Pearls, Girls, and Monty Bodkin

Montrose (Monty) Bodkin has a lot in common with Bertie Wooster: he gets up to as many antics and falls in love with the same ease, but he is less of a comic caricature. Although he inherited wealth, he is not from an aristocratic family. He has been told by his fiancee's father that he must earn his living for one year to get permission to marry. Monty gets a job with Ivor LLewellyn, a Hollywood tycoon while he and his ambitious wife, Grayce, seek out the rich and titled in England. At the centre of the story is a valuable string of pearls, surrounded by the Llewellen's recently acquired friends and a private detective they hired, who are all odious villains. This was a lot of fun and I liked it even more than Wodehouse's Jeeves and show more Wooster stories, although I believe he could have ended it successfully a hundred pages earlier. show less

Another novel of clever writing and classic humour composed like you'd expect from P.G. Wodehouse.

Not one of his best books, but a dashed good read nonetheless.

I very much enjoyed this late Wodehouse novel, enhanced by Jonathan Cecil's brilliant narration. I was a tiny bit worried that this book, first published in 1972 when Wodehouse was 90, would be lacking some of the sparkle and wit I love so much in the Bertie & Jeeves books. However, while certain elements were familiar, the characters and dialogue were top-notch (and even at his best there was some repetition: Bertie would get embroiled with situation, Jeeves would come up with a scheme which would put Bertie in a ridiculous position but would free him from his entanglement).

Personally I thought that this was better than Piccadilly Jim (which is on the Guardian's list), especially if you want to read a stand-alone.

What a joy to revel in Wodehouse's world! Great laughs on every page, phrases you want to remember forever. Twists and turns and always the world turns out just right! Wonderful escape!

Hmm, I don't think this has made a fan of me. It was enjoyable to read, but the book never got my interests peaked. I was never eager to find out what was going to happen or how someone was going to get out of a sticky situation. It was a just a little too predictable for me.

Absolutely hilarious! Laugh out loud funny! Jonathan Cecil is a fabulous narrator. So many twists and surprises. The turn of phrase is delightful!

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