--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's only a drawback in the States, where…" description: "\"It's only a drawback in the States, where most people seem to have no real interest in other countries and the notion of a novel which might offer insi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/jonathan-coe-10154_appeal_it-s-only-a-drawback-in-the-states-where_739876.jpg" --- # It's only a drawback in the States, where most people seem… ![“It's only a drawback in the States, where most people seem to have no real interest in other countries and the notion of a novel which might offer insight into life in the UK doesn't seem to appeal very widely.” quote by Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/jonathan-coe-10154_appeal_it-s-only-a-drawback-in-the-states-where_739876.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/jonathan-coe-10154_appeal_it-s-only-a-drawback-in-the-states-where_739876.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/jonathan-coe-10154_appeal_it-s-only-a-drawback-in-the-states-where_739876.jpg) > “It's only a drawback in the States, where most people seem to have no real interest in other countries and the notion of a novel which might offer insight into life in the UK doesn't seem to appeal very widely.” [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote critiques American indifference toward foreign cultures and the lack of interest in literature that offers international perspectives. **In simple terms:** Americans often ignore foreign cultures and books about them. Key Takeaway Seek broader cultural awareness. Themes cultural indifference literature global perspective Mood reflective critical Type observational analytical When to use this quote - travel planning - reading clubs - education curricula - media discussions - policy debates Key Concepts Americanism cultural myopia literary appreciation Questions to Reflect On - How does cultural curiosity affect global understanding? - What can increase interest in foreign literature? A Different Perspective Some may argue that interest varies individually, not nationally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appeal/) [Countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/countries/) [Countries Notion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/countries-notion-5778511/) [Doesn Appeal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doesn-appeal-877702/) [Drawback](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawback-261823/) [Drawback States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/drawback-states-5778510/) [Insight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insight/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most/) [Notion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notion/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Offer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offer/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other/) [Other countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/other-countries/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real Countries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-countries-1580662/) [Seem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seem/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) [Uk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uk/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) [Where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where/) [Which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which/) [Widely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/widely/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [The books one reads in childhood, and perhaps most of all the bad and good bad books, create in one's mind a sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-books-one-reads-in-childhood-and-perhaps-most-of-all-the-bad-and/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [The idea of going off to an office every day and 'putting on my art hat' doesn't appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornelia-parker/the-idea-of-going-off-to-an-office-every-day-and-putting-on-my-art/) [Cornelia Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornelia-parker/) > [Stardom doesn't appeal to me in anyway. Of course, I want people to like my work, but in my mind I've consciously created a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arvind-swami/stardom-doesn-t-appeal-to-me-in-anyway-of-course-i-want-people-to/) [Arvind Swami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arvind-swami/) > [It's paradoxical, that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn't appeal to anyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-rooney/it-s-paradoxical-that-the-idea-of-living-a-long-life-appeals-to/) [Andy Rooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-rooney/) > [I really don't have an interest in it and people think I'm a freak because I'm not obsessed by 'Strictly Come Dancing' but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-stansfield/i-really-don-t-have-an-interest-in-it-and-people-think-i-m-a-freak/) [Lisa Stansfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-stansfield/) > [Being hunted, paparazzi-style , doesn't appeal to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sia-furler/being-hunted-paparazzi-style-doesn-t-appeal-to-me/) [Sia Furler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sia-furler/) > [Who needs a gym? It doesn't appeal to me to exercise in a room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/asher-keddie/who-needs-a-gym-it-doesn-t-appeal-to-me-to-exercise-in-a-room/) [Asher Keddie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/asher-keddie/) > [Having worked with some of the characters in football and having to be nice to them - and knowing your job depends on you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green/having-worked-with-some-of-the-characters-in-football-and-having-to/) [Robert Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green/) > [Directing doesn't appeal to me. I'm much more in the world of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-rosenberg/directing-doesn-t-appeal-to-me-i-m-much-more-in-the-world-of-ideas/) [Melissa Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-rosenberg/) > [There's