'Wake Up, Sir!' by Jonathan Ames is a novel that follows the misadventures of Alan Blair, a neurotic and dipsomaniacal writer who embarks on a journey to an artists' colony in upstate NY. Accompanied by his butler Jeeves, a humorous nod to P.G. Wodehouse's characters, Blair navigates through comedic mishaps and eccentric characters as he seeks inspiration for his second novel. The narrative is filled with witty observations, quirky humor, and a touch of surrealism, offering a unique take on the journey of self-discovery and creative pursuit.
Ames' writing style in 'Wake Up, Sir!' has been praised for its humor, clever dialogue, and insightful narration. The book expertly blends elements of comedy, introspection, and absurdity, creating a narrative that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Through the character of Alan Blair, the novel explores themes of alcoholism, creativity, and the complexities of human relationships, all while maintaining a lighthearted and engaging tone.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of alcoholism, mental health issues, and dark humor regarding personal crises.
Has Romance?
There are elements of romance present in the story, but they are not the main focus.
From The Publisher:
What kind of book has Jonathan Ames written this time? Well, think of Cervantes' Don Quixote, except that Wake Up, Sir! is not as good. But that's all right - no book is as good as Don Quixote. You might also think of A Confederacy of Dunces, but there again Ames's book falls short. I think, though, we might be pushing this humility business too far.
So how else might we describe this brilliant, comedic, and literary novel? How about brilliant and comedic and literary, which we just used. One could also apply such adjectives as: exuberant, zany, and sexy. God forbid we should give you four adjectives in a row, but you know how it is: The Rule of Three Adjectives!
In fairness, I should say that the last adjective mentioned is somewhat misleading. But there is one rather long sex scene in the book, worthy of placement in Krafft-Ebing's Psychopathia Sexualis, so it's not entirely misleading.
I imagine that it's about time we gave you a plot summary, without giving too much away, which is never an easy task:
Alan Blair is a young, loony writer with numerous problems of the mental, emotional, sexual, spiritual, and physical variety. He's very good at problems. He's also quite skilled at getting into trouble. But luckily for Alan, he has a personal valet, a wondrously helpful fellow named Jeeves, who does his best to sort things out for his young master.
Our tale begins in Montclair, New Jersey, where Alan gets into a scrape with his uncle Irwin, a gun-toting member of the NRA. So Alan and Jeeves flee New Jersey and take refuge at a Hasidic enclave in Sharon Springs, New York. Unfortunately, more trouble ensues - involving a woman! - so Alan and Jeeves again take flight, this time landing at a famous artist colony in Saratoga Springs, New York. There Alan encounters a gorgeous femme fatale who is in possession of the most spectacular nose in the history of noses. Such a nose can only lead to a wild disaster for someone like Alan, and Jeeves tries to help him, but...
Happy reading!
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1 comment(s)
Not a terrible read, but a poor attempt at making a modern Jeeves and Wooster.
What can you read after
Wake Up, Sir!?
About the Author:
Jonathan Ames is the author of I Pass Like Night; The Extra Man; What's Not to Love?; My Less Than Secret Life; Wake Up, Sir!; I Love You More Than You Know; The Alcoholic; and The Double Life Is Twice As Good. He's the creator of the HBO® Original Series Bored to Death and has had two amateur boxing matches, fighting as "The Herring Wonder." His most recent work is the detective novel A Man Named Doll.
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