Books that gave you weird ideas / expectation about foreign countries?

which weird ideas and expectations do you have about foreign countries- simpley from reading a book set there? i mean- ideas you simply cant shake off, even though you know it's ridiculous.



an american friend told me he was really dissapointed that london wanst 'all edwardian' because that's what his expectation was from mary poppins. obviously, he's seen modern tv, and knows otherwise, but he still *expected* it. i laughed at him, obviously, then realised i do it too..

i *slightly* expect to see foxes and bears driving cars in france due to my ricahrd scarry obsession, from when i was small.

i also vaguely think there are trolls in scandinavia (thank you moomin books) and that most of the south of the US is peopled by women in crinolenes, due to overreading of gone with the wind.

i *know* the world isnt like that- but these thoughts are so deeply ingrained in me that i can kind of hold them, and a contradictory 'real' view of a place.

weird, but i think im happy with that... so what wild ideas cant you obliterate??



this is the richard scarry book i LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

http://kalafudra.files.wordpress.com/200鈥?/a>



.Books that gave you weird ideas / expectation about foreign countries?
are you experienced by William Sutcliffe about a guy travelling to India. Brilliant!