NS March 2nd, 2009

I was recently asked to review a book written by a bloke (n. – ‘guy’) named Chris Rae. He’s written a guide for Americans visiting or moving to the UK, built largely around a British-to-American dictionary he’s been putting together online for some years now. Seeing as I have vast swathes of time on my hands and was looking for a way to fill my empty days, I relunctantly and begrudgingly agreed.

Actually, I felt pretty flattered to be asked and jumped at the chance to write a review of a book that a million other people hadn’t already read, but let’s not tell him that. We don’t want Mr. Bigshot Book Writer getting a head so big that it won’t fit through Borders’ sliding glass doors when he arrives for book signings up and down the land.

So anyway, I told him to send it on over and I’d give it a fair and honest write-up. Unbeknownst to Chris Rae, his fate now rests in my hands. He likely does not understand the magnitude of this undertaking and how what I say about his work could either make him or destroy him. My hordes and legions of followers cling onto every word I write, you see, and they will either summarily dismiss or wholeheartedly embrace the book based solely on my appraisal. With that in mind, dear readers, I give you the first official, shamelessly solicited book review here at Noble Savage with the understanding that I was not remunerated, monetarily or otherwise, for doing so. Obviously.

At only 115 pages (85 of which consist of the A-Z dictionary translations), The Septic’s Companion is not meant to be a comprehensive guide for tourists, by any means. It’s more of a cultural Cliff’s Notes on life in Britain and what differences an American can expect to observe when amongst our former colonial overlords.

The first thing I speculated about was the title; It didn’t strike me as particularly catchy and being called a Septic Tank (Yank) always feels a bit like being insulted. However, this illustrates a rather big cultural difference that Americans need to know about the Brits straight off the bat: their insults are often quite humourous and their humour can be rather insulting. While this takes some time and tenacity to get used to, I highly recommend learning to relax about it and appreciate British humour for its unique style, form and delivery. It really is an artform. The most important thing to learn is how to dish it out right back. This will either earn you enormous respect or cause your tormentor to shut his or her trap. Either way, you win. Protesting about how unfair, untrue or socially unacceptable it is will only get you five new nicknames, all of which will be much more derogatory than ‘Septic’.

The second thing I noticed about the book is the overall tone which is employed throughout. It is distinctly British: hilarious at times, dry as a mouthful of crackers after doing a bong hit, self-deprecating to a point approaching self-loathing and brutally honest, with just a whiff of superiority. Rae drops quite a few references to being a bit crap or only being in it for the money (as evidenced by the back cover) with his tongue planted firmly in cheek. I like it.

Overall, I thought the sections outlined were very good: concise, informative and funny. I especially liked the mini-chapters on the European Union, Eating Out, Driving and Drinking, which is, appropriately, the longest section in the book at 4 1/2 pages. There is more written about the subtle nuances and hard-and-fast rules of drinking than there is about the political geography, governance or languages of the UK. If you are from or live here, you will know why this is. If you are about to come to the UK or have just arrived, you will find out within the first 24 hours.

The dictionary is excellent, very detailed, and made me snort with laughter a few times. I even learned a few new words myself! I thought I’d heard them all before but some still sneak up on me every once in awhile. When I first moved here I had to be incredibly observant to absorb all these new terms and phrases or ask my husband to explain. This is why a guide such as The Septic’s Companion is so useful, particularly for stupid, lazy and fat Americans who want information at their fingertips immediately. Or, quite possibly, it is useful to those who come to the UK regularly, have expatriated here or are planning to immigrate. I could also see real Anglophiles and tourists desperate to look un-touristy (mainly students and those in their 20s) soaking up this info like sick on a sponge. That is to say, enthusiastically.

I have just a couple small criticisms, so bear with me. First, there is what I’m sure is a mistake in the Telling The Time section. It informs us that the Brits say “ten after three” but I’m fairly certain that Mr. Rae has officially been living in the States for too long now as I’ve only ever heard Americans say this. Most Brits say “ten past three.” I also noticed that there is a slight propensity to assume the readers are male and angle things towards them a bit, which is a little annoying but not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. I let it go when I saw on his website that Rae is buddies with the fantastic feminist and comic Kate Smurthwaite of Cruella-blog. He must be alright then, if she hasn’t eaten him alive. I suppose I must let him live as well. Lucky man.

My final verdict? A useful beginner’s guide to UK culture and slang with the added bonus of being an entertaining read that doesn’t take itself too seriously. In short, it’s British. And what’s not to love about that?