no point in really making something if it doesn't appeal to a lot of people or the masses or if it's not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aidan-turner/there-s-no-point-in-really-making-something-if-it-doesn-t-appeal-to-a/) [Aidan Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aidan-turner/) > [I know I'm not the kind of person who's gonna wind up a walking jukebox, like many rock 'n' roll artists. They just play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/i-know-i-m-not-the-kind-of-person-who-s-gonna-wind-up-a-walking/) [Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/) > [I don't want to be the glam doll; that doesn't appeal to me at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huma-qureshi/i-don-t-want-to-be-the-glam-doll-that-doesn-t-appeal-to-me-at-all/) [Huma Qureshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huma-qureshi/) > [Many people have told me I could be a coach, but it doesn't appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carles-puyol/many-people-have-told-me-i-could-be-a-coach-but-it-doesn-t-appeal/) [Carles Puyol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carles-puyol/) > [The idea of doing something that you've seen a thousand times before doesn't appeal to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-phillippe/the-idea-of-doing-something-that-you-ve-seen-a-thousand-times-before/) [Ryan Phillippe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-phillippe/) > [ I don't want to appeal to everybody. \[After all\] everybody doesn't appeal to me. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eydie-gorme/i-don-t-want-to-appeal-to-everybody-after-all-everybody-doesn-t/) [Eydie Gorme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eydie-gorme/) ## More by Jonathan Coe > [I was going to say 'my friend Stuart', but I suppose he's not a friend any more. I seem to have lost a number…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/i-was-going-to-say-my-friend-stuart-but-i-suppose-he-s-not-a-friend/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [“The upshot was that she lost her religion - with a vengeance - and walked out on him, taking these three daughters with her.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/the-upshot-was-that-she-lost-her-religion-with-a-vengeance-and-walked/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [The plain fact is that she never really liked me, and never wanted me. I had been a mistake; and that, to some extent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/the-plain-fact-is-that-she-never-really-liked-me-and-never-wanted-me/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [“Yes, she would have been partial to men, perhaps she might even have confined herself to one man in particular, if only she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/yes-she-would-have-been-partial-to-men-perhaps-she-might-even-have/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [“You didn't take part, Benjamin?" Gunther asked, as he passed me a plate of cheese and cold meat. "My brother doesn't play games," said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/you-didn-t-take-part-benjamin-gunther-asked-as-he-passed-me-a-plate/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [As soon as you start writing about how human beings interact with each other socially, you're into politics, aren't you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/as-soon-as-you-start-writing-about-how-human-beings-interact-with/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [I like the idea of a big caesura between the narratives, a space which readers can fill in with their own speculative history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/i-like-the-idea-of-a-big-caesura-between-the-narratives-a-space-which/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [They were written in the early '90s when I was strapped for cash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/they-were-written-in-the-early-90s-when-i-was-strapped-for-cash/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [The more melancholy side of my literary personality is much in tune with BS Johnson's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/the-more-melancholy-side-of-my-literary-personality-is-much-in-tune/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [I had no sense of any reputation that What a Carve Up! might acquire - at the time I didnt even have a publisher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/i-had-no-sense-of-any-reputation-that-what-a-carve-up-might-acquire/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [Ah, well, I have no talent for nonfiction, that's my problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/ah-well-i-have-no-talent-for-nonfiction-that-s-my-problem/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [But at the same time, I have trouble keeping things out of books, which is why I don't write short stories because they turn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/but-at-the-same-time-i-have-trouble-keeping-things-out-of-books-which/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [“Save some pity for the Misfit, fighting on with bursting heart; Not a trace of common sense, his is no common flight. Save, save…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/save-some-pity-for-the-misfit-fighting-on-with-bursting-heart-not-a/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [“Well, there'll be an outcry, of course, but then it'll die down and something else will come along for people to get annoyed about.