The Blandings Books

[mikey4444]

I have just finished the 3rd in the series, Heavy Weather, and I am thoroughly enjoying them. I have always been a fan of the Jeeves series but, if anything, I think Wodehouse made an even better job with the Blandings books.

I would like to recommend that others try them and have the same laugh-out-loud experience as I am !

[hc4361]

They are great, aren't they? I was a bit worried about the BBC tv series making a hash of the books but both series have been perfect Sunday evening viewing.

[mikey4444]

I have enjoyed the BBC series as well, and it was watching the latest series that had me rooting about in second-hand bookshops these last 2 weeks !

I managed to complete my collection, by going onto ebay, a surprising choice
for second-hand books and one that I will use again.

[whirlyhurly]

Oh yes, so enjoyable, these books are pure escapism and cheer me up no end.

[Buenchico]

I still prefer the Jeeves series, simply because the characters seem to 'leap off the page' more for me, but the Blandings books also possess a certain charm.

Anyway, Wodehouse really only wrote two books didn't he? The Jeeves series nearly always follow the same basic storyline (substituting a cow creamer for a statue or one potential fiancée for another one) as do the Blandings ones.

If you fancy something else, light, very funny and extremely well-constructed, Mikey, get hold of a copy of 'Let The People Sing' by J B Priestley. It's a masterpiece of story-telling.

[mikey4444]

Thanks Buenchico...I will keep an eye out for it...I am always looking for something new !

[Buenchico]

Around three quid, including postage, here:
http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?an=priestley&sts=t&tn=let+the+people+sing

[mikey4444]

Thanks Buenchico part 2 ....found and ordered on eBay...£2.98, incl p+p !

I have used eBay many times over the last few years but I have only recently discovered what a good source they are for second hand books.
I have been building up my collection of Neville Shute and eBay has been invaluable.

[sunny-dave]

Chris (and Mikey) - you should also read JB Priestley's 'English Journey' - a fascinating (and very readable) account of his journey around England in 1933. Truly a lost world.

[Buenchico]

Thanks, S-D. I'll add that to my list of Priestley reading. (I know that I've got one of his novels, still to be read by me, somewhere in my house but I can't find it at the moment!)

[sunny-dave]

He's a very under-rated (or even forgotten) author.

He also wrote the play "An Inspector Calls" - which was turned into one of my favourite ever films with the peerless Alastair Sim

[Buenchico]

>>>He's a very under-rated (or even forgotten) author

If you ask for his works in secondhand book shops, the proprietors usually have no problem in finding copies of his plays but his novels are far harder to come by. (Yes, I know that they're available on eBay or Abebooks but that takes the fun out of looking for them!).

I must have seen 'An Inspector Calls' performed by both professional and amateur theatre companies, as well as on film, at least a dozen times!

[sunny-dave]

I've shifted scenery for some of them Chris ...

[sunny-dave]

Keep an eye out for the Folio Society edition of English Journey - I treated myself a while ago - the period photos are excellent and the intro by Margaret Drabble is good value too.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2053587.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.XEnglish+Journey+J+B+Priestley+folio&_nkw=English+Journey+J+B+Priestley+folio&_sacat=0&_from=R40

[mikey4444]

Thanks sunny. I remember that Radio 4 broadcast Priestly's English Journey radio broadcasts, with Patrick Stewart reading as Priestly. I was impressed with these and I am sure that they available somewhere...the iplayer perhaps ?

There are so many good authors that were active in the post war years. I have mentioned Shute, and I reckon that "A Town like Alice" and "On the Beach" are almost perfect novels. But he wrote many others, like "Requiem for a Wren" and "Trustee from the Toolroom" which are think are every bit as good. In fact I don't think he wrote a dud all his life.

I used to read voraciously as a boy and a teenager, and I remember my Mum pushing a copy of A J Cronin's "Beyond this Place" in my direction. I thought it wasn't really what a 14 year old should be reading, but I persevered, and so glad I did. I have since read many other by him and they are all marvellous. I must have read "The Keys to the Kingdom" at least 3 times.

Not sure what it was about those post-war years that produced such good writers, but perhaps it was something about the war experiences that did the trick.

A good book is a good friend...never a truer word has been said !

[sunny-dave]

"In the Wet" is my favourite Shute - very impressive writing.

[heathfield]

I love Wodehouse, but have trouble remembering which I've read and which I haven't. Trying to figure this out by looking at the text on a page or two doesn't really work. As Chris says - he only wrote about two different plots!

[sandyRoe]

I saw The Good Companions on TV and planned to get the book from the library but never did. This thread has reminded me about it.

[inksplotter]

I think Something Fresh (also known as Something New) is best. Not exactly fresh, fresh-ish.