Porterhouse Blue

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Summary: The Hilarious world at the top of British academia
Review: A hilarious tale of the strange world that one finds at a place like Cambridge. While one is almost tempted to say, 'yes, but it's actually fiction,' the truth is not far from Sharpe's tale of disaster and woe at this fictional Cambridge college.

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Summary: The humour is academic.
Review: A satirical leg-pull on one of Britains most august institutions, the Oxbridge College. All the pomp is there, the swan stuffed with widgeon, ageing dons clinging to their chairs with dead cold hands, gate porters who have more in common with east european secret police than with door men.

Within this stuffy and pompous world Sharpe sets a hilarious story. Gas filled condoms bobbing on the lawn, exploding chimneys, numerous haircuts on the one day. All the elements of a good farce are brought together to give a really good funny read. Not the funniest Sharpe novel, but definitely on form.

Rating:
Summary: The humour is academic.
Review: A satirical leg-pull on one of Britains most august institutions, the Oxbridge College. All the pomp is there, the swan stuffed with widgeon, ageing dons clinging to their chairs with dead cold hands, gate porters who have more in common with east european secret police than with door men.

Within this stuffy and pompous world Sharpe sets a hilarious story. Gas filled condoms bobbing on the lawn, exploding chimneys, numerous haircuts on the one day. All the elements of a good farce are brought together to give a really good funny read. Not the funniest Sharpe novel, but definitely on form.

Rating:
Summary: Glorious send-up of classic British university life
Review: Hilarious, witty, wonderful book. The TV series (which appeared on PBS but does not seem, regrettably, to be available on video) did the book justice, but Sharpe's prose is outstanding. No aspect of tradition or effort to dislodge it escape's the author's scrutiny. Well worth reading again and again.

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Summary: Laugh Out Loud Funny
Review: I listened to the unabridged audio version of this book, and laughed from the beginning to the end. I've also listened to Ancestral Vices, another very funny book. I think the way to tell if a book is really funny is to read it (or listen to it)again, and if you still laugh hysterically, while already knowing the outcome, it really is well done. Porterhouse Blue passed this test with flying colors, as it kept me awake and entertained driving through the night on a cross-country journey.

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Summary: Not his best work
Review: I read this book after reading the Wilt series and Indecent Exposure. I must say I was a bit disappointed. It's just that the book didn't have the same sort of manic pacing that Sharpe's other books have. The plot moved along, but I didn't really care about what was happening to the characters. While it does have some of Sharpe's trademark humor, I wouldn't recommend this book as a starting point for Tom Sharpe's work.

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Summary: Very funny, but somewhat inaccessible
Review: Of all Tom Sharpe's novels, _Porterhouse Blue_ is perhaps the least accessible. It helps to know something of Cambridge, Peterhouse in particular. Hugh Trevor-Roper, Lady Alexandra, Brian Wormald, and others make barely disguised appearances. Likewise does it help to know something of the Cambridge tripos system and the actual role of the colleges in undergraduate life. Helps to know something, that is, but not too much, as "true insiders" have told me it barely scratches the surface. Overall, funny and viciously satirical, but not Tom Sharpe at his best.

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Summary: A first class read!!
Review: Sharpe is very sharp indeed with Porterhouse Blue. He captures the atmosphere of English academic conservatism at its very funny and ironic best. And the best that can be said about PB is that you won't want to put the book down until it's finished - definitely a one-sitting read! So many plots and counter plots that will keep you guessing and wanting to turn the page. Go buy it immediately, before you have a Porterhouse Blue...

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Summary: Rip Roaring Fun...Hilarious Academic Farce
Review: There's an out loud laugh a minute in this university life farce. The old verses the new, tradition and progress, black humor and farce abound..Some eccentric characters even by Brit standards, and written so well you'll breeze right through it! Also great descriptions, and you'll feel you're a casual witness to the academic shenanigans all the way through. My only criticism is some very serious situations (like a murderous fire) may be taken a bit too casually..Still, with a touch of class and bawdiness, this one is a real winner!