Something New

My first Wodehouse novel, and it’s great; legitimately funny. I listened to an audio version from the Phoebe Reads a Mystery podcast. Some annoying / weird slang from early 20th c. UK, and although set in England everyone referred to stuff in dollars. I suppose this was a US publication of it? Anyway, tight plotting, a fun whodunit with low stakes.

Noted on September 19, 2021

He uses a character trope that I’ve seen in movies and TV but never in a novel - the efficient Baxter is a butler who is trying to foil our heroes plan, but all his efforts redound upon his own head and he never correctly understands what’s actually happening. It’s one step away from the sister in Phineas and Ferb who can never successfully tattle on her brothers. What else? It seems this happens a lot in magic stories? Oh, the Hogwarts caretaker Filch is a good example for sure. I would love to know the name of this trope.

Noted on April 13, 2022