I’ve only read one of his books, but it was one widely regarded to be his “funniest” (The Code of the Woosters.) I wouldn’t call it a slog, but it didn’t exactly fly by. Most of my favorite books are comic novels, and it’s not like I can’t laugh at more benign comedy (I love Charles Portis), but Wodehouse’s brand of kooky similes left me almost completely stone-faced. I see people quote “convulsed like a Pekingese taking a pill” and other lines like it as if they were the most hilarious creations to ever be conjured by the human mind, and maybe they are. But I never laughed, I barely even smirked if I’m being honest.
With a lot of authors, I would just assume one particular book didn’t click with me. But Wodehouse, from what I understand, wrote almost 100 books that are more or less functionally the same. Maybe it was a mistake starting with a novel instead of his short stories, although the Psmith books seem the most interesting to me.
Is it worth bothering with any more of his books, though?
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some people just aren’t into some kinds of funny. Sedaris or Burroughs are two of mine. I appreciate both of them, but not because they amuse me.
Wodehouse pmuch is his verbal goofiness though. if that isn’t your thing, there probably won’t be much else in his work to reward you.
I think his books are very funny, and also that however you feel about one is how you’ll feel about all of them. It won’t kill you to try a Psmith, worst that happens is that you also don’t like it, but I wouldn’t say it’s essential or anything.
Some people just don’t “get” comedy, there’s nothing more can be said.
Not everyone finds the same things funny.
Social context is everything with Wodehouse. If you are oblivious to the tropes of the inter-war years of Great Britain, then it will be an opaque mystery.
I guess, but I have hard time believing that his millions of legions of fans are all intimately familiar with the tropes of inter-war Great Britain. And I think Waugh is funny too, so that couldn’t be the reason anyway.
I guess, but I have hard time believing that his millions of legions of fans are all intimately familiar with the tropes of inter-war Great Britain. And I think Waugh is funny too, so that couldn’t be the reason anyway.
I used to laugh at his books 20 years ago, now I ignore them because they don’t have anything interesting in my opinion.
P.G. is a great writer, but you have to see it in context (the time period it was written) to enjoy, I think. If you don’t like it, don’t read anymore, waste of time.
Humour is so subjective - if it doesn’t work for you, move on
He’s in my “way too Britishly British” pile along with the Carry On movies and (sorry) Douglas Adams. Just can’t get over the image of someone leaning over a lectern to place emphasis on a line like, “I should rather we have taken the train, Beatrice,” to a smug well dressed audience of British people drinking brandy and taking dainty nibbles out of cucumber sandwiches. Ghastly.
A part of me does think I might find his style a little too self-conscious to be funny. I generally admire extreme deliberation in writing but I wonder if there’s a certain point where it just sucks the life out of the jokes.
A part of me does think I might find his style a little too self-conscious to be funny. I generally admire extreme deliberation in writing but I wonder if there’s a certain point where it just sucks the life out of the jokes.
Humour is in the eye - and mind - of the reader, so if PG doesn’t make you laugh, another writer will.
I like his humour, but even at its funniest, it’s never a ‘lol’ thing, more of a smile.
If that Wooster book didn’t work for you, PG is not your jam , don’t sweat it. Plenty of comic stuff out there!
I am a PGW nut, and I thoroughly enjoy his similes and turns of phrase. When I first started reading it as a schoolkid (not in the UK), I didn’t have any context. I still laugh out aloud.
That said, if it didn’t work for you, don’t bother with the rest of the collection. There are plenty others to your liking I am sure.
Personally I love his books and think they are a riot. But… if it doesn’t work for you, move on. You don’t have to find something funny or interesting that others did. It’s great that you gave it a try though.
It’s probably just not your cup of tea. :)
Try David Sedaris or Dave Barry perhaps?
Never worth troubling about this: do it or not but your decision is anyway good. That himour is essentially time-related. In some way, it os similar to dad jokes. Nothing wrong with not liking them.
I am a great fun of PGW’s.
Probably not, but it’s a de minimus minority.