The Books

[2cbetter2.livejournal.com]

I finished the TV series last week :( but I'm not ready to say goodbye either Jeeves or Bertie yet so I am going to start my quest this week to read the books and I was wondering do I absolutely need to read them in exact order or can I be a bit lax about it?

Comments

[princesshannah4.livejournal.com]

You'd be surprised, but reading them in order is how Wodehouse himself prefers them to be read. I read the Collector's Wodehouse edition of Very Good, Jeeves (the third book) first and there was a preface by Plum himself that basically said "Read these books in order to get the most out of them. Here's how to ask for the first two books in English and in French." (not making that up)

[princesshannah4.livejournal.com]

Sorry if I wasn't being clear: I guess it's okay to read them out of order, but events DO carry over from story to story. When Bertie and Roderick Glossop become friends, they stay friends. When Bertie is insulted by the Broadway producer's son, he remembers it the next time they cross paths. Etc.

[2cbetter2.livejournal.com]

Okay I'll make an effort to read the books in order, thanks.

[ironicbees.livejournal.com]

You certainly don't need to read them in order (I think most people probably don't do it), but I'd recommend it. Although reading out of order won't detract from your enjoyment of the series, there's a fair amount of character development that can be easily missed.

It's fine if you don't read them in absolutely exact order. I would suggest reading the short story collections themselves, if not the actual stories within them, in order, however: "Carry On Jeeves", then "The Inimitable Jeeves", then "Very Good, Jeeves", and then the novels.

[2cbetter2.livejournal.com]

Okay so you're saying I ought to read the short stories BEFORE reading the novels themselves?

[goodnightsong.livejournal.com]

It depends on whether you're reading for character & relationship development, or if you're just reading for fun. If the former, then yeah, it'd be a good idea to go with the short stories first.

[ironicbees.livejournal.com]

Oh, crap, sorry, that was me! I didn't realise my sister hadn't signed out of her account. :(

[2cbetter2.livejournal.com]

I think I'd like to go for character and relationship development.

[derien.livejournal.com]

Yes, he wrote the short stories first and then worked himself up to doing a novel. The first 'novel' is actually still short stories, though sometimes plot extends through two or three stories in a row.

[princesshannah4.livejournal.com]

Wait, The Inimitable Jeeves actually comes first. I know that Carry On, Jeeves has the story when they first meet (more of a flashback story), but it also has a story where Bingo is married.

[goodnightsong.livejournal.com]

Well, the first half of "Carry On, Jeeves" is first. The second half (starting with "The Rummy Affair of Old Biffy") is chronologically sort of mixed in with other later stories.

[ironicbees.livejournal.com]

Argh, accidentally reliped from my sister's account! I forgot to check if she was logged out first.

[zekkass.livejournal.com]

Eh, read them however you want to. I generally recommend starting with the short stories and working forward, but there's no real need, as long as you're flexible and remember that Bingo can be married in one book and single in the next.

[2cbetter2.livejournal.com]

LOL, I'll remember that about Bingo if I decide not to go in order, thanks!

[hazeltea.livejournal.com]

IAWTC

[thistlethorn.livejournal.com]

I haven't had enough of the books yet to read them strictly in order (and who can wait to get them all before starting? :-)), but I agree that to avoid a certain amount of confusion, reading in order is helpful. Luckily, the books I had on hand contained some of the earlier stories.

This list at The Hat Sharpening Shop seems to be a decent guide (correct me, anyone, if I'm wrong on that score!):
http://www.hatsharpening.com/j&w/allstories.php

Edited to add: On looking at that page again, it appears that having The World Of Jeeves might a good way to cover a lot of the short stories from the books that ironicbees suggested. That was one of the ones I already had on my bookshelves.

[emeraldreeve.livejournal.com]

I started by reading them out of order, but I'd recommend reading them in order, if you wish to see character and relationship developing. I really appreciated them more by reading in order. Have fun!