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k1dub's reviews
507 reviews
Anonyponymous: The Forgotten People Behind Everyday Words by John Bemelmans Marciano
4.0
If you're an English major, etymology freak or just an all round literary freak you'll love this book.
I'm loving the breakdown of words we use frequently that are named because of a single person. The book gives a definition, the story of how the word came to be and the person who inspired it. V. fascinating and probable cocktail party banter.
I'm loving the breakdown of words we use frequently that are named because of a single person. The book gives a definition, the story of how the word came to be and the person who inspired it. V. fascinating and probable cocktail party banter.
Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work by Tim Gunn
2.0
Somebody didn't tell Tim Gunn this was supposed to be a manners book and not a collection of ramblings loosely tied together with gossip and the occasional reference to a mannerly dictum.
In one chapter, he goes from talking about manners to going to a diner with Diane von Furstenburg whose manners were atrocious. However, since she's "fabulous" it's okay. He also rags on Martha Stewart, Narcisco Rodriguez, Andre Leon Talley and Anna Wintour--with a few other name drops thrown in for no apparent reason at all.
If you're looking for Emily Post, he's not. It's a light, fluffy beach read with industry gossip thrown in for good measure.
In one chapter, he goes from talking about manners to going to a diner with Diane von Furstenburg whose manners were atrocious. However, since she's "fabulous" it's okay. He also rags on Martha Stewart, Narcisco Rodriguez, Andre Leon Talley and Anna Wintour--with a few other name drops thrown in for no apparent reason at all.
If you're looking for Emily Post, he's not. It's a light, fluffy beach read with industry gossip thrown in for good measure.
Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler
4.0
This one is mildly funny. SHe buries the lead here though with the last story being the funniest.
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne
3.0
It took me a chapter or two to get into this book but now I'm hooked. I realized who "The Fury" and where "Out-With" is.
It reminds me of the narrative style of "Room" by Emma Donague, a horrible event told through the eyes of a child. This book suffers from the same issues as "Room" as well where the main characters voice is unbelievably developed and language skills well beyond those of a 9 year old (even if it is the 1940's Europe). He has an extraordinarily complex language system yet cannot pronounce simple disyllablic words in his native tongue seems implausible. One review that I read after the fact said that this book should be read as a parable and not as a narrative fiction piece and I agree.
The ending will unnerve you.
It reminds me of the narrative style of "Room" by Emma Donague, a horrible event told through the eyes of a child. This book suffers from the same issues as "Room" as well where the main characters voice is unbelievably developed and language skills well beyond those of a 9 year old (even if it is the 1940's Europe). He has an extraordinarily complex language system yet cannot pronounce simple disyllablic words in his native tongue seems implausible. One review that I read after the fact said that this book should be read as a parable and not as a narrative fiction piece and I agree.
The ending will unnerve you.