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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
If there were a choice for two and a half stars I would take it. I didn't always enjoy reading the book, as it was a fairly straightforward study of Englishness and too much wit or storyline would make it biased, but I didn't read it expecting an entertaining book.
The first part of the book is, as I said, very dry. Fox takes a while to get into her rhythm and to qualify herself as a trusted scientist. But the book grows on itself. By talking dryly about class and humor, later on, she has much more spirited chapters around holidays, rituals and sex (without ever really talking about sex, after admitting she's trying not to talk about sex. Confused?)
A few things, like the "celebration rule," where people seem to forget all reason when they celebrate, and use that excuse as much as possible, and her examination of new technology, like texting and online dating are interesting. Her observation that Princess Diana's death didn't cause an emotional outpouring but extended queuing was very funny. The one thing I thought was missing was the English need to disparage Americans, while she covers their need to disparage the French. A good book for anyone who's ever felt very awkward in England but not known why.
The first part of the book is, as I said, very dry. Fox takes a while to get into her rhythm and to qualify herself as a trusted scientist. But the book grows on itself. By talking dryly about class and humor, later on, she has much more spirited chapters around holidays, rituals and sex (without ever really talking about sex, after admitting she's trying not to talk about sex. Confused?)
A few things, like the "celebration rule," where people seem to forget all reason when they celebrate, and use that excuse as much as possible, and her examination of new technology, like texting and online dating are interesting. Her observation that Princess Diana's death didn't cause an emotional outpouring but extended queuing was very funny. The one thing I thought was missing was the English need to disparage Americans, while she covers their need to disparage the French. A good book for anyone who's ever felt very awkward in England but not known why.
I don't often read non-fiction, but this was quite a nice read. Kate Fox tries to clarify the hidden rules of English behaviour, and I was surprised to find that some of those rules also apply in The Netherlands. I didn't particularly like her writing style, but she gives many funny examples and her topics are interesting. Of course I knew about the English class system, but she has actually gone through pains to describe each class, partly through the products they use and the way they live. It's amazing, the way she pinpoints which lifestyle, behaviour and products belong to which class - she even describes how posh people eat peas (and the number they eat in one go!). I almost have trouble believing that people are that easy to read - then again, if Sherlock can, why can't a social scientist? However, I did not always like her tone. She seemed to imply that lower and middle class people would nearly always want to climb the social ladder, and I really think that's not true. If you're looking for an amusing, light, "soft science" book about Englishness, this is the one.
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
There's clearly been a lot of work gone into this book. The author seems very knowledgeable of a broad section of the UK populous, it's foibles and quirks, and has clearly spent time building her hypotheses and treating them on often unsuspecting members of the public and slightly worn, valued our bemused friends, most of whom seem to have been born outside of England.
It was really entertaining to have my own actions and second nature mirrored back to me, though at an angle, allowing me to watch myself and think on why I behaved the way I did.
My only criticism was the London-centric nature of the work, which also had a very middle class, middle aged tone, and some of the remarks about the North of England and the working class fell somewhat flat and felt untrue, or at least beyond my own experience.
It was however, very enjoyable overall, and well worth a read, if only to laugh and oneself wrly.
It was really entertaining to have my own actions and second nature mirrored back to me, though at an angle, allowing me to watch myself and think on why I behaved the way I did.
My only criticism was the London-centric nature of the work, which also had a very middle class, middle aged tone, and some of the remarks about the North of England and the working class fell somewhat flat and felt untrue, or at least beyond my own experience.
It was however, very enjoyable overall, and well worth a read, if only to laugh and oneself wrly.
informative
reflective
slow-paced
I didn't "read" this in terms of reading every page, every chapter, every section. I did a lot of flipping through, back and forth, and reading whatever took my fancy. It's a fascinating book, with some curious rules (some of which I can spot in NZ society, some of which seem almost alien).
Fascinating. She observes English behaviour in all its agonising complexity. Over and over again you find yourself saying "Oh yes, that's right!".
And it's not stuffy at all, but friendly and funny.
Read it!
And it's not stuffy at all, but friendly and funny.
Read it!
Parts of this book were very funny, but parts of it were just daft. Some of it was really interesting, and some of it was utter nonsense. Fox has a tendency to overuse certain words (sartorial in the chapter about clothes) and to repeat herself again and again - I thought the summaries at the end of each chapter could have been much shorter. She also uses sexist language a lot, and male English behaviours got more than their fair share of discussion, which is surprising from a female writer. A good book to browse, or to dip in and out of but not one to read from beginning to end. Finally, I would say it hasn't aged well and many of her descriptions of the English felt dated (I've never said "come off it!" in my life).
Essential read for any expat in Britain. Should come with all UK issued working visas.
Funny and quite interesting in parts but mylanta did it feel like a slog at times to get through it.
This book is insightful and funny in equal measure. Whilst I don't agree with all her observations I think this book is absolutely delightful.