Thursday, December 12, 2013

Book Beginning: Leave It to Psmith by P. G. Wodehouse




Please join me every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.

EARLY BIRDS & SLOWPOKES: This weekly post goes up Thursday evening for those who like to get their posts up and linked early on. But feel free to add a link all week.

FACEBOOK: Rose City Reader now has a Facebook page. I plan to post about new and favorite books, book events, and other bookish tidbits, as well as link to blog posts. I'd love a “Like" on the page! You can go to the page here to Like it, or click the button over there in the right hand column. I am happy to Like you back if you have a blog or professional Facebook page, so please leave a comment with a link and I will find you.

TWITTER, ETC: If you are on Twitter, Google+, or other social media, please post using the hash tag #BookBeginnings. I am trying to follow all Book Beginnings participants on whatever interweb sites you are on, so please let me know if I have missed any and I will catch up.

MR. LINKY



MY BOOK BEGINNING



At the open window of the great library of Blandings Castle, drooping like a wet sock, as was his habit when he had nothing to prop his spine against, the Earl of Emsworth, that amiable and boneheaded peer, stood gazing out over his domain.

-- Leave It to Psmith by P. G. Wodehouse, from Chapter 1, "Dark Plottings at Blandings Castle."

I love P. G. Wodehouse! I've read several of his books, including most of the Bertie Wooster novels and short stories, but I never read his Psmith books. The "P" is silent, like in ptarmigan or psychology or, as Psmith once explains, Pshrimp.

My library recently got several new audio editions available for instant download. They are particularly good to listen to. I have also recently gone back and started reading his books in chronological order because many of the earlier books are available in free Kindle additions.

14 comments:

  1. What a charming and engaging opening - I really will have to get round to reading some of Wodehouse's work one of these days - will check if my library has his title in audio too.

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  2. I haven't read this author, but the beginning piqued my interest.

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  3. Hi Gilion,

    To my shame, I have only ever read one of the great man's books and that, like youself, from the 'Jeeves and Wooster' series.

    I love the opening to this book though, especially the phrase 'drooping like a wet sock', that's what really got me hooked on having the urge to start reading Wodehouse's books again, I had forgotten how quirky and excellent they were.

    Thanks for hosting and sharing your lines this week,

    Yvonne

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  4. I really need to give Wodehouse a try again.

    So many books, so little time.

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  5. I've read a few of P G Wodehouse's books, but not this one. It's good to know the earlier books are available free on Kindle - I'm off to have a look - thanks.

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  6. I enjoyed the Bertie Wooster series and will look out for this book.

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  7. That start makes me want to find the book and start reading.

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  8. I LOVE Wodehouse too! But this is one sort of books I can't listen to,but read. the accent always throws me off. strange as I first learned English from England. too used now to American accents I guess

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  9. I didn't get a chance to write up my book beginnings, but I am linking to a fun post on my blog.

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  10. Thanks for sharing this, Gilion. Love the introduction, so I am off to Amazon to check out Kindle freebies. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  11. Thanks for hosting and once again, you've picked a really interesting book. I hope you have a good weekend! :)
    http://universeinwords.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/friday-at-mansfield-park.html
    Juli @ Universe in Words

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  12. I love Wodehouse, but this is one I haven't read. That "wet sock" remark is wonderful - it sounds so much like PGW!

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  13. I don't think I've read any of the Psmith books either! Will definitely be looking into Leave it to Psmith.

    Happy to be hopping along this week and hope to meet others in the blog hop.

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  14. Looks like a good read! Mine can be found at http://boyett-brinkley.blogspot.com.

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