Book #1 of 2022. The perfect start to the year.
I was thinking a lot about which book was the perfect one to start this year off with. I had to carefully decide, you know, because I strongly believe it will set the tone of your following reads. And you can't imagine my delight when I stumbled upon The Inimitable Jeeves when I visited India last month. So here goes the first review of the year :)
This novel was the first to feature Bertie Wooster and his valet, Jeeves, as central characters. Wooster's schoolmate, Richard "Bingo" Little, is unbelievably infatuated with almost every second woman he sees throughout the book, and since he and Bertie go way back, Wooster helplessly assists him in the impossible mission of uniting Bingo and that unlucky woman.
Wooster is a character who has little ambition and drive to seize the day. In fact, he goes nuts if anyone speaks to him before he has had his breakfast and tea! And while there were a few unavoidable moments where this had happened (mostly due to Bingo Little's incessant ranting about his 'true love' as well as the eccentric twins, Claude and Eustace), you can rest assured that Jeeves would never let Wooster be away from his cherished routine.
Words can't express how poised, gentlemanly, and ingenious Jeeves is. I mean, he is the person to go to when in 'soup' (as Wooster said it numerous times). From pieces of accessories to Bingo's love life (yes, that is the most dangerous a situation can get), Jeeves has the remedy for everything. Wooster, and even his friends and acquaintances, consult Jeeves in order to make the right move for anything. And who can blame Jeeves for influencing Bertie to suit his own preferences? The latter had grown to not take any rash decisions that may offend the inimitable Jeeves.
Final thoughts
P.G. Wodehouse is an utter genius when it comes to crafting a scene so hilariously chaotic. The expressions his characters speak are incredibly amusing, by Jove! Whilst reading this novel I had felt that it was rather odd for a novel to be like a collection of episodes, but Wodehouse is more than just a writer of wit. Every instance in this book was cleverly imagined and was so impactful that anyone who stumbles upon this gem of a book will be able to picture every minute detail. And who knows? Maybe, you will find yourself to be crafting your own episodes with Wooster and Jeeves, because that's the effect these characters will have on you.
Rating: ★★★★
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