Cultural Differences

[kennsea]

I make a lot of promises about how I will post more, but always end up making a liar of myself.  I am really going to try from here on.  I am in a bit of a writing rut at the moment, so I am hoping that if I blog a little more maybe that will help me kick my arse into gear

Comments

[helenajust]

I'm quite sensitive to the over-consumption of alcohol by anyone, including fictional characters, yet Simon's drinking didn't register on my radar either time I read these books. So (without re-reading and checking this point) I suspect you're right, and it's down to cultural differences that people note it and comment on it. I'm British, and drinking is also part of the culture here - but not in a good way, I feel.

[ext_637021]

Cheers! :D

[carolinareader]

I do think that it is a cultural difference. Where I grew up (heavily Southern Baptist) there was no such thing as social drinking at that time. You either didn't drink at all or you were an alcoholic. When people mentioned that someone-else drinks they were not talking about white wine with supper. My mothers family has had really horrible time with alcoholism and that one of the reasons I have never drunk. I never wanted a family member to feel about me the way I felt about a specific uncle when I saw him staggering up the hill to my house.
That all said I never really have issues with characters drinking. I get that people are culturally different and that most can actually handle their alcohol.

[becky_black]

I've had that before. Americans definitely think Brits and Australians are absolute lushes.

[tanisafan]

I know when I've had visitors from the US over, they all thought it mind boggling to see people sitting outside of cafés drinking beers at 2 p.m. And over here, too, it's definitely mostly social drinking. I have a glass of wine (one) with my dinner and that's basically it, unless I'm hanging out with friends. Silly Americans!