Comments on: Review: Pies and Prejudice, Stuart Maconie

By: Beth F

Beth F — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 11:28:23 +0000

Thanks for the warning. I think I’ll skip this and stick with North & South!

By: heidenkind

heidenkind — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 21:53:05 +0000

Have you seen North & South? You must!

By: zibilee

zibilee — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 16:51:36 +0000

From the summary you posted, this sounded like it would be a book for me, but after reading your reactions to it, I am not so sure anymore. I think the idea of what he was trying to do was appealing, but it sounds as if the style and execution were not. A lot of what you were describing just doesn’t interest me at all, so I think I am going to end up skipping this one. Thanks for the penetrating review though!

By: Jackie (Farm Lane Books)

Jackie (Farm Lane Books) — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 13:03:35 +0000

I’m vaguely interested in picking this one up, but I think I’d have many of the same issues as you. I know nothing about football so all those references would go over my head. I’m also aware that Maconie is very into his music and so I don’t think you need to worry about not knowing all the bands he mentions – I don’t think many people would either. I have lived in both the north and the south so have noticed cultural differences between the two (mainly along the lines of notherners being more friendly to strangers and not rushing around everywhere!) but I would be interested to see what Maconie has noticed. I might have to pick this one out!

By: Kate

Kate — Mon, 10 Jan 2011 11:22:50 +0000

I used to live in the North (York) and was excited to pick up this book a few weeks ago. However, I didn’t love it for many of the same reasons you didn’t. I’m an American and just didn’t understand so many of the pop culture references and some of the bands. I also thought there was a heavy reliance on the stereotypes of the North and South, and I don’t know how well that sits not being a native myself. There were definitely parts I enjoyed, though, and having moved South last year I was interested in seeing some of those perceptions of the South from Northern eyes. In any case, I still have no desire to see Manchester.