting point. This is going to be pretty spicy, about what you would reckon a three-star heat level at your local Thai joint. You’re just going to have to experiment with this. I use more. Truth be told, I just spoon the paste into a small dish and eyeball it. Shake the can of coconut milk vigorously, open it, and have it ready at hand.

Okay, now that you have the garlic, lime leaves, and curry paste handy, it’s time to cook. Use a big wok or the deepest sauté pan you have. Bigger is better. I highly recommend a big wok. Get the pan hot, but not so hot that it smokes the oil. Add the oil to the hot pan. Toss in the garlic. You are going to be moving fast for a few minutes, so be ready. The garlic is going to cook really quickly. You don’t want to brown it to a crisp. Thirty-seconds or so is about right. Toss in the curry paste and stir it around in the hot oil and garlic. This spreads the flavor about. One minute is probably enough. Stirring, stirring, we are always stirring.

Pour in about 1/3 of the coconut milk. Keep stirring, moving the bubbling mixture about. Now would be a good time to drop the heat one notch. You want to break up all of the blobs of curry paste. Add another third of the coconut milk. Keep stirring. Add the last of it. When it is all nicely mixed and gently bubbling, you are ready to move on.

Add the sugar, the fish sauce, and the Kafir lime leaves. Stir everything together. Now comes the time for our secret weapon. If you have one of those spiffy hand blenders, that is the trick. If not, a regular blender will work. Throw the cooked potatoes into the blender cup. Pour in enough of the hot curry to cover the potatoes.

Hint: I usually take the wok off the heat while I’m doing the step.

Blend the mixture smooth, but don’t overdo it. Mind the hot splatters! Pour the blended mixture back into the wok and put the wok back on the burner. Lower the heat to a gentle simmer.

Hint: The potatoes work to bind the curry and keep the coconut milk from separating. It is also important at this point not to overheat the curry mixture. Do NOT cover the curry at any time during the cooking process. Squash will also work as a dandy binder, as we will discuss in the variations (below).

On to the Protein!

For the vege-heads amongst us, this is where you add the fresh tofu. A pound is about the right amount (450 grams). Cube the tofu into bite-sized pieces, then throw the fresh tofu into the curry and keep simmering. Simple, no?

My personal preference for this dish is chicken. I use fillets of thigh meat. Thigh meat is juicy, stays tender, and it’s cheap. Again, a pound is about the right amount (450 grams). Cut the meat into bit-sized pieces and add it to the curry. If you are using chicken, this is the time to let the mixture simmer at least 25 minutes. Go clean up the kitchen while the meat is cooking.

Pork also works well with this dish. This is one of those dishes where you can use lean pork cutlet without worrying about it being all dried out when you serve it. The prep and cooking are the same as for the chicken (above).

Hint: Now would be about the time to start your rice or lay out your noodles.

The Vege and Garnish:

Lots of different vege will work with this curry. Fresh zucchini is great. Quarter one zucchini, slice it bite-sized, and add it to the mixture. A hand-full of brightly colored vege makes the curry pretty. I often use a frozen mix that has broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and beans. Fresh green beans or string beans also work well. Play around with it. Once you have your vege stirred into the curry, add about a half jar of bamboo shoots. Simmer this mixture for another fifteen minutes or so.


Our basil is the last ingredient and the magic garnish. Chopping basil tends to make a mushy green mess. After I wash the leaves, I hold them by the stems and trim off strips with my handy kitchen scissors. Whatever works for you. Set aside enough basil to garnish the serving bowls, then add the bulk of the basil to the curry.

Hint: The basil only needs to cook for about ten minutes. You want the basil bits to still look like basil, not like mushy seaweed.

Ta-Da!! You have curry! I usually serve this to the table in individual dishes. Lay a bed of noodles or rice in your serving dishes. Ladle the hot curry over the rice or noodles. Garnish with the fresh basil leaves and get ready for the oooohs and aaaahs.

