Afternoon read-aloud selection. K gave it a 3. L gave it a 2 ("not enough plot, not enough Phoenix"). I also give it a 2. I think if we were living in 1904, reading it as a new best-seller, we would have rated it much more highly. Unfortunately we're modern readers and our experience of this book suffered for that--too many of the jokes fell flat, too many of the touchstones unfamiliar.

Oh-L saw me flipping through this book to write up this blurb and said "I liked that book, I change my mind. I give it three stars." Wow, high praise.

We did like it enough to read it all the way through, though, so we're not panning it entirely. I was glad when it was over though, won't lie. Recommended for those who really favor classic style.