Jeeves and the Wedding Bells by Sebastian Faulks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in place of an honest review.
I must confess I’ve never read Wodehouse. He’s one of the authors who’s persistently remained midway on my to-read list, keeping Chekhov and Elmore Leonard company. One day, if I can resist slipping in other authors, I’m sure they’ll climb to the top. My only history with Jeeves and Wooster comes from the television series back in the 80s (90s?), so when reading this book, Fry and Laurie continued acting out their roles in my head. I’m more familiar with Sebastian Faulks, since, like the rest of world, I have read and enjoyed Birdsong and Charlotte Gray.
Faulks did a good job with this book. I loved the writing – the language of the oddball characters, Wooster’s thoughts – the words had a bounce and energy that was fun to read. Faulks captured the time and the place perfectly, transporting you back to that Charleston era where everyone who was anyone walked about with a cocktail in their hand. After reading this, Wodehouse has certainly been nudged up the list.
My only complaint, a very minor one, was that the story did drag. All the ingredients of a good farce were present: hidden identities, unrequited love, overheard conversations, but for me at least, a few of those chapters could’ve been tightened around the waist.
All in all, it was a fun read and recommended!