crellston -

Irony - is that what EGO is being called in Britain these days? Thanks for the info.

margaretandtony - really, crellston mean no harm by what s/he posted. S/he was in fact quoting the book, as the OP makes clear.

it is, as Hooameye made clear, a JOKE. [since capitals seem to be in vogue].

"Irony - is that what EGO is being called in Britain these days? Thanks for the info."

Sigh..............and I thought we were supposed to be the "po-faced, stuffed shirts"??

"Americans don't do irony."

I once said that to a bloke in Philadelphia and he replied, "Well, dude, you are probably right because I do take all my laundry to a dry cleaners."

Thin

John O'Farrell used to write for Spitting image. I read the book a couple of years ago, and quite enjoyed it a few pages at a time.

It's been a while since we had a full size, cross ocean,fodorite dispute. Should we mention the invention of Gravity?

Willit

You obviously have not been following the thread about tipping Parisian hotel staff. It's had over 360 contributions, and I got lambasted for mentioning Americans and irony.

Colduphere mentioned the war, but I think he got away with it.

I enjoyed "Things can only get better", but have not yet read this particular title by John O'Farrell. It rather rdeminds me of "1066 and all that". When Britain ceased to bde top nation (rather earlier than 1945), history cam to a full stop.

"You obviously have not been following the thread about tipping Parisian hotel staff."

Yes, I'd missed that - Ouch, I take it all back about no recent spats!

Willit, you clearly missed the "snide or snarky comments" thread.

it is, to quote our american cousins, a doozie.

Crellston, you never disappoint...anywhere in the world.

The "irony" remark above is like my relationship with my sister. I'm the sibling she loves to hate, on any grounds she can conjure. As Americans are cousins certain Brits love to belittle on any grounds they can conjure. But I suspect it says more about her and a segment of the UK psyche than about me and us. I love her anyway and love the country, some aspects more than others, as in everything. Just a general observation and I suspect I'll get flack for expressing it. Or not, which would be especially nice, but no expectations.

My book has come and I'm loving it! Mr. O'Farrell has a wonderful (to me) writing style: conversational, irreverent. I like to think that I think this way, but it never comes out in either my written or oral communication

Glad you are enjoying it scotlib.