Mike at Wrykyn

3.5

For those considering this (the first half of the 1909 novel Mike; unabridged version bizarrely out of print since... 1935?), I should like to clear some things up.

There's not *that* much cricket. I mean to say, yes, it's a public school story about a cricket genius prodigy boy, and there is indeed cricket, but as far as I can recollect, only two chapters focusing almost solely on the cricket play-by-play, those chapters indeed being unintelligible.
But the chapters here are short, and many.

Besides that, a pleasant read. 'Pleasant' isn't exactly the highest praise I can give a book, but with Wodehouse that doesn't matter, as a lot of things don't.
Despite being his first 'adult' book, it reads rather like what we would now call show more YA.

Fast paced (it's Wodehouse) and inclusive of far more humour (often of the quiet sort) than I had been led to believe.
I'd gotten the impression from certain reviews that this was a dull, unfunny tale of altogether too much cricket.
And it is dull, in its way, but its way has a certain charm about it.
And in certain passages, you can see the Real Wodehouse poking in his nose.

Certainly, though, believe neither the writer nor the likes of Orwell when they say this is Plum's best work.
I think that you'd have to be an obscenely old Englishman with fond reminisces of Eton or something to believe that.
The rose-tint is powerful in those chaps.

Still: fun, funny, with a couple memorable characters and some impractical life advice: Wodehouse, then. show less

Another of Wodehouse's early school stories, this is actually the first half of a novel in two parts - not that it shows too badly. The two halves of Mike, originally published in 1909, were set two years apart at two different schools, so reprinting them with new titles as two separate books isn't a terribly detrimental decision. (The other half, reprinted as first Enter Psmith and later Mike and Psmith, introduces one of Wodehouse's more famous comic characters.)

As with earlier books, Wodehouse has a great grasp for the slangy dialogue and political machinations of a boys' public school. His earliest "novels" feel more like short stories strung together, though (and to a large degree, they are), and thankfully, that's missing here. show more The whole unit is far more cohesive, and thankfully, he's finally learned to pull back somewhat on the sheer number of characters.

It isn't a very funny book, but it's a perfectly pleasant boys' sporting story. You're sure to like it even more if you understand the ins and outs of cricket. show less

Reading this novel easily tripled my knowledge of cricket. The best chapter was #19, Mike Goes Back to Sleep Again (seriously) because it had a useful lesson. Otherwise, it was a cute story of a boy trying to make the team at his school and dealing with the other boys.

Lots and lots of cricket. If there is an 'old school' of school stories, then this is a prime example: acts of self-sacrifice, mass rebellion, stirring sportsmanship. Like swimming in nostalgia.

Follows the career of Mike Jackson, the youngest of the Jackson brothers, at Wrykyn as he distinguishes himself as the most talented among his family's cricket dynasty. He has some growing up to do, and I especially enjoyed the story line of he and is older brother Bob, the only one still at Wrykyn, navigating their relationship. Cricket captain Burgess has a bit of a headache, with too many Jacksons and not enough spots on the team. Also features Mike's roommate and friend Wyatt; younger sister Marjory makes a few appearances; head of house Firby-Smith, also known as Gazeka; Clowes and Trevor are apparently still at Wrykyn.

A short early novel about Michael Jackson, a friend of Psmith, who is in his first year at Wrykyn, a public school. The drama is centered around how Mike gets to be on the cricket team even though he is so young and how he saves the match during the big game.

Eerder gepubliceerd als Mike, in 1953 uitgebracht in twee delen: Mike at Wrykyn en Mike and Psmith