So true to life (Three Men in a Boat - Jerome K. Jerome)

Member Name: CaptainP

Product:	Three Men in a Boat - Jerome K. Jerome
Date:	28/03/03 (380 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Humour, Cheer you up

Disadvantages: Too short

Three men, a boat, 1 dog, luggage, food, the river.............a perfect setting for much farce and antics which Jerome describes so well. Having decided that they were not well, indeed having refered to a medical dictionary decided that they were suffereing from all ailments except for housemaids knee, to which they took great offence and wondered what on earth could be wrong with them that they weren't suffering from it, the friends decide eventually on a boat trip up the Thames to get some well earned rest.

However from the packing of the luggage to the attempts at cooking, the cheerful banter to the bickering, the floating along through the lovely scenery to the missing home comforts.... the trip, as you can imagine, turns more into a slapstick comedy. Jerome describes it so well that you don't need to have been there and can just let your imagination wander.

It is a book about situation comedy, not one line gags. It is a look at the humerous side of everyday life, in things we take for granted, all built up into a very funny story.

Only the reading of the book could do it full justice, the situations, the humour and the banter. It does, as stated by others, make you curl up with permanent giggles without being purposefully funny in every sentence.

I spent a few years on barge holidays with friends (although no dog - however some of the girls were............ooooo hush, no, sorry girls!!) and can assure you that the situations, although written about over 100 years ago, are not too dissimilar to current day mishaps on the river.

Jerome's writing is not in any way dated, although comments like 'I took up my candle and retired to bed' make you realise that this was all pre-electricity.

A classic read, and one to cheer you up whatever your mood. A must have for the bookshelf for those times when we're not quite feeling our best and need to smile about something. Especially when you realis
e how our view of life hasn't changed over the years despite the advances in other areas.

And if you are able to take a boat holiday with friends, do so, and see how funny it really is!

Summary: