British Version of the Odd Couple

My Man Jeeves by PG Wodehouse

Humor

This book was an absolutely delightful surprise.  I am so glad I happened upon it.  It is a classic deserving of that rating.  It's a British comedy, but you don't have to be a fan of that unique British humor to like this.  It's just funny, no matter your nationality.

It is part of a series.  I'm not sure where this one comes and not sure if it even matters.  Apparently there is also a TV show, but I've never seen it.  It was just fine as a stand alone read.  It's a collection of short stories with the same character, Jeeves, but no other connection to one another.  The stories are told through the narrator, Reggie Pepper, who has Jeeves as his butler, or 'man'.  Reggie Pepper gets into the most ridiculous situations, and leaves it up to Jeeves to get him untangled.  It's like a British version of "The Odd Couple".

The book was so very charming, so delightful, so utterly British.  Funny, but also a little sweet.  Reggie is such a great character.  He's so naive and perfectly innocent.  He's the perfect foil for wise and worldly and competent Jeeves, who is so clearly the focus of these books, if not the main character.  The stories are a bit formulaic--Reggie always gets into a situation over his head; he has to ask Jeeves for help; Jeeves almost seem clairvoyant in his answer;  Jeeves often makes the problem worse,with hilarious results.  The formula doesn't really get old.  Just a good, old-fashioned, fun read.