etiquette – Cannonball Read 17

How to be Horribly English

English Etiquette: The motivation behind the manners by Darling Academy, Alena Kate Pettitt

April 3, 2022 by CoffeeShopReader 1 Comment

I like cultural history, and I also have a passing interest in etiquette; I figured English Etiquette: The motivation behind the manners might be interesting. I was wrong; this isn’t interesting; it’s infuriating. Going by the title and introductory chapter, this sounds like a discussion of the history and practicality of English Victorian manners and some possible modern updates. Nope; instead what this book is a prescriptive “how to be English” in the most stereotypical, misogynist, almost xenophobic thing I’ve seen in a long time. […]

The Profanity Felt Forced

Fucking Good Manners by Simon Griffin

December 19, 2019 by ASKReviews Leave a Comment

Best for: People who enjoy a bit of humor with their how-to books. In a nutshell: Author Griffin would like you to get some fucking manners. Worth quoting: ‘As soon as we assume our needs are more important than someone else’s, then everything descends into utter fucking chaos.’ Why I chose it: I love etiquette books. I use a lot of profanity. Seemed like a natural fit. Review: This is a quick read and a mostly pleasant little book. I get the gimmick — there […]

Who liked this? It wasn’t me

It Wasn’t Me by Daniel Fehr

June 19, 2019 by BlackRaven Leave a Comment

It Wasn’t Me is a story that starts with great potential to teach a lesson: everyone takes claim for the beautiful painting that was done on a wall and when they learn who really did it, and notice the praise he gets, they get jealous and ruin it. This is where it falls apart and makes me wish there was a negative rating system. Instead of taking credit for their vandalism, they blame the kid/character that did the painting originally but did not do the […]

Fun Little Read

November 15, 2017 by ASKReviews 2 Comments

Best for: Someone looking for a book of miscellaneous etiquette tips and lovely little watercolor illustrations. In a nutshell: Iconic fashion designer Kate Spade offers some tips for being gracious in your daily interactions Line that sticks with me: “But might doesn’t equal right, so to all ad hoc experts and lecturers please don’t pontificate on the paint. Lecture halls have seats; museums and galleries don’t.” Why I chose it: I bought this at least two years ago. I reviewed the second in this little […]

Make the World a Nicer Place

December 6, 2015 by Halbs Leave a Comment

As A Gentleman Would Say is one entry in a larger series called Gentlemanners. Bryan Curtis authored or co-authored several of them. I am not aware of Mr. Curtis’ manners training, save that the dust jacket mentions he once asked a non-pregnant woman when her baby was due. Presumably, that was a key event in his origin story and his interest in helping other guys avoid putting their collective feet in the mouth of the modern American male. I bought this book in college. If I […]

If You’re Looking to Reinforce Heteronormative Values, Have I Got A Book for You!

October 3, 2015 by ASKReviews 2 Comments

When I searched on Amazon to provide a link, I learned that this book was updated in 2015; whereas the version I read was published nine years ago. So I’m going to *hope* that the updated version is better than this one. It’d be pretty challenging for it to be worse. This is a pretty sexist book. I think the author has this idea that teaching etiquette is the same thing as teaching women how to fit into every stereotype about what a woman should […]

Zirza on A Gothic Classic for a ReasonIt's one of those wish-you-could-read-it-again-for-the-first-time books. I loved it.
Emmalita on “It came to something when you found yourself hoping that the footsteps you heard were ghosts.”I loved the ending! I don’t think it’s been out long enough to talk about why though.
Dixie on Track Her Down by Melinda LeighI am just starting Track Her Down and I have read them all in order till now and thought I...
Roland of Gilead on How can you give us the gift of a crazy character named Rando Thoughtful and then just as suddenly take that gift away? We need to talk, Uncle Stevie.I came across this randomly years after it was written because I was searching "Random Thoughtful. But I have the...
Emmalita on “Only you, Em, would refer to heartbreak as a distraction. I think I would have a more sympathetic response if I asked to marry a bookcase.”Oh my goodness, Gallifrey was beautiful. I’m sure her mittens were gloriously murdery.

Help Our Mission