Variations:

This curry also works very well with a potato and squash mixture. For this variation, use a few more potatoes and add about a quarter-pound (225 grams) of firm squash. Butternut is good; acorn is not. It is a good idea to partially steam the squash and potatoes before adding them to the curry. This will be a really hearty curry, good for those chilly winter nights.

For the real vege lovers, I recommend a combo of zucchini, long beans, and squash. This makes for a very colorful dish and works really well with the tofu option.

The Wrap:

That’s about it, folks. Remember, this is curry. It is very much like stews or soups in that it will probably never turn out exactly the same. Therein lies the beauty of the thing. Feel free to experiment with this recipe; I certainly have. Here are a few key things to remember:

Don’t burn the garlic! It will be bitter.
Don’t cover the curry while you are cooking it. The coconut milk will separate.
Please don’t poison your guests! Simmer the meat for at least 25 minutes.
Do experiment and enjoy this recipe. Share it with others. Food is meant to be shared!

From Vienna, Huge Love to everyone!
Marco





















Thanks for reading my blog post. I hope you enjoyed it. If you liked what you read here, how about  a free short story? My short fiction piece "The Busker" has been featured at Literally Stories"
You can check it out here:


Literally Stories: "The Busker" by Marco Etheridge


Or perhaps one of my novels? All of the information is at my website:

Marco Etheridge Fiction


You can check out books, blog posts, book reviews, or even get a free book. Just look for the big button that says "FREE BOOK." It's kind of hard to miss. Happy reading!!

Book Review: "Cathedral" by Raymond Carver

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Cathedral by Raymond Carver
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

“Cathedral” was Raymond Carver’s third collection of stories. It was first published in 1983. It was the last collection of Carver’s short fiction to be published before the author’s death in 1988. “Cathedral” was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction. The story “A Small, Good Thing” won an O. Henry Award.

What can one say about Raymond Carver that has not already been said? His work has had a lasting impact on the craft of short story writing. Among the likes of J.D. Salinger, Truman Capote, and Ray Bradbury, he is one of the most important short story writers in modern American literature. One of the stories in this collection, “The Train,” is dedicated to the great short story writer John Cheever. Carver’s influence is still to be seen in such wonderful writers as Jhumpa Lhirii.

Carver’s short stories deal with life’s possibilities, both bad and good. His vision into the workings of the frailty of human beings is astonishing. In clear, concise prose, Carver delves into the darkness and light of what it means to suffer, weather, or overcome the tribulations of the lives that we lead.

I have read and treasured Raymond Carver’s work for as long as I can remember. While I very much enjoy his stories, I also do not want to find myself a character in one of them. These are tales of people going through hard times, through darkness and despair. That is not to say that these are stories without redemption, but the redemption is often hard-bought.

The collection opens with the story “Feathers.” The hope and reality of relationships are juxtaposed as one couple makes an attempt to partake in the seeming happiness of another. “Chef’s House” chronicles the inevitability of alcoholism waiting in the wings, a reoccurring theme in Carver’s writings and in his own life. “Preservation” deals with the slow decline into nothingness when the purpose for life has been removed. These are the three hard stories that open the book.

Before the reader gives up hope, however, there comes a tale of redemption. “The Compartment” tells the story of an unwanted journey that becomes an unexpected journey. This is a story about unintended redemption. A man misses one connection on a train through Europe, only to make a new connection with himself. “A Small, Good Thing” is the heartbreaking story of the death of a child, a random tragedy offset with unexpected acts of small kindness. It is another story of redemption, although hard and dark.

Two more tales of alcoholism follow: “Vitamins” and “Careful.” The first is a classic hard tale by Carver, complete with booze and adultery. The second is another story of alcoholism and the on man’s vain attempts to cope with it.

“Where I’m Calling From” is one of the author’s best known stories. Two men befriend each other in a treatment center. The story revolves around a chimney sweep, the threat of true love lost, and the possibility of redemption. It is a magical and wonderful story, worth the price of the book on its own.

“The Train” is one of Carver’s most inexplicable stories. There is only the barest of narratives, stitched together with the chance meeting of three people in an empty train station. There is so much going on outside the framework of the narrative that the reader is left wondering what in the hell just happened, and diving back in to read it again.

