Rating: 
Summary: A patchy, but painfully hilarious, masterpiece.
Review: 'Three men in a boat' is not a perfect book because it bears the traces of Jerome's original high-mindedly conception, an historical tour of the Thames. too often the uproarious comedy - generally arising from the inflation of minor iritations to epic catastrophes - is tripped by lumbering, perfunctory descriptions of the scene and its historical associations. The latter aren't all bad though - sometimes set up for bathetic effect; at others, the reverie of a romanticallly vivid past and a pure geography free from the industrial blight of Victorian Britain, exerts a powerful, nearly mystical pull. Frequently, the general self-confidence of the narrative voice is undermined by the obsession with death, other people and the fragility of identity and status - one terrifyingly comic sequence, in which Harris gets lost in the labyrinthine garden of Hampton Park, has a nonsense-pushing-into-terror worthy of Lewis Carroll. there are three genuine joys in this book - that narrative voice (imagine a middle-class wannabe Bertie Wooster with pretensions, undeservedly complacent yet ultimately generous, filtered with the casual loquaciousness of Mark Twain); a portrait of late-19th century English life and leisure from a perspective we rarely see (Lewis' introduction is full of fascinating historical background); and the creation of Montmorency the dog, the one fully fledged character - malevolent, cynical, contemptuous, and, when faced with an unflappable cat, a big jessie.
Rating:
Summary: A patchy, but painfully hilarious, masterpiece.
Review: 'Three men in a boat' is not a perfect book because it bears the traces of Jerome's original high-mindedly conception, an historical tour of the Thames. too often the uproarious comedy - generally arising from the inflation of minor iritations to epic catastrophes - is tripped by lumbering, perfunctory descriptions of the scene and its historical associations. The latter aren't all bad though - sometimes set up for bathetic effect; at others, the reverie of a romanticallly vivid past and a pure geography free from the industrial blight of Victorian Britain, exerts a powerful, nearly mystical pull. Frequently, the general self-confidence of the narrative voice is undermined by the obsession with death, other people and the fragility of identity and status - one terrifyingly comic sequence, in which Harris gets lost in the labyrinthine garden of Hampton Park, has a nonsense-pushing-into-terror worthy of Lewis Carroll. there are three genuine joys in this book - that narrative voice (imagine a middle-class wannabe Bertie Wooster with pretensions, undeservedly complacent yet ultimately generous, filtered with the casual loquaciousness of Mark Twain); a portrait of late-19th century English life and leisure from a perspective we rarely see (Lewis' introduction is full of fascinating historical background); and the creation of Montmorency the dog, the one fully fledged character - malevolent, cynical, contemptuous, and, when faced with an unflappable cat, a big jessie.
Rating: 
Summary: Delightful Heroes.
Review: A delightful series of novels, whose characters and witticisms revolve around the writer's preoccupation with the complexities of the trivial, in a universe governed by an almost Murphian law of negativity. Although slightly misdirected in parts, Three Men in a Boat begins and concludes strongly, with clear indications of Jerome grammatical might. Three Men on the Bummel, on the other hand, displays a sense of consistency and maturity in its structure, lacking in the former, without compromising the boyish effervescence of Jerome's wit. The strengths of both novels lie in Jerome's power of description and mastery of grammar. With an almost addictive attention to detail, a series of hyperbolic anecdotes focus' on the ridiculous, through which the novelist is able to extract a most wondrous sense of delight from his characters' most earned pessimism. With a most fantastic attachment to the ridiculous, Jerome characterises his three heroes as a most capably incapable trio, whose exploits will leave you in stitches.
Rating:
Summary: One of the funniest books I have ever read
Review: Even if the book has been written more than 100 years ago, it's still one of the funniest, greatest examples of English humour. Don't read it on trains, busses, or any other public place : everybody will think you're mad.
Rating:
Summary: A Hilarious Account of Nineteenth-Century Travel
Review: Having come at Jerome's comic classic backwards from Connie Willis's novel, To Say Nothing of the Dog, I was surprised at how truly funny and timeless this picaresque tale of misadventure and mischance really is. Narrator J. provides deadpanned insights that are just as true today of modern travelers and vacationers as they were of our Victorian predecessors. The antics of the three men, along with the irresistable terrier Montmorency, make for perfect light reading; the short chapters are ideal for bedtime reading or for entertainment on your own travels.
Rating:
Summary: A great antidote against winter blues and more!