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/well-there-ll-be-an-outcry-of-course-but-then-it-ll-die-down-and/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) > [“Le auto sono come le persone. Ogni giorno andiamo in giro in mezzo alla ressa, corriamo di qua e di là, arrivando quasi a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/le-auto-sono-come-le-persone-ogni-giorno-andiamo-in-giro-in-mezzo/) [Jonathan Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) [Explore all 60 Jonathan Coe quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/) ## More Appeal quotes > [Trump's enduring appeal is a resource to be harnessed by the Republican Party, not a burden to be jettisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-devine/trump-s-enduring-appeal-is-a-resource-to-be-harnessed-by-the/) [Miranda Devine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-devine/) > [You don't have to be Sigmund Freud to surmise that war has a perverse appeal for the human race, nor is the attraction limited…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-willis/you-don-t-have-to-be-sigmund-freud-to-surmise-that-war-has-a-perverse/) [Ellen Willis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-willis/) > [Chicks who dig home runs aren't the ones who appeal to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ichiro-suzuki/chicks-who-dig-home-runs-aren-t-the-ones-who-appeal-to-me/) [Ichiro Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ichiro-suzuki/) > [The dictum of the industry is such that I can't only do films that appeal to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/biju-menon/the-dictum-of-the-industry-is-such-that-i-can-t-only-do-films-that/) [Biju Menon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/biju-menon/) > [There was such mass appeal for 'Sharknado.' It went over so well - not just here in the United States but globally - that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/there-was-such-mass-appeal-for-sharknado-it-went-over-so-well-not/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sends forth to you an earnest appeal. Open your doors to the missionaries. Open your minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-s-monson/the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-sends-forth-to-you-an/) [Thomas S. Monson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-s-monson/) > [I'm not going to appeal to violence or aggression - of course not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-navalny/i-m-not-going-to-appeal-to-violence-or-aggression-of-course-not/) [Alexei Navalny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-navalny/) > [I'm sorry, but Juicy Couture tracksuits and Ugg boots don't move me in any way, shape or form. I refuse to wear them. Modern…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/imelda-may/i-m-sorry-but-juicy-couture-tracksuits-and-ugg-boots-don-t-move-me-in/) [Imelda May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/imelda-may/) > [I think Trump is a very interesting candidate in this sense: I think he has cross-party appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-buchanan/i-think-trump-is-a-very-interesting-candidate-in-this-sense-i-think/) [Pat Buchanan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-buchanan/) > [I think great songs appeal to people at any age. Kids love the Beatles, too. Kids love Tom T. Hall. Of course, Tom T.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-isbell/i-think-great-songs-appeal-to-people-at-any-age-kids-love-the-beatles/) [Jason Isbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-isbell/) > [When you are producing for ABC, you are producing for a big tent network. So when you are thinking about your story lines and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-sweeney/when-you-are-producing-for-abc-you-are-producing-for-a-big-tent/) [Anne Sweeney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-sweeney/) > [In the long run, the people are our only appeal. The only ones who can free us are ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/assata-shakur/in-the-long-run-the-people-are-our-only-appeal-the-only-ones-who-can/) [Assata Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/assata-shakur/) > [Barbarism is the absence of standards to which appeal can be made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/barbarism-is-the-absence-of-standards-to-which-appeal-can-be-made/) [Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/) > [There is a certain androgyny to my appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-barkin/there-is-a-certain-androgyny-to-my-appeal/) [Ellen Barkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-barkin/) > [As a kid, there was a painting of 'Appeal to the Great Spirit' that I would see when I would get oatmeal bowls out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-henriksen/as-a-kid-there-was-a-painting-of-appeal-to-the-great-spirit-that-i/) [Lance Henriksen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-henriksen/) [Browse all 432 Appeal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appeal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's only a drawback in the States, where most people seem to have no real interest in other countries and the notion of a novel which might offer insight into life in the UK doesn't seem to appeal very widely.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jonathan Coe" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/it-s-only-a-drawback-in-the-states-where-most-people-seem-to-have-no/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Appeal" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/it-s-only-a-drawback-in-the-states-where-most-people-seem-to-have-no/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/jonathan-coe-10154_appeal_it-s-only-a-drawback-in-the-states-where_739876.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/jonathan-coe-10154_appeal_it-s-only-a-drawback-in-the-states-where_739876.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/52e/jonathan-coe-10154_appeal_it-s-only-a-drawback-in-the-states-where_739876.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's only a drawback in the States, where most people seem to have no real interest in other countries and…” — Jonathan Coe", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jonathan Coe", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-coe/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's only a drawback in the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/it-s-only-a-drawback-in-the-states-where-most-people-seem-to-have-no/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-coe/it-s-only-a-drawback-in-the-states-where-most-people-seem-to-have-no/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```