****

In addition to buying his book, check out Chris’s clever blog, called “America.” The drawings that accompany each post really add to the funny factor.

• Britishisms , Funny Ha-Ha , Reviews and Recommendations
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NS February 27th, 2008

This site, called Stuff White People Like, has been making me laugh every day since TNH emailed the link to me last week. Go have a flick through and (if you’re white) see how many apply to you. Hilarious stuff.

My other  recommendation this week is a wonderful blog called Simple Words I Understand. Written by a New Yorker with a gift for beautiful prose and a knack for observing the little intimacies and intricacies in life, it makes for wonderfully simple yet deliciously riveting reading.

I love the intrawebs.

• Funny Ha-Ha , Public Service Announcements , Reviews and Recommendations
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NS February 11th, 2008

I mentioned that I was going to review Juno and after seeing it again last night and giving it more serious thought, I’m ready to write about it. When I first decided to write a review I thought it would be just be a lighthearted summary of what I thought of the plot, direction and characters, but after a second viewing I found myself looking beneath the surface at deeper issues it raises than might be seen at face value. I’ve heard a few criticisms of the film bandied about and thought about them as I watched. I scribbled down numerous musings but there are too many to discuss in depth so I’ve chosen just a few criticisms and will attempt to lay them out and make some sense of them here. If you’ve seen the film you may disagree with me and that’s absolutely fine, I encourage feedback in comments. I welcome differing viewpoints and an intelligent discussion. If you haven’t seen it, be warned that there may be some spoilers here. Again, there are spoilers in this review so go no further if you don’t want to know.

Point 1: Juno is too smart, articulate and witty for her age

Yes, it’s true — not a great deal of teenagers talk like Juno does with her large vocabulary, dry sense of humour, witty use of slang and deadpan delivery, but to say that “no teenager talks like that” is very untrue. I know this because I have met and been friends with girls like her when I was a teenager. There were a few things she said and did that I said or did in a similar way myself at that age. I think most people (at least ones with a good sense of humour and some smarts) have a little piece of that in them, no matter their age. Using a commonly-held stereotype of teens as either dumb and tongue-tied or inarticulate, whiny and immature to criticise and question the validity of a female character seems a bit patronising to me. Why can’t Juno say words like ‘cavalier’ and ‘procure’ and still be real? Have we become so disillusioned or out of touch with teenagers that when they speak like adults we automatically distrust or dismiss them? Do we subconsciously feel threatened if they don’t fit into the idea in our head of what they should be like?

Also, what does it say about how teen girls are portrayed in Hollywood? We’ve seen plenty of male teen characters demonstrate intelligence, candor and wit and the reality of that is rarely questioned. Have we just become conditioned to not notice anything but the tired cliches they trot out, film after film? The slutty cheerleader, the weirdo loner, the band geek, the eccentric artist, the rabid feminist, the sensitive poet, the athletic bull dyke and the bubbly, brainless student council president…we’re used to seeing them. But how often do we see someone like Juno — smart, articulate, independent, friendly, wisecracking, tomboyish yet feminine, pretty, musically talented and seemingly immune to the judgment of others? Does she actually exist or have we just been conditioned to believe she doesn’t?

Point 2: Juno’s seemingly nonchalant attitude towards the baby and her decision to put it up for adoption are unrealistic

There is a common assumption in modern society that any woman who makes a reproductive choice that results in anything less than a bouncing newborn to care for must be extremely pained about that choice. We hear, read and are told that women who have abortions think about it all the time and feel at least some modicum of guilt or regret for the rest of their lives; that women who choose not to have children or are not able to must be lacking something and have gaping big holes in their hearts, childless ghosts who wander around searching for love and fulfillment; that women who give children up for adoption must be consumed with feelings of loss for the child they never knew, crying in shame and stroking a faded and creased baby photo each year on its birthday.

When someone challenges one of these stereotypes, it shocks and sometimes appalls us, making it seem unbelievable. But just as no two snowflakes are the same, neither are human beings. When it comes to our bodies and babies, and the choices that exist between the two, there is as much a range of emotion and reaction as there are individual women. To say that Juno couldn’t possibly have been so okay with her decision makes me wonder if what some people wanted to see was some self-flagellation and hardcore soul-searching. Did we expect her to cry a little harder, beat herself up a little more, take more time weighing the gravity of the situation? Yes, we probably did because that is considered a normal response to an unwanted teen pregnancy. Her shockingly cavalier (to borrow a phrase from Juno herself) attitude and immediate certainty in her decision may not make for comfortable viewing for those who had, or imagine they would have, a harder time making those choices, but that doesn’t make it any less valid. If anything, it reveals a refreshingly strong faith in herself all too uncommon in teenage girls.

