MADreads

Two countries separated by a common language

July 6th, 2009 Mary K. - Central

When someone marries and settles in a spouse’s home country instead of their own, there will be many cultural differences, and that is true even when language isn’t an issue.  These differences can be extreme enough that an enterprising writer may get a book from his or her experiences and perceptions. That is the case for Sarah Lyall, author of The Anglo Files: A Field Guide to the British, a sometimes entertaining but also sometimes very critical and almost mean spirited look at her adopted country.

Lyall is the London correspondent for the New York Times, married to an English man, and has lived with him and their 2 children in England for more than 15 years.  She describes British character traits, with a few of her own experiences added in.  The expected topics are covered: private school education and how difficult it was for most young boys, the British stiff upper-lip best demonstrated by the demeanor of the Queen after Princess Diana’s death, excessive use of alcohol, and poor dental hygiene.

It is always interesting to look at another country through an outsider’s eyes, and Lyall’s view is interesting if a bit biased.  Many of the commenters on Amazon.com say that Lyall is too negative, and while I am not sure about that, I prefer Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson who also writes about the English, but with more humor.  Almost French: Love and a New Life in Paris by Sarah Turnbull is a delightful look at the French by an Australian woman who marries a French man.  Both of these writers tell more of their own story, which makes their books more real and appealing.

Entry Filed under: Nonfiction