Review: I first read this book in translation to Russian, many (too many!) years ago. In the former Soviet Union (and in Russia proper, before there ever was a Soviet Union), this and other books by Jerome. K. Jerome were very popular. When I came to Boston 20 years ago as a refugee from Soviet Union, this was one of the first books I bought. I was hoping that, in its original language, it would be even a greater fun to read and I was not disappointed! In fact, the book has been in constant use ever since, having been loaned to many friends and even taken by some of them on a holiday trip to England (which included a week-long boat trip on the Thames!). It is very funny and its wit is timeless. This book is a great antidote against winter blues. It is also good as a remedy for our tendency to exaggerate shortcomings of others while papering over our own little faults and imperfections. Whether discussing their problems, high on the list of which is their "general disinclination to work of any kind", or planning their trip and packing supplies for it; whether rowing their boat or pitching a tent and trying to keep dry on a rainy night -- the characters are totally alive and recognizable. In fact, I am sure we all met people just like them, except they were not dressed as Victorian gentlemen on a holiday! But forget what they wear and what items they pack (or forget to pack) for their trip, or the fact that a cab they take to the railroad station is horse-driven, and these guys could be living in an apartment next door! Never will you hang another picture on your wall without thinking of Uncle Poger and never will you buy Stilton cheese again without some trepidation! I'd recommend this (and other Jerome's books, especially, "Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow") to anyone above the age of 12 and possessed of even a bit of a sense of humor. P.S. Did I mention that this book improves upon re-reading? A rare quality, indeed!
Rating:
Summary: Roaringly Funny
Review: I have been reading some good, but bleak literature lately, so I decided to turn to something a bit lighthearted. I think there is nothing better to fit that bill than Jerome K Jerome's hilarious "Three Men in a Boat." This Penguin edition also adds "Three Men on the Bummel," a worthy sequel that Jerome wrote roughly ten years later. I cannot believe I'd never heard of these gems before. This is, without a doubt, one of the funniest books I've ever read. Despite the fact that Jerome is writing to us from the Victorian era, the humor is timeless. The writing style could be a bit touchy for some, but for me, that is what added extra dimensions of humor to the stories. It's the intricate way Jerome conveys his acidic comments that leave you in stitches. "Three Men in a Boat" is certainly the more humorous of the two. In this tale, three friends, J., George, and Harris, with Montmorency the dog in tow, decide to take a jaunt down the Thames for rest and relaxation. What ensues is a wild stream of hilarious tales and misadventures. Often, the trip takes a backseat to the stories, as J. talks about an assortment of topics. My favorite stories concerned the cheese, the weather, and the German singing the "humorous" song. Another favorite is the descriptions of how the three learned to sail and row. I don't want to give away any of the details of these stories because they are just too hilarious; I would also kill the humor if I tried to relate them. This story also gives some detail to historical places along the river. The introduction to this book shows how historical accounts of river travel were quite popular. Jerome set out to write such an account, and the publisher dropped much of this material and left the funny anecdotes intact. "Three Men on the Bummel," written in 1900, reunites the three (minus Montmorency) for a biking excursion in Germany. While still funny in spots, it lacks the vigor of its predecessor. I found the tale about the water hose a hoot, but Jerome tends to spend more time on travelogue. His observations about the German people are eerily prophetic, as you'll see when you read the book. The language is still acid sharp, and Jerome has an interesting eye for details that make this story a joy to read. If you don't mind roaring at the misfortunes of others, and enjoy wry sarcasm, you will delight in these two stories. Also, you are lying if you don't recognize Uncle Podger in your own family. As I write this review, I'm chuckling over the memory of some of the stories. In fact, you may want to be careful while reading this; you'll continue to laugh later as more layers of Jerome's humor emerge in your mind. A great book for a rainy day!
Rating:
Summary: Comic Genius
Review: I have given away more copies of this book than I care to remember. It is one of the best examples of observational humour which exists in the English literary canon. This book is for anybody who has ever been camping, anybody who has ever been on a family trip, anybody who has been on holiday with friends or anybody who has ever left their house. If you fall into any of these categories, buy this book. If you fall into more than one category buy it now!
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointingly dull
Review: I read this book because it was referred to repeatedly in "To Say Nothing of the Dog" by Connie Willis which I thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortunately, I can't see what she liked about it. In fact, I was so bored I couldn't get through the second book, and I rarely fail to finish a book. There is no real story, and the episodes which are supposed to be amusing just aren't. Unless you are really passionate about unimportant victorian literature, don't waste your time.
Rating:
Summary: An easy read, a very funny book
Review: I recently picked this book up at a store, and enjoyed almost every page of it. The story is of 3 men (and, of course, a dog) taking a boat up the Thames for a little relaxation. You can figure out from there what might happen: a hundred comic misadventures. I was laughing out loud at some of the incidents he describes, which is rare for me. Be aware that the book is Victorian, and does not read like a modern novel (although it is remarkably modern for a 120 year old story). Some may find the style a bit stilted, and the book is definitely funnier at the beginning than it is at the end. Perhaps Jerome was running out of humorous commentary, which would also explain the unexpectedly short finish. All in all, a very enjoyable read, with deserved comparison to Mark Twain. Some may find Connie Willis' "To Say Nothing of the Dog" to be a modern-day, witty follow-up, with several references back to the original. Enjoy this one.
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