Alphabetter Juice: or, The Joy of Text

Available
Product Details
Price
$20.00  $18.60
Publisher
Farrar, Strauss & Giroux-3pl
Publish Date
Pages
304
Dimensions
5.9 X 8.9 X 0.8 inches | 0.95 pounds
Language
English
Type
Paperback
EAN/UPC
9780374533373

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About the Author

Roy Blount Jr. is the author of twenty-one previous books, covering subjects from the Pittsburgh Steelers to Robert E. Lee to what dogs are thinking. He is a regular panelist on NPR's Wait, Wait . . . Don't Tell Me! and is a member of the American Heritage Dictionary Usage Panel. Born in Indianapolis and raised in Decatur, Georgia, Blount now lives in western Massachusetts with his wife, the painter Joan Griswold.

Reviews
“Grand fun.” —Jack Shafer, "The New York Times Book Review" “If your eyes have only skimmed over the long subtitle of "Alphabet Juice" and just vaguely registered that the book has something to do with words, please go back and read the entire subtitle again, slowly. This time listen to the syncopation of the clauses, as well as the alliterative music of the p’s and t’s, then note the juxtaposition of high and low style (‘combinations thereof,’ ‘innards’), the punchy yet unexpected nouns (‘gists,’ ‘pips’), that touch of genteel sexual innuendo (‘secret parts’), and the concluding flourish of the gustatory. Like Roy Blount Jr. himself, his new book's subtitle neatly balances real learning with easy-loping charm.” —Michael Dirda, "The" "Washington"" Post" “Quotes, quips, euphemisms, rhymes and rhythms, literary references (‘Lo-lee-ta’) and puns
"Grand fun." --Jack Shafer, "The New York Times Book Review" "If your eyes have only skimmed over the long subtitle of "Alphabet Juice" and just vaguely registered that the book has something to do with words, please go back and read the entire subtitle again, slowly. This time listen to the syncopation of the clauses, as well as the alliterative music of the p's and t's, then note the juxtaposition of high and low style ('combinations thereof, ' 'innards'), the punchy yet unexpected nouns ('gists, ' 'pips'), that touch of genteel sexual innuendo ('secret parts'), and the concluding flourish of the gustatory. Like Roy Blount Jr. himself, his new book's subtitle neatly balances real learning with easy-loping charm." --Michael Dirda, "The" "Washington"" Post" "Quotes, quips, euphemisms, rhymes and rhythms, literary references ('Lo-lee-ta') and puns: "The lowest form of wit, it used to be said, but that was before Ann Coulter." Throughout, the usage advice is sage and also fun, since the
Praise for "Alphabet Juice: " "The immensely likeable Blount clearly possesses what was called in the Italian Renaissance 'sprezzatura, ' that rare and enviable ability to do even the most difficult things without breaking a sweat." --Michael Dirda, "The Washington Post"
"Blount's selection of words is particularly 'sonicky' and is accompanied by amusing facts and anecdotes and crazy stories that show the peculiarities of etymology and definitions and the deep and abiding beauty of words. Writers and readers will love this book."--"Booklist""" "The humorist and panelist on public radio's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me pours a tall glass of wordplay, witticism, curmudgeonry, and anecdote in this beguiling follow-up to "Alphabet Juice." . . Blount's hilarious collection of riffs and raves adds up to a cantankerous ode to the English language in all its shambling grace." --"Publishers Weekly" (starred review)

Blount's selection of words is particularly 'sonicky' and is accompanied by amusing facts and anecdotes and crazy stories that show the peculiarities of etymology and definitions and the deep and abiding beauty of words. Writers and readers will love this book. "Booklist"

The humorist and panelist on public radio's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me pours a tall glass of wordplay, witticism, curmudgeonry, and anecