The Girl in Blue

by P. G. Wodehouse

Just a nice little book – nothing heavy, everything works out well for the right people, and it’s a funny without being hilarious.

When Homer’s sister (Barney) is caught shoplifting, “it was a sort of mental illness… She helped herself because she couldn’t help herself.” (2)

Vera’s mother, encouraging Vera to marry Homer: “A man who writes little poems can’t have any sales resistance.” (42)

Something was done “with the swiftness of a conjuror de-rabitting a top hat.” (49)

“He stared at Homer as a snail might have staired at another snail which had said something to shake it to its depths.” (151)

“You’re one of those guys who can make a party just by leaving it.” (181)

I listened to part of this as an audiobook, and for a few pages I was listening and reading at the same time. This is how I noticed a small change. On p. 82, there is the line, “He’s driving me over to Canterbury to see the cathedral.” But in the audiobook, it says Salisbury, not Canterbury. The print book I have is an early edition, and I’ve noticed other changes like this, usually to punch up a line. But this edit doesn’t seem to change anything, and I wonder why he changed it. On p. 123, the city’s name is repeated, and again it is Canterbury in print and Salisbury in audio, so it was pretty deliberate. This is the kind of thing that is much too obscure to ever get an answer to, but I often notice little edits like this when listening and reading together.

Several times the book refers to guardian angels, especially on p. 180. Jerry is grateful to his. Of course, the angel is the author of the book, who works things out for the best for the characters he loves.

Vocab

• bien-être - well being (51)
• banquette seating - a bench placed against a wall, like a corner booth (51)
• commination - a formal denunciation, possible with threats. Also the Church of England’s Ash Wednesday service, which includes a recital of God’s anger and judgements. (174)
• dudgeon - the haft (handle) of a dagger. (178 - Here it seems to mean sharp words; Vera is stabbing Jerry with them.)
• a “hey you” at a shop - another term for a gofer. (36)
• sedulous - Done with careful perseverange. (22)
• spongebag trousers - slacks, gray with darker gray stripes. Spongebag refers to the pattern. Formal daytime pants. (49)