Point 3: The father, Paulie Bleeker, doesn’t seem awfully concerned or involved in the pregnancy, even though he is in love with Juno

Juno’s love interest and the father of her baby, Paulie Bleeker, is a quiet, sensitive guy who is seen in bright gold running shorts with matching wrist and head bands for much of the film. Paulie likes orange Tic Tacs, running, music and Juno. Above all, Juno. From what I gathered, they’d been friends for quite awhile but only recently did Juno begin thinking of him in ‘that way.’ And so it is that they end up having (unprotected) sex and Juno gets pregnant. When she tells him, Bleeker’s face freezes and he nervously asks what they should do. Juno tells him that she’s going to ‘nip it in the bud’ (she considers abortion at first) and asks if that’s cool with him. He says “Sure, whatever you think you should do.”

Now, to some, I suppose that could be taken as indifference but to me it just means he’s like most teen boys (and grown men) who feel unsure and awkward about what to say in situations such as these. Many men want to help the woman and take responsibility but aren’t sure what their role or even what their say in the matter is. That’s not to say that some aren’t absolute pigs about it, dumping all responsibility on the female’s shoulders and running away without so much as a backwards glance, but I think that most men are like Bleeker — deferring to the woman to make the ultimate decision since it’s her body and her life that would be most affected. In some respects I can see the conundrum men face when presented with the shocking news of an unplanned pregnancy. Women want men to ‘do the right thing’ (acknowledge their responsibility) and say they’ll be there every step of the way, no matter the outcome, but they also send the message that when it comes down to it, they’ll be the ones doing the deciding and the men better not try to interfere with that decision. Which is how it should be, quite rightly. It’s a woman’s life and body that will be turned upside down if she continues the pregnancy (or not). But I still felt sympathy for Bleeker and his impotence to do anything to really help her.

In short, I don’t think that Bleeker’s lack of involvement in the pregnancy itself means that he has absolved himself of any responsibility. If anything, Juno seems to want to try to protect him and his relative innocence (witnessed by his boyish racing car bed, typical young teen bedroom and penchant for sweets) because she knows that her maturity means she can shoulder more of the ‘heaviness’. Despite Bleeker making it clear that he’s still there for her emotionally and also madly in love with her, Juno appears to want or almost need to do this on her own. The fact that she didn’t have to go it alone but chose to doesn’t reflect badly on Bleeker, but instead just highlights Juno’s strength.

In the scene where she and Bleeker get into an argument, it’s obvious that her resentful remarks (“You’re not the one with the evidence under your sweater” and “What’s another ten pounds?” when he offers to carry her heavy bag) aren’t really directed towards him personally but are more a commentary on the infuriating unfairness of the burden her gender carries. Ask any woman who’s ever been heavily pregnant and she will tell you that at some point, she has resented and blamed her partner for not being able to participate in or understand the process, neither physically nor emotionally. Though a blessing to many women individually, pregnancy can also feel like a curse, even to those who wanted and planned it. And that’s not an easy thing for Bleeker, or many men for that matter, to understand. His silent empathy when he climbs into Juno’s hospital bed after she’s given birth and holds her while she cries is truly touching, and so simple. Again, the characters show a wisdom for their age that is refreshing to see, not because it doesn’t exist but because it does and should be celebrated.

Points 4, 5, 6 and 7: Mark and Vanessa (the adoptive parents) and how their relationship fits a certain mold of a very real modern stereotype; the relationship between  Juno and her best friend Leah and how it challenges existing stereotypes; how Juno’s parents handle the pregnancy and how they differ from or are similar to other parents portrayed in this situation; and the relationship between Juno and Vanessa and Juno and Mark

I wanted to touch on these facets as well but I think this post is long enough as it is. I may share more of my thoughts on them in another post, if I have time and still have interest in it after tonight.

Overall, I enjoyed this film very much. It was funny, touching and different, with engaging dialogue and unique characters.  The soundtrack is pretty good too, which is always a bonus. And the fact that is was written by Diablo Cody, a woman who uses her former stripper persona as her pen name (real name Brook Busey-Hunt) just makes it all the more interesting. I give the film 4/5 stars and would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a movie that will make them laugh, make them think and hold their interest for an hour and a half.

• Feminist Fury , Parenting 101 , Reviews and Recommendations
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