Victorians! discussion

Hello, Vics! Today we embark on our journey on the Thames! (I'm traveling IRL this weekend, and so taking the liberty to post a bit early.) Grab your straw hats and parasols! Off we go!

Three Men in a Boat

The first section (and perhaps the whole novel) seems characterized by the author describing his experiences with such minutia of detail as to bring out hilarity in the commonest things. Jerome makes a meal out of hypochondria, picture hanging, stinky cheese, the weather report, gathering supplies, and decision-making of every kind.

Personally, I spent the first five chapters giggling and shaking my head. Such silliness!

Possible Topics for Discussion:
1) Character Analysis- What can you tell so far about the narrator and his friends, George and Harris? How would you describe them?
2) What do we know so far about Montmorency? What is Jerome's relationship with his dog?
3) What can we tell about the fellows from the opening scene and how do they come to the decision to take a holiday boating on the river?
4) What difficulties ensue during the packing and gathering of supplies?
5) What are your favorite asides to the main story? What makes these asides so delightful to you?

As always, the above are merely suggestions. Discuss whatever aspects of this section which appeal to you. Please avoid spoilers for those of us reading this novel for the first time.

I am finding this only charming and mildly amusing so far, but will press on.

One interesting note was the cheese episode, funny in itself, but one of my childhood friends and her father used to always refer to bad smells as having

a faint odour of melons and then collapsing in fits of laughter and I've finally learned where that came from!

I'm just imagining reading this aloud to one's child. What a great source of inside jokes!

Renee wrote: "Character Analysis- What can you tell so far about the narrator and his friends, George and Harris? How would you describe them? ."

O don't think we can take a single thing the narrator says, especially about his companions, at face value. As to their real characters, I think we can say little if anything. As to their characters as falsified by their "friend," well, that's another thing entirely.

Renee wrote: "I'm just imagining reading this aloud to one's child. What a great source of inside jokes!"

Wouldn't it have to be a somewhat older child to get most of the humor? The hypochondriac section, for example -- what child would appreciate that, though haven't we all had the experience of reading about the side effects of medicine we're taking and realize that, egad, we DO have those side affects?

And packing for a trip -- children get packed for, they don't pack, so I think most of that humor would be lost on them.

I think this is the sort of humor that is most effectively enjoyed by those who have been through these very experiences (p[acking for a camping trip, hanging a picture!!) and can see at least some of their own experiences mirrored there, even if in a very amusement-park-style mirror.

Perhaps, but the 7-9 year-olds with whom I work would get most of the humor here. The stinky cheese, the hypochondria, the picture hanging, even the packing... For while they don't pack for themselves, they've seen what gets jammed into the family car. Or onto the beach for a days outing.

Certainly some things wouldn't translate. Like the towing anecdotes or the bit about the train.
It takes more experience with human nature to appreciate the humor there.

I like things that work on several levels of humor. This abounds in silliness and absurdity. But there is also plenty of wry observation.

I have to admit that at first I didn't pick up that Montmorency was the dog of the subtitle... Or even a dog at all. I think it's delightful that J ascribes so much personality to his canine companion.

I read the first 30 pages and found myself laughing out loud. Mainly because I have done the same thing to myself. You have a pain and go to a medical website and look up the symptoms. Sometimes it can scare the daylights out of you, especially if it says could be a sign of cancer.

oh yes! Medical websites bring out the worst ailments! especially if there are pictures

The hypochondria bit I could relate to a lot- I think what is fun about this book is that he finds humour in everyday situations-- perhaps a tiny bit exaggerated but, it is things one has experienced or is likely to have.

The cheese episode was one I never forget nor everyone treading on the butter when packing it. The toothbrush was something I could relate to by experience too :)

Cindy wrote: "I read the first 30 pages and found myself laughing out loud. Mainly because I have done the same thing to myself. You have a pain and go to a medical website and look up the symptoms. Sometimes it..."

This always seems to happen and it IS scary- I try not to look as far as can be helped.

Renee wrote: "I have to admit that at first I didn't pick up that Montmorency was the dog of the subtitle... Or even a dog at all. I think it's delightful that J ascribes so much personality to his canine compan..."

In the first chapter, one can't really make out, you're right.

Renee wrote: "I have to admit that at first I didn't pick up that Montmorency was the dog of the subtitle... ."

Especially since he just uses the first name for George. William Samuel Harris gets his full name, but George and Montmorency are both just called by their first names.

Yes, very tricky!

I am so reminded of "Monty Python's Flying Circus"! John Cleese, et.al. must have absorbed this book by osmosis.

To take an ordinary thing, like packing for a trip, and taking it to the utmost absurdity with a bunch of slapstick for good measure is quite an art. Now George's slipper started being packed into a kettle, was scraped out, put on a chair, sat on, stuck on George, at long last found, and re-packed in a tea pot. Who would think to pack slippers in a kettle to begin with?

I do like Harris, when everything is said and done, he knows "where you could really get a drop of Irish worth drinking."
What else do you need?

Kerstin wrote: "To take an ordinary thing, like packing for a trip, and taking it to the utmost absurdity with a bunch of slapstick for good measure is quite an art. ..."

That's just what I enjoy about it- he finds humour in ordinary things which may simply be frustrating to others (the packing) or a source of fear (the hypochondria).

I've only read chapter one and it's even funnier than I remember it. I couldn't get a decent audio as I don't have enough credits for Audible. I just may have to persevere with the old-fashioned way. I was grinning until my cheeks hurt ... now where's that medical dictionary?

I've been doing a lot of eyeball reading on this one, Hilary. And finding it deliciously amusing. I can easily see how it would stay fresh on a reread. I love comedians who make us laugh at our own common experience.

this is my favourite book, has been for fifty years now. IT makes me laugh every time i read it, which i suppose must be upwards of thirty times by now. stilli always laugh at the housemaid's knee, the cheese ("what is it? Tell me the worst"), the packing of the hamper, not being able to find the train to Kingston etc.

All wonderful moments!