Book reviews: P.G. Wodehouse, Beryl Bainbridge, Mary Norton

For those new to my challenge, I am reviewing every single book I read during this year, regardless of whatever I pick up (as my reading tastes are fairly eclectic, and rather broad!). I am curious to see how many books I get through in a year, as although a fairly quick reader, I am limited to reading mainly on the commute to the full-time job.

So without further ado, here are the next three on the list…

The Borrowers Afield, by Mary Norton
The Inimitable Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse
The Bottle Factory Outing, by Beryl Bainbridge


The Borrowers Afield, by Mary Norton
Illustrations by Diana Stanley
First published by Dent 1955
This edition published by Puffin Books, 1970

This is Mary’s sequel to The Borrowers, the tale of tiny folk who live behind the cracks in houses. In The Borrowers Afield, the Clock family (Pod, Homily and fourteen year old Arrietty) have left the safe world of the house behind them and are pitting their wits in the wild.

What I like about this book is that Mary Norton doesn’t use any short-cuts; she thinks about what a tiny person would have to contend with, what they would eat, where they would live, how they would protect themselves – and it is all perfectly feasible. There are no diversions into magic or talking animals, and because of that The Borrowers feel quite real. There are also lovely touches of humour and description – you quite understand Arietty’s longing to see the world. Reading this book is like being wrapped up in autumn; you can taste the berries, smell the trees, see the colours. A gentle sequel in many ways, but very enjoyable.


The Inimitable Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse
First published by Herbert Jenkins 1924
This edition published by Penguin Books 1973

This was a delight from beginning to end. Although Jeeves as a character had been introduced in several short stories prior to this book, here he comes into his own. For those not familiar, Jeeves is the exceedingly clever valet to rich young Bertie Wooster, and is the man who constantly saves Bertie from various disasters, be they social, financial, or, heavens forbid, his Aunt Agatha paying a visit. Set in the era in which they were written, flitting between London and New York, these stories sing of gentlemen’s clubs, the Serpentine, ‘blighted tea-and-bun shops’, wearing the wrong socks, the theatre and what sport one may find in the country.

You sense that P.G.Wodehouse had fun writing these books, as he is a complete master of language and knows how to make words dance for him. Even the chapter titles give away the clue you are in for a treat, with gems such as ‘Jeeves Exerts the Old Cerebellum’ and ‘The Great Sermon Handicap’. There is a lovely subtle humour throughout the book that is never over-played, and the result is a real romp of a read, even if you spend the next few days talking like a Wooster.


The Bottle Factory Outing, by Beryl Bainbridge
First published by Gerald Duckworth & Co Ltd 1974
This edition published by Fontana 1976

Here we are introduced to larger than life Freda with her love of exuberant drama, and Brenda who wants to creep around the corners of her life like a pale mouse. The unlikely duo share a flat in London, and both work at in the bottle factory. Freda is convinced that all the Italian men at the factory fancy her, and decides to arrange an outing to spice up her imagined entanglements. However nothing goes as she planned.

This is a strange unnerving story – it starts off in humour, but there is an air of unease from the start that the outing will go wrong in some way. When it does; the mood of the story shifts entirely into dark tragedy. It becomes less about Freda and Brenda, and more about society in general, how sad it can be when you realise some folk in this world have such flimsy anchors in life. If they break, who knows or cares?

It is good to have books that challenge you occasionally, and although the subject matter is a little bleak, the descriptions of the little flat in London and the characters themselves are very vivid without being over-blown. The contrast between the beginning and the end is very clever, and the writing is really magnificent. It’s not a long book so in a way it is an easy read, but is it really? Only you will know.

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And now for Blog Parties!

There are two fantastic blog parties continuing this weekend, and you can attend both from the comfort of your chair. Karen G is holding a lovely blog BBQ, and Donna a fab blog party. All you have to do to join the fun is to pop over to each, follow them, leave a comment and then browse through the comments already there and find some new fantastic people to follow! If you do pop over then please help yourself to a glass of the finest pink fizz at Karen's, which was my virtual contribution, and at Donna's tell Colin Firth to hold off from diving into the pond in his dress shirt until I am back there to ogle. Thanks!