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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
Interesting and funny, but I had expected more "English wit". :)
Especially since even the book put it that well: "In England, brains are optional but a sense of humour is compulsary."
Could have been even more humour for my taste. But it was a nice leisure-time book anyway! :)
Especially since even the book put it that well: "In England, brains are optional but a sense of humour is compulsary."
Could have been even more humour for my taste. But it was a nice leisure-time book anyway! :)
Crossposted at Booklikes.
Really funny. I got this when my friend was cleaning out his books. I will try to find more in this series.
Wonderful comments about English people like – “When Lloyd Webber meets Beatrix Potter, nobody will be able to get a seat”.
Really funny. I got this when my friend was cleaning out his books. I will try to find more in this series.
Wonderful comments about English people like – “When Lloyd Webber meets Beatrix Potter, nobody will be able to get a seat”.
A great read, full of observations and stereotypes of the English.
I'll admit, I agreed with quite a lot of it.
It's separated into sections discussing everything from what we think of ourselves, what others think of us, sports, culture, government and so on.
The Xenophobe's Guides are generally a good laugh :)
I'll admit, I agreed with quite a lot of it.
It's separated into sections discussing everything from what we think of ourselves, what others think of us, sports, culture, government and so on.
The Xenophobe's Guides are generally a good laugh :)
Really funny and enjoyable book !
"Deep down, the English regard Americans as English people who turned into something else as the result of an unfortunate misunderstanding, and who would be a lot happier if they just had the sense to turn back again. Then, they could start talking 'proper' English."
"English puritanism is best expressed in the belief that if something tastes good it must be bad for you; and if it's unpleasant, it must be good for you. There can be no other explanation for the existence of tapioca pudding."
"In England, brains are optional but a sense of humour is compulsory."
"A man walked into the doctor's surgery. The doctor said, 'I haven't seen you for a long time.' The man replied 'I know, I've been ill.' "
"For them this faecal nirvana is never reached. None of them can be persuaded to flirt with the ubiquitous suppository so beloved of the Europeans."
"Fortitude in the face of adversity is the thing. Queen Victoria's dying words were : 'I feel a little better...' "
"England is identified as the country of Shakespeare, Milton, Byron, Dickens and Beatrix Potter"
"The Independent is read by the people who think they should run the country, The Guardian by the people who think they do run the country, and The Times by the people who actually run the country. The Financial Times is read by the people who own the country, The Daily Telegraph is read by people who ran the country 60 years ago and The Sun is read by people who don't care who runs the country so lang as the female on page 3 has great breasts."
"Deep down, the English regard Americans as English people who turned into something else as the result of an unfortunate misunderstanding, and who would be a lot happier if they just had the sense to turn back again. Then, they could start talking 'proper' English."
"English puritanism is best expressed in the belief that if something tastes good it must be bad for you; and if it's unpleasant, it must be good for you. There can be no other explanation for the existence of tapioca pudding."
"In England, brains are optional but a sense of humour is compulsory."
"A man walked into the doctor's surgery. The doctor said, 'I haven't seen you for a long time.' The man replied 'I know, I've been ill.' "
"For them this faecal nirvana is never reached. None of them can be persuaded to flirt with the ubiquitous suppository so beloved of the Europeans."
"Fortitude in the face of adversity is the thing. Queen Victoria's dying words were : 'I feel a little better...' "
"England is identified as the country of Shakespeare, Milton, Byron, Dickens and Beatrix Potter"
"The Independent is read by the people who think they should run the country, The Guardian by the people who think they do run the country, and The Times by the people who actually run the country. The Financial Times is read by the people who own the country, The Daily Telegraph is read by people who ran the country 60 years ago and The Sun is read by people who don't care who runs the country so lang as the female on page 3 has great breasts."
2.5 stars. This book struck me as slightly more humorous than the previous installations I have read on other nations. I gained some insight into my grandmother's personality (she was English). And I was reminded of some of my faux pas while I was in England. Best of all, though, I got to cross the letter "X" off my list of one book for every letter in the alphabet. One more letter to go!