The Cat-Nappers

Rating:
Summary: Plenty of Smiles
Review: My first Wodehouse read, and I was not let down. This tightly written novel, unlike so many others, manages to put comedy on virtually every page. With plenty of dry-humor, and many funny turns-of-phrases, the well-drawn characters and playful dialogue steal the show. I strongly recommend looking for this slim volume and then enjoying the escapades of Jeeves and Bertie.

Rating:
Summary: Aunts Aren't Gentlemen
Review: P.G. Wodehouse's best stories are invariably those that involve the butler Jeeves helping the scatterbrained and easy-living Bertie Wooster escape from the fickle hand of fate and his own pranks. The Cat-nappers focuses on Bertie being at the wrong place at the wrong time and being constantly in the soup because of what others do. He valiantly launches forward and needs less help than usual to remain the carefree bachelor about town.

The Cat-nappers starts off innocently enough as Bertie finds himself with disturbing pink spots on his chest. Seeking out a physician's counsel, Bertie gets more than he bargained for when he bumps into Vanessa Cook (who had turned down his marriage proposal the year before) and O.J. (Orlo) Porter (former dorm mate at Oxford who favored left-wing causes) as they lead a protest march that stalls Bertie's car. Porter hops in the car to escape the Bobbies and sells Bertie some life insurance. Porter turns out to be in love with Ms. Cook and is very jealous of anyone who might have an interest in her. At the doctor's office, Bertie runs into Major Plank who had once tried to have Bertie arrested. Fortunately, Plank cannot remember who he is . . . but it's a narrow escape. The doctor tells Bertie the spots will go away, but Bertie's health needs are not being met. He suggests a trip to someplace quiet in the country.

Naturally, Bertie thinks of his Aunt Dahlia and the wonderful meals he always enjoys when he visits her. But she's off visiting elsewhere. She does offer to take a cottage for Bertie so he can visit with her.

Once there, things go badly downhill. Naturally, Bertie does it to himself to some extent. Ignoring Jeeves's advice, he takes a wrong turn and ends up with a nasty scare. From there, the complications build to their humorous conclusion as thieves, bettors, lovers, churchmen and angry horsemen blunder about in silly circles that provide much delight to the reader. Naturally, Bertie's always at the wrong place at the wrong time . . . but at the right place at the right time to make us laugh!

One of the special charms of this story is that Bertie tries very hard to do the right thing . . . and finds it exceptionally difficult to do so.

As the book ends, Bertie notes that the problems with the world boil down to the comment that "Aunts Aren't Gentlemen" which is the book's original English title.

Peace is what you carry with you.


Rating:
Summary: Jeeves & Bertie #13
Review: Previous: Jeeves and the Tie that Binds (Much Obliged, Jeeves)

This book, like Thank You, Jeeves, appears to be out of print, though I can't fathom why it should be. A bit shorter than the rest, and with a different setting, it is still much of the fare we are used to-Bertie's Aunt Dahlia has gotten herself into the soup with an ill-judged wager, and it falls to Bertie and Jeeves to get her out. Meanwhile, Bertie runs into a former flame named Vanessa (Florence Craye on steroids), whose rocky relationship with her revolutionary boyfriend spells trouble for Bertram. Add to this a cat that shows up at the most inopportune moments and a certain Captain Plank, who is still under the misapprehension that Bertie is Alpine Joe, and you have a hilarious little tale that fully lives up to the Jeeves and Bertie standard. A far cry better than Jeeves and the Tie that Binds, it is a worthy way to end a wonderful series, and one of the best of the lot.

Rating:
Summary: Jeeves & Bertie #13
Review: Previous: Jeeves and the Tie that Binds (Much Obliged, Jeeves)

This book, like Thank You, Jeeves, appears to be out of print, though I can't fathom why it should be. A bit shorter than the rest, and with a different setting, it is still much of the fare we are used to-Bertie's Aunt Dahlia has gotten herself into the soup with an ill-judged wager, and it falls to Bertie and Jeeves to get her out. Meanwhile, Bertie runs into a former flame named Vanessa (Florence Craye on steroids), whose rocky relationship with her revolutionary boyfriend spells trouble for Bertram. Add to this a cat that shows up at the most inopportune moments and a certain Captain Plank, who is still under the misapprehension that Bertie is Alpine Joe, and you have a hilarious little tale that fully lives up to the Jeeves and Bertie standard. A far cry better than Jeeves and the Tie that Binds, it is a worthy way to end a wonderful series, and one of the best of the lot.

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious!
Review: This book has to be on the funniest I have ever read in my life! P. G. Wodehouse is a genius when it comes to coming up with a good plot. I would recommend this book to EVERYONE!

Rating:
Summary: Hilarious!
Review: This book has to be on the funniest I have ever read in my life! P. G. Wodehouse is a genius when it comes to coming up with a good plot. I would recommend this book to EVERYONE!

Rating:
Summary: Plenty of Smiles
Review: This is the very best of the Jeeves series, warm and laugh-out-loud funny. Bertie is completely irrepressable, as always, and Jeeves is ever-faithful and supportive of him, no matter what situation they find themselves in. In this tale, Bertie and Jeeves find themselves in the countryside under doctor's orders. The two are staying at a cottage of a friend of Aunt Dahlia's, and in the thick of trouble between rival horse owners. This book is worth the search; go to your library and borrow it, then try to add it to your collection (if you can find it!)

Rating:
Summary: Wodehouse at the Top of his Game
Review: This is the very best of the Jeeves series, warm and laugh-out-loud funny. Bertie is completely irrepressable, as always, and Jeeves is ever-faithful and supportive of him, no matter what situation they find themselves in. In this tale, Bertie and Jeeves find themselves in the countryside under doctor's orders. The two are staying at a cottage of a friend of Aunt Dahlia's, and in the thick of trouble between rival horse owners. This book is worth the search; go to your library and borrow it, then try to add it to your collection (if you can find it!)