That's Me in the Middle

The Bandy Papers #2

by Donald Jack

Bartholomew Bandy has become an air ace. On the ground he causes disasters wherever he goes, but in the air he’s deadly, shooting down dozens of German planes in the course of thrilling aerial combats. To the amazement of all who know him he becomes Lieut. Col. Bandy and thanks to his new rank he meets all sorts of people, including his fiancee’s memorable family. As a handy (but disposable) war hero, he encounters a number of hair-raising adventures, not to mention English plumbing and an unforgettable honeymoon night. That’s Me In The Middle is exciting, full of military action in the trenches and in the air, and, as it continues to flirt with history, very funny.

Genres: Humor, Historical Fiction, Canada, Fiction, War, Historical, Adventure

364 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1980

About the author

Novelist, playwright, and scriptwriter. Best known for his "Bandy Papers" novels about WWI ace Bartholomew Bandy, which won Jack the Leacock award three times for volumes of the series. Also penned the first modern play performed at the Stratford Festival of Canada, and wrote numerous scripts for television and radio.

Reviews

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oddly, Bandy is at his best when he is at the front, running down officers, stealing cars, and generally causing mayhem for the brass and Germans alike. A large part of this book was set at general headquarters, which was somewhat less interesting. Still would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a good laugh.

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free electronic copy of this historical novel from Netgalley, the estate of Donald Jack and Farrago, Prelude Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you all, for sharing your hard work with me. This book was originally published in 1973 by Doubleday.

The second of a series titled The Bandy Papers, this book is completely stand alone. I loved the insights into protocol involving flight training in WWI England, and I particularly loved Bart Bandy and his lady love, Katherine Lewis. I enjoyed the way they both loosened up and found humor and compassion as their relationship grew. But especially I consumed the planes - the making of, the flying of, the repairing of the precursors of modern military flight. This humorous telling of early days of WWI in England and France is an excellent lesson on finding a bright cloud in a stormy sky.

[Richard Ayre · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this more than the first one. Very funny in places but with an underlying sense of the stupidity of the war, especially the 'brass hats' who seem to have no common sense! Jack's prose is marvelous, and the flying scenes are very well described-giving an idea of what it must have been like to go up in aircraft made from little more than wood and wires.
I'm reading the third installment now and I have to say, they just seem to get better. Can't wait to find out what Bandy gets up to next!

[Mark Edlund · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fiction - the second book of the Bandy papers. Canadian airman, Bartholomew Bandy, has been reassigned from the British War Office back to the front and then back to the air force. A lot of the humour comes from Bandy's oblivious reactions to superiors, his fiancee and his friends. He marries Katherine Lewis near the end of the book and then becomes a wing commander. It is hard to be funny in the middle of WWI but Jack pulls it off.
No pharmacy references.
Canadian references - Bandy is from Ontario so there are several references back to his home.

[Sid Nuncius · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am enjoying the Bandy Papers series. Like the first volume, I found That's Me In The Middle a bit variable but never less than enjoyable and exceptionally good in places.

Bandy spends the first half of the book as Top Brass in London, giving Jack an opportunity for some well aimed potshots at official incompetence and infighting, treacherous politicians and so on. There is also the usual smattering of pure farce and Bandy's endearingly hopeless social and romantic escapades. This part is well written and amusing but nothing that special, I think. It's very Wodehousian, with some episodes very reminiscent of Sir Roderick Spode and Edwin the Boy Scout, but it didn't really engage me.

As before, it is when Bandy returns to the fighting, with Jack's brilliant balance of humour and the terror of war, that the book really excels. He manages to make the narrative both funny and exciting, and captures both the chaotic nature of the combat and its genuine horror. It reminded me a little in tone of the excellent TV drama The Wipers Times and these passages, making up most of the second half of the book, had me completely riveted.

Parts of this are quite outstanding - and if you have more of a taste for farce than I do, you will enjoy all of it very much. I will certainly be reading Volume Three (It's Me Again), and I can recommend this one.

(I received an ARC via Netgalley.)

[Jacquie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bandy bumbles his war through WW1 as an ace pilot and then due to circumstances beyond his control ends up at the front as part of a bicycle brigade. I've read the Bandy series before, and found them predictable, but funny and you end up learning a fair bit about the war and airplanes to boot. Do not expect to get this series past the censors today as there are definitely some phrases that are not acceptable.

