Audible: Talk to the Hand by Lynne Truss

I do not naturally excel at audible learning.  So, for me, a book on tape or audible story needs to be amazing.  It has to have all the markings of an incredible story and be read to me in a way that keeps me focused enough to follow along.  It is a high bar.  My two favorite types of audibles are:  (1) when the narrator does all different voices and accents or (2) when the author is also the narrator.

Recently, I requested Talk to the hand: The Utter Bloody Rudeness of the World Today or Six Good Reasons to Stay Home and Bolt the Door by Lynne Truss from my local library.  

Apparently, I requested the book on tape instead of the good ‘ol printed version.  (This happens to me often when I pair requesting things with a glass of wine.  Don’t judge.  My library system is amazing but it has a lot of boxes to check).  Usually, I curse my ineptitude and stick it right back in the return slot.  But, since this is narrated by the author I gave it a go.

I think I have already established my penchant for all things British and Lynne Truss is capital-B British.  Delightful dry British is peppered throughout the book along frequent British slang.  Now, the New York Times review saw the addition of “buffed, posh, tosser and lolly” as baffling to some readers but for me it made it all the more enjoyable.  Honestly, if the inclusion of the word “bloody” in the title doesn’t tip you off then that is probably your fault.

Similarly, you will see reviews for this book by people who consider themselves “younger” and thought that Ms. Truss was an “older” person picking on their generation.  To them I say, “Bugger off.”  She clearly states in the very beginning that if you straighten your arm and you have a little excess skin around the elbow, you are probably old enough to enjoy the book.  However, if your elbow skin springs into a flat plain (I’m paraphrasing here because, you know, listening to the book on tape means I cannot look it up) you are probably too young to understand her perspective.

Really though, I only had one small problems with my experience with this particular book on tape.  I wanted to go back and re-read certain parts.  She makes some really excellent points in this book about the turn modern society has taken in its regards to what is polite and what is rude.  I want to be able to quote her.  I also want to research some of the people she references in explaining the history of manners.  Unfortunately, those names are difficult for me to remember without looking at them in print.  This is an easy fix.  I’ll just buy my own copy of the printed book.