“Fever” is another story of redemption, and of coming to clarity with life as it is. Carver follows this up with “The Bridle,” a story hard enough to make the reader question his or her life choices. Hard times, bad decisions, and the remnants of bad luck take their inevitable toll.

Which brings us to the title story: “Cathedral.” What would you give for the opportunity to see through another person's eyes, even if those eyes are blind? This amazing story allows one character, and not a likable character, the rarest of gifts. Through a plot device that is truly brilliant, the author allows us to look inside another human being, to truly see the universe with new eyes; their eyes.

I cannot recommend the works of Raymond Carver highly enough. To say that he is an American Master is an understatement, and one made may times before. Carver captures the human struggle in a way that few authors can match. His prose is concise, biting, and at the same time sympathetic to his characters. He portrays human beings struggling with the darkness of life, but he is never mean or petty. Do yourself a favor as a reader. If you read only one collection of short stories this year, choose this one.

View all my reviews






















Thanks for reading my blog post. I hope you enjoyed it. If you liked what you read here, how about  a free short story? My short fiction piece "The Busker" has been featured at Literally Stories"
You can check it out here:


Literally Stories: "The Busker" by Marco Etheridge


Or perhaps one of my novels? All of the information is at my website:

Marco Etheridge Fiction


You can check out books, blog posts, book reviews, or even get a free book. Just look for the big button that says "FREE BOOK." It's kind of hard to miss. Happy reading!!

New Short Story!

I am thrilled and thankful to be able to announce the publication of my short story “The Crying Man” on the great site Literally Stories. Please check it out. It is a free read.

https://literallystories2014.com/2019/04/16/the-crying-man-by-marco-etheridge/

Thank you all for the support and for being readers. You ROCK!!

PG Wodehouse: Caught in the Act! A Literary Detective Story

Something Fresh by P.G. Wodehouse
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

PG Wodehouse's novel "Something Fresh" was published in 1915. The US edition was titled "Something New." This is the first novel in the Blandings Castle series, which would become the author's longest running series. The novel is also the last of the Psmith series, a point where the two series meet.


But, wait, you say! What is this? Marco, whom we all know is a devoted fan of good old Wodehouse, has given this novel a mere three stars. The cry goes round the reviewing blogs: "Psmith is unimpressed!" Yes, it is true, I can only cough up three stars for "Something Fresh," but there is a very good reason for this; a bit of solid literary detective work. We will return to that shortly.

The novel is set at Blandings Castle, a massive English Manor house. it is one of those piles of rock that Elvis Costello derides in his song "Little Palaces." Blandings is inhabited by silly and eccentric nobles, an enormous cast of servants, and dubious locals from town and hamlet. Together, they get up to all sorts of bumbly adventures which are uproariously funny and entertaining. PG Wodehouse wrote this series from 1915 to his death in 1975. He was still working on "Sunset at Blandings" from his hospital bed.

So, you may ask, if this is all so lovely and fun, why are you being so stingy with the doling out of stars? It is a fair question, my good readers, and I will ring for Jeeves to trot out the answer.

"Jeeves, you can explain?"
"With certainty, Sir..."

What has happened is that I have caught dear Mr. Wodehouse at an author's trick. I love a good gag, and Wodehouse loved to write a good gag, so everyone was more or less happy. I am not, however, so fond of the same exact gag being used twice. On cannot call it plagiarism, as an author cannot really plagiarize themselves. But in this case, Wodehouse does a handy bit of serious recycling.

In volume one of the Psmith series, "Mike and Psmith," (1909) there is a gag involving a shoe, a can of red paint, and a bumbling amateur detective. There are comparisons to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. It is a fine gag, with school boy Mike Jackson barely escaping Mr. Downing, the angry school master. Shoes are swapped, clues are hidden, and cupboards smashed open. The amateur detective comes out looking very much the fool, whilst the hero narrowly escapes. Cheers all around.

