A Book Revisited: The Luck of the Bodkins

Last week, I had my first post of A Book Revisited. I'm so glad that many of you responded and I do hope to see some of your book choices soon. If you'd like to join the meme, just grab the image above and post about a book you've read in the past that (as far as you know) has had zero or little mention in the book blogosphere. It must be a book you enjoyed and recommend. I understand that it's sometimes not possible to remember everything about a book you've read years ago so just write a brief summary or review and leave a link in the comment section below.

I love, love P.G. Wodehouse. He is my comfort read and yes he has been mentioned before in other blogs but I haven't seen this particular book mentioned anywhere, The Luck of the Bodkins. It's one of my favourite Wodehouse novels. P.G. Wodehouse was a prolific English writer who's regarded as the greatest comic writer of the twentieth century. He wrote more than 100 books. He was created a Knight of the British Empire in 1975. His characters which include Jeeves and Bertie Wooster, are much loved by fans everywhere and have even been played by Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry on British television. Wodehouse novels get  a lot of mileage in my family as my husband and my father are also big fans. My copy of The Luck of the Bodkins is already well-worn as I've lent it around and I think I've read it twice. He's a writer I can turn to when I'm down and need a bit of cheering up. His books never fail to make me laugh out loud or at least bring a smile to my face. Even his character names are hilarious!

If you have yet to try Wodehouse, I think The Luck of the Bodkins is a good place to start. The book is set on a ship crossing the Atlantic from Europe to America. Monty Bodkin is in love with Gertrude who thinks he likes the actress Lotus Blossom. But Lotus definitely loves Ambrose who thinks she's in love with his brother Reggie who adores Mabel Spence, the sister-in-law of movie mogul Ikey Llewellyn, Ambrose's prospective employer. Are you confused yet? Well, a ship is the perfect setting for a screwball and slapstick romantic comedy full of misunderstandings. Trust me this is really fun stuff! 

If you're not convinced yet, just check out the first sentences of the book below. Monty Bodkin is sitting at a hotel terrace in Cannes just before he boards ship.

"Into the face of the young man who sat on the terrace of the Hotel Magnifique at Cannes there had crept a look of furtive shame, the shifty, hangdog look which announces that an Englishman is about to talk French. One of the things which Gertrude Butterwick had impressed upon Monty Bodkin when he left for this holiday on the Riviera was that he must be sure to practise his French and Gertrude's word was law. So now, though he knew that it was going to make his nose tickle, he said..."

Ok, so you'll just have to pick up the book to find out more. Happy reading and I hope I've convinced some of you to finally try some Wodehouse.