[Chris Tschirhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

All I can say is that if you want a great Laugh about the ups and downs of an incompetent and lovable bumbling hero of a flyer you have to read all of "The Bandy Papers Books. I have never laughed till I couldn't breath so much in my life.

[Benjamin Kahn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this way back in high school, so we're talking close to 40 years ago. I remember really enjoying it. It did a good job of combining humour with a fairly realistic portrayal of war. It was a very successful sequel to his first book in the series.

[chris balden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Volume 2 is as funny as volume1.
A laugh out loud caper of epic portions.
Our hapless hero Bandy causing chaos where ever he goes.

[Mark Gardiner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmmmm.

[Mike Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started off really enjoying this book as it moved between scenes of genuinely funny farce. But towards the end it really dragged on.

[James Sundquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ripping.

[Books Of The Way · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious.

[Rob Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good fun, easy enough to read.

[Adela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed my ass off

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable ramble through the adventures of Major Bandy. There were some rib-tickingly funny moments such as Bandy's father in law setting fire to a chair leg and an aborted wedding night caused by an injury to a sensitive part of the groom's anatomy (not what you might think it sounds like).

I felt this volume however to be a little flatter than its predecessor, there weren't as many funny or action filled moments in this one for me personally.

[Ron Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find the bantering getting a little monotonous. I think I'm finished with series.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second in a tongue in cheek WWI series. Mild but funny.

[Gabriele Wills · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful, hilarious romp through WW1 with a most unlikely, bumbling hero, Bart Bandy. Witty and laugh-out-loud funny, this clever tale is nonetheless well rooted in fact, and thus manages to convey some of the harsh realities and inept leadership of that brutal war. I agree wholehearted with historian Jack Granatstein's comment: "The Bandy Papers deserve to be read in private where insane giggling can go unnoticed." I'm really looking forward to reading more of the Bandy books!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in Donald Jack's Bandy papers series, this is the novel that convinced me to read more of his works.

Set during the last year of the First World War (1914 - 1918), I have to say I found this book to be funnier than both the later installments in the series, and than the previous entry ("Three Cheers For Me"): indeed, this book was the cause of me getting some funny looks when I burst out laughing in work one lunch-time ...

[Scott Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 1974 Stephen Leacock Award winning book is fun. The second in Jack's Bandy Papers collection, it features the fictional WWI war experiences of a Canadian soldier in the British air force. In addition to being clever and funny, it does a good job of capturing the more mundane experiences of the war and the sometimes slapstick quality of life in those dire times.

[Steven Reeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely, incredably brilliant!!

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Possibly the best book he ever wrote. The bathroom scene is still a comedy classic. Read this book.

[Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parts of the book made me physically laugh out loud. Very entertaining!

[John]

Bandy at his best (worst?). Gets in deep shit but comes out like a rose. Don't know why I waited 40 years to reread this series. On to number 3 of the Bandy Papers.

[Scott G · Rating 5 out of 5]

very funny why has it not been made into a movie???

[Martha · Rating 2 out of 5]

P.G. Wodehouse Canadian-style

[Rita Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't find it as funny as the first one but still killer.

[Susan Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess Fuzzypants here:
Poor old Bandy. Not only is he born with an unfortunate face, he seems to find himself in the middle of all sorts of high jinks which is a dangerous thing in the middle of WWI. He goes from the Western Front trenches into the air in the early stages of the Air Force then back to the Front. His promotions and demotions seem to happen without much input from him. If there is something going on, it is likely Bandy will be in the middle, as the title proclaims.
With wonderful self deprecating humour our Canadian hero attempts to mingle with the Aristocracy and the Brass, stumbling into pot hole after pot hole yet always coming out well. With the humour, there are some decided barbs particularly towards the leaden British leadership in the war. Much has been written lately with all sorts of centennials taking place that speaks to the strategy. It was a strategy that was correct in previous wars but terribly expensive in lives in the one they were waging.
P. G. Wodehouse called the story hilarious.. If you are a fan of Wodehouse, you will see some similarities. If you are not, you can still enjoy the story..
I give it five purrs and two paws up.