Unfortunately, PG Wodehouse liked this shtick so much, he used it almost verbatim in "Something Fresh." Imagine my surprise when I realized I was reading almost exactly the same sequence of actions, only with a different setting and different characters. There they were, the damning clue of the shoe splashed with red paint, the certain doom of the hero, and the narrow escape. It was the same gag, right down to the comparisons between Holmes and Watson. It certainly wasn't an unconscious error; there is half a chapter lifted from one novel and plopped into another. Perhaps, in 1909, Wodehouse did not know how famous he would one day be. How could he have suspected that nerdy fans like myself, poking about in his books, would find him out at a bit of author sleight-of-hand.

So, here is the real rating on this book: A solid Four-Stars. The characters are wonderful, the story is a multi-layered farce, and you probably have not read "Mike and Psmith," so nothing will be spoiled. If you have read the two novels, then you have the dirt on dear old 'Plum,' not that it will make him any less well-beloved. Until next time, Happy Reading!!

View all my reviews





















Thanks for reading my blog post. I hope you enjoyed it. If you liked what you read here, how about  a free short story? My short fiction piece "The Busker" has been featured at Literally Stories"
You can check it out here:


Literally Stories: "The Busker" by Marco Etheridge


Or perhaps one of my novels? All of the information is at my website:

Marco Etheridge Fiction


You can check out books, blog posts, book reviews, or even get a free book. Just look for the big button that says "FREE BOOK." It's kind of hard to miss. Happy reading!!

 
 
 
 
 
 

"Right Ho, Jeeves" by PG Wodehouse -- Our Review

Right Ho, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When a novel causes me to laugh out loud, I am a happy reader. When I am rereading a novel and yet again laugh out loud, that is a rare blessing. "Right Ho, Jeeves" by PG Wodehouse is a laugh-out-loud novel; there is no doubt. To my funny bone, this is one of the best in the Jeeves and Wooster series. It is the second full-length Jeeves and Wooster, although in modern editions it is billed as Jeeves #6. This is due to collections of Jeeves short stories that have been squashed into other editions. "Right Ho, Jeeves" was published in full-length novel form in 1934.

For this tale, Wodehouse assembles a tip-top assortment of goofy characters. There is the brainy Jeeves, of course, and his not-so-bright gentleman Bertie Wooster. The novel introduces the new characters of Gussie Fink-Nottle, the newt fancier, and Madeline Bassett. We also become acquainted with Bertie's friend Tuppy Glossop, and cousin Angela Travers. The action centers around Brinkley Court, a magnificent old English Manor that is home to the formidable Aunt Dahlia. Rounding out the cast is Dahlia's French chef, the renowned Anatole.

Bertie Wooster, our bumbling hero, descends on Brinkley Manor like a bomb-load of buffoonery. He is miffed at Jeeves and decides he, Bertie, can by himself sort out the many problems cropping up amongst the denizens of Brinkley. Eschewing the help of Jeeves' mighty, fish-powered brain, Bertie proceeds to muck everything up to a degree that is quite complicated and hilarious. Jeeves, of course, saves it all in the end.

In between the mucking up and salvation by Jeeves, there is a rollicking good show of silliness and misunderstanding. There are broken engagements, engagements to the wrong people, and a drunken newt-fancier lambasting a headmaster. Say no more, for we tread into the realm of plot spoiler. It is a romp, that is what it is. If a reader fails to laugh out loud at some point during the reading of this novel, they should perhaps seek the opinion of a medical professional as to whether they are still amongst the living.

On a more general note, there are unlooked for benefits to reading PG Wodehouse's novels. One may notice a change in ones speech pattern. A reader may find him or herself exclaiming "What Ho!" or "I say!" One may find oneself writing text messages using full sentences complete with proper punctuation. Or one may simple find oneself saying "One" with annoying frequency.

There is simply no down-side to this lovely and funny novel. If a reader needs to settle in, take a break, and let the world spin on its own for a bit, this is just the thing. Or, better yet, read this novel on the bus or train you take for your morning commute. When someone laughs aloud on a public conveyance, it makes the other riders nervous. The clever reader can laugh away in public, knowing that they have the good and those other poor blokes do not.

