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A review by carrieliza
The Anglo Files: A Field Guide to the British by Sarah Lyall
4.0
Of COURSE I read this book, right? Glad I did, too.
In terms of books about the British, I liked this much better than Notes on a Small Island. Probably because Lyall is a much friendlier, less douchey storyteller than Bill Bryson. That being said, I do have a few issues. Lyall mentions at various points that it is hard to pin down the character of the British--especially the English. Fine. But maybe that should be reflected in the book's title. This is a field guide to the English, by and large. And really of a specific type of English. Because I certainly know English people that do not fit these molds. I also think Lyall often expects too much of her readers. Granted, people who pick up this book probably already know a bit about Brits, but clarifying at the start what a public school or a private school is in Britain would be helpful for those who don't realize it's completely different from America. And on a personal note, I just disagree with many of Lyall's complaints. I would love to live in a culture where people don't brag all the time. I love British humor (sorry, humour), and I often wanted Lyall to just quit her bitching.
So many interesting bits in this book! It's an especially interesting time to be reading the section on tabloids at the moment! I thoroughly enjoyed the explanations of Parliament and the self-deprecating nature of Brits. I am 100% living in the wrong country. But I already knew that.
I actually laughed out loud at the section about trains and the excuses given for delays. Especially the train delayed "because the driver is only 5 ft. 1 in. and his swivel chair has broken, and he's too short to reach the pedals". I would like that kind of openness on NYC's trains, instead of the usual "police investigation" line. I remember once, in London, hearing that the Picadilly line was delayed due to "customer insolence". Amazing.
Anyway. I love England. Can you tell?
In terms of books about the British, I liked this much better than Notes on a Small Island. Probably because Lyall is a much friendlier, less douchey storyteller than Bill Bryson. That being said, I do have a few issues. Lyall mentions at various points that it is hard to pin down the character of the British--especially the English. Fine. But maybe that should be reflected in the book's title. This is a field guide to the English, by and large. And really of a specific type of English. Because I certainly know English people that do not fit these molds. I also think Lyall often expects too much of her readers. Granted, people who pick up this book probably already know a bit about Brits, but clarifying at the start what a public school or a private school is in Britain would be helpful for those who don't realize it's completely different from America. And on a personal note, I just disagree with many of Lyall's complaints. I would love to live in a culture where people don't brag all the time. I love British humor (sorry, humour), and I often wanted Lyall to just quit her bitching.
So many interesting bits in this book! It's an especially interesting time to be reading the section on tabloids at the moment! I thoroughly enjoyed the explanations of Parliament and the self-deprecating nature of Brits. I am 100% living in the wrong country. But I already knew that.
I actually laughed out loud at the section about trains and the excuses given for delays. Especially the train delayed "because the driver is only 5 ft. 1 in. and his swivel chair has broken, and he's too short to reach the pedals". I would like that kind of openness on NYC's trains, instead of the usual "police investigation" line. I remember once, in London, hearing that the Picadilly line was delayed due to "customer insolence". Amazing.
Anyway. I love England. Can you tell?