Three Men in a Boat
Registered by 
GoryDetails
of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 1/26/2023
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
GoryDetails of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 1/26/2023 This Book is Currently in the Wild!
1 journaler for this copy...
I got this UK-edition softcover from Better World Books, for another release copy - inspired by Peter Lovesey's "Sergeant Cribb" novel Swing, Swing Together, which features Jerome's novel throughout the plot.
I really enjoy Jerome's writing. The chatty/snarky tone, slightly peevish when the narrator is feeling put-upon (which he often is) and more than slightly smug the rest of the time, is great fun, and there are some surprisingly lyrical descriptive passages sprinkled among the humor. Jerome managed to make me want to take a boat up the canals even as he described the drawbacks of doing so. "Glad I'm not there" warred with "wish I could do that" at almost every turn!
This is one of those books that I studded with markers as I read, since so many hilarious passages struck me as quote-worthy, only to find that I'd have to cite the whole book, so I've tried to limit myself.
Here's a sample of Jerome-ian philosophy:
And this one, when he's been tapped to take a turn steering the boat:
I've also enjoyed an unabridged-audio version of this, via Audible.com. And there's a 1956 film version, which I found amusing if not especially faithful to the book.
The TV Tropes page for the book is quite entertaining, btw.
I really enjoy Jerome's writing. The chatty/snarky tone, slightly peevish when the narrator is feeling put-upon (which he often is) and more than slightly smug the rest of the time, is great fun, and there are some surprisingly lyrical descriptive passages sprinkled among the humor. Jerome managed to make me want to take a boat up the canals even as he described the drawbacks of doing so. "Glad I'm not there" warred with "wish I could do that" at almost every turn!
This is one of those books that I studded with markers as I read, since so many hilarious passages struck me as quote-worthy, only to find that I'd have to cite the whole book, so I've tried to limit myself.
Here's a sample of Jerome-ian philosophy:
"How good one feels when one is full - how satisfied with ourselves and with the world! People who have tried it, tell me that a clear conscience makes you very happy and contented; but a full stomach does the business quite as well, and is cheaper, and more easily obtained."
And this one, when he's been tapped to take a turn steering the boat:
"It always does seem to me that I am doing more work than I should do. It is not that I object to the work, mind you; I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours."
I've also enjoyed an unabridged-audio version of this, via Audible.com. And there's a 1956 film version, which I found amusing if not especially faithful to the book.
The TV Tropes page for the book is quite entertaining, btw.
Journal Entry 2 by GoryDetails at Boylston St. (see notes) in Boston, Massachusetts USA on Thursday, February 2, 2023
GoryDetails at Boylston St. (see notes) in Boston, Massachusetts USA on Thursday, February 2, 2023
Released 1 mo ago (2/2/2023 UTC) at Boylston St. (see notes) in Boston, Massachusetts USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I plan to release this book in a bundle with Swing, Swing Together, leaving them somewhere in or near Abe and Louie's Steakhouse at 793 Boylston, while on my way to lunch with a friend. Hope someone enjoys the books! [See other recent releases in MA here.]
** Released for the 2023 Great Backyard Bird Count challenge; see the Audubon site for info on the GBBC. **
** Released for the 2023 52 Towns in 52 Weeks challenge. **
** Released for the 2023 Movie challenge. **
