La La’s Reviews > On James Baldwin > Status Update

"How nice it would be if...," in Giovanni's Room was, according to Tóibín, too formal for American speech. Really? I hate it when all Americans are thought to be knuckle-dragging boors. Plus, this book was written mid-50s when more Americans spoke properly. He says it's British English. I think he has forgotten how many Brits spoke Cockney/Londoner back then. David's use of this phrase is said to be "performative".