P.G. Wodehouse :: Reading to Know Bookclub

Tim (yes, a name!) at Diary of an Autodidac is leading this month's book club selection. He encouraged us to read a P.G. Wodehouse title of our choosing and had these concluding remarks to make:

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Wodehouse’s humor depends on its absurdity. A nobleman excessively devoted to a pig is funny enough. But what about if the pig was to be stolen to protect it from another crazy nobleman who likes to throw eggs at the gardener? Or perhaps we should have people pretending to be other people. Maybe there should be a scene with a pig in the bathroom and an accidental discharge of a gun. How about all of the above?

Or perhaps another idea: what if people believed golf was the most important thing in life, and actually acted that way? How about a story wherein a golfer keeps talking while his girlfriend tries to tee off? How should she handle it? Maybe she should hit him with her niblick. And then, his friend should agree with her approach.

Wodehouse is the master of taking things to a painful extreme in the pursuit of humor. In the process, like all great humorists, he reveals human nature. I enjoyed reading Uncle Fred in the Springtime (linked to review) for this month’s book club selection. I hope that the rest of you have as well, and that you will add Wodehouse to your own libraries.

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So, who picked up a Wodehouse title this past month? I hope you chose to. If you did and have written up a post talking about your Wodehouse experience, please leave a link down in the comment section.

If you are planning to read along with the book club in May, it's time to pick up a copy of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain. Amy at Hope is the Word will be hosting the discussion.