Until next time, happy reading!

View all my reviews























Thanks for reading my blog post. I hope you enjoyed it. If you liked what you read here, how about  a free short story? My short fiction piece "The Busker" has been featured at Literally Stories"
You can check it out here:


Literally Stories: "The Busker" by Marco Etheridge


Or perhaps one of my novels? All of the information is at my website:

Marco Etheridge Fiction


You can check out books, blog posts, book reviews, or even get a free book. Just look for the big button that says "FREE BOOK." It's kind of hard to miss. Happy reading!!

 
 
 
 
 

"Piccadilly Jim" -- Yet More from PG Wodehouse

Piccadilly Jim by P.G. Wodehouse
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"Piccadilly Jim" is a complete romp of a novel. This PG Wodehouse story, like many of his works, appeared as a serial in the Saturday Evening Post before being published as a novel (USA edition) in 1917. "Piccadilly Jim" was published in England in 1918.

It is my belief that Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse--PG Wodehouse, 'Plum' to family and friends--had a thoroughly smashing good time concocting this tale. "Piccadilly Jim" is a mashup of all his favorite themes. The novel is set in both New York and London; two cities he loved. It is peppered throughout with the denizens he collected in his happy travels. There are butlers, of course, both real and impersonated. There are Americans in London, and Englishmen on the wrong side of The Pond. Obnoxious children worth a good drowning vie for attention with young women who are headstrong and beautiful. Fierce matrons storm about in an attempt to restore order, while New York toughs lurk in the background. The thing is a romp, an absolute romp.

For this story, PG Wodehouse took a page or two from Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde. There are dual-identity gags, imposter gags, and assorted disguised persons gags. The hero of the story, Jimmy Crocker, is mad for the Head-strong Modern Girl (HMG), of course. Unfortunately, he 'done her wrong' when she was a young woman, writing a stinging review of her first published poems. The two meet in London, naturally, and without recognizing or remembering each other. During the 'Getting to know you chat,' our HMG spits out the name of Jimmy Crocker as if a vile insect had left a bad taste in her mouth. Our man Jim, already on the lam from a dust-up in a London club, takes the hint and pinches the name of his family butler. This first false identity sets the stage for many more.

Laughs come at the expense of both sides of The Pond. Our dear American Cousins suffer terribly under the weirdness of cricket. Jimmy Crocker's father, a rich American in London, hates cricket. All he wants is a seat at a baseball game, without any more talk of Peerages or London Society. The poor man will do anything to get away, absolutely anything. Stage set, and off we go: People who aren't who they seem, obnoxious kids to kidnap, secret formulas that may blow up New York, and a new love to be saved.

Unlike many of PG Wodehouse's other novels, "Piccadilly Jim" is actually a complete novel. Some of Wodehouse's books are collections of short stories that seem to work towards some end. They are delightful stories, but not necessarily novels. This is also a stand-alone novel. The obnoxious kid Ogden, and his overbearing mother Nesta, are the only reappearing characters.

"Piccadilly Jim" is one of my favorite Wodehouse novels. The plot is completely over-the-top, and yet so well-crafted that it is a joy to read. The characters are all great fun, comeuppances are doled out as needed, and there are laughs aplenty. It all gets wrapped up with a big, tidy bow. If a Jeeves and Wooster fan were to ask for a starting point for Wodehouse's many other works, this is most likely where I would point them. Until next time, happy reading!


View all my reviews















Thanks for reading my blog post. I hope you enjoyed it. If you liked what you read here, how about  a free short story? My short fiction piece "The Busker" has been featured at Literally Stories"
You can check it out here:


Literally Stories: "The Busker" by Marco Etheridge


Or perhaps one of my novels? All of the information is at my website:

Marco Etheridge Fiction


You can check out books, blog posts, book reviews, or even get a free book. Just look for the big button that says "FREE BOOK." It's kind of hard to miss. Happy reading!!

