Alan Blair, a neurotic, alcoholic Jewish writer, goes to a writing
colony in Saratoga Springs. He brings along his valet, Jeeves, who may
or may not be Alan’s own ego personified, the result of Alan’s
depression and “an overdose” of P.G. Wodehouse’s books as a remedy.
Either
way, this is a stunningly insightful book. Since it’s about a man
writing a novel, it’s full of mostly unrelated ruminations — bits of
scenes and ideas for novels, for examples — but they are always
interesting, if not hilarious. The dialogue is an homage, respectfully
lifted straight from Wodehouse, but with a modern, Woody Allen-esque
bent. Alan tries to tackle the Homosexual Question, the Jewish Question,
Buddhism, thanatos, eros, suicide, and the rest of the usual Deep
Thought suspects, always with interesting and amusing insight. I’ve
never before read Ames; he’s a terrific writer.
five stars