 
 
 
 


 

"Very Good, Jeeves!" -- More from PG Wodehouse

Very Good, Jeeves! by P.G. Wodehouse
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

And here we are, continuing our reviews of PG Wodehouse's wonderful menagerie of characters. Bertie Wooster and R. Jeeves are one of the most beloved duos in English Literature. This is certainly true for me, at the very least. This volume is generally considered Jeeves #4. It was first published in the USA in 1930, containing eleven previously published short stories. The stories form a very loose novel, it one desires that coherence. Otherwise, they can be read as individual short stories.

Naturally, "Very Good, Jeeves!" features the genius valet Jeeves and his hapless gentleman employer, Bertie Wooster. The reader gets a great blast of the supporting characters, the reappearing players that spice up the soup. There is fierce Aunt Agatha, the bane of Bertie's existence. Aunt Dahlia is there as well, she of the sporting voice and straight talk. Bertie Wooster is not without friends. His old chums are here, Tuppy Glossop and Bingo Little, as well as a few girls to make the confirmed bachelor nervous. Bobbie Wickham, the dangerous redhead and one-time Wooster bride-to-be, gets Bertie into some jams that are a bit thick, what.

PG Wodehouse can still make me laugh out loud, even after multiple readings. A sentence or phrase will catch me just right and before one can say 'Piffle!" I am chucking away like a kettle on the boil. The man is just funny, and he is funny in devious ways. He can be dishing out what is essentially slapstick, while using a subjunctive clause as the ladle. It is a very difficult thing to transform a subjunctive clause into a humorous device. Just go on and try it once. You see, not such an easy feat.

There is a formula to many of the Jeeves stories, but it is such a delicious formula that I don't mind it at all. The basic framework involves a conversational introduction from Bertie. Something like: 'Have I ever had the opportunity to relate to you the odd story of...' and then we are off to the races. Bertie Wooster, the idler, the wastrel, will dive into the story. Usually there will be some small contretemps with Jeeves over a poorly chosen item of clothing. Jeeves, ever a stickler for proper appearances, will object to Bertie's acquisition of purple socks. A battle of wills will ensue, a battle for which Bertie is unarmed. Meanwhile, a hapless friend will need rescuing, or a fierce aunt will require avoiding. Jeeves, with his giant fish-fueled brain, will extract the bungling Bertram from the soup. In gratitude for his salvation at Jeeves' masterful hand, Bertie will yield up the offending item and peaceful will be the quiet bachelor flat.

PG Wodehouse was a stickler for plot lines. He often called the plot line the hardest part of writing. Before writing a story, Wodehouse had to know that the plot was airtight. First, he would write a bare-bones outline of a plot. If the thing agreed with him, if it looked like a 'Go-er,' he would flesh out the outline with a full plot treatment. In a novel, this might run to twenty or thirty thousand words. Satisfied that there were no plot holes, he would then write the actual story or novel, adding dialogue and setting. The result of this are stories with very complex twists and turns, yet without the sense of being overly contrived. Very often I will know where Wodehouse is going to go, but I will be damn'd if I know how he is going to get there.

The Jeeves and Wooster stories are still very high on my list of 'Escapist Refuge Reading.' When I need to let the world spin on its own, or calm my own mental meanderings, PG Wodehouse is one of the places I turn to as a safe haven. I should warn the reader: these stories can be addictive. Almost ninety years old, and these stories may still cause a new reader to laugh aloud. And that, my Dearly Beloved, is a very, very precious thing. Happy reading until next time!

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Thanks for reading my blog post. I hope you enjoyed it. If you liked what you read here, how about  a free short story? My short fiction piece "The Busker" has been featured at Literally Stories"
You can check it out here:


Literally Stories: "The Busker" by Marco Etheridge


Or perhaps one of my novels? All of the information is at my website:

Marco Etheridge Fiction


You can check out books, blog posts, book reviews, or even get a free book. Just look for the big button that says "FREE BOOK." It's kind of hard to miss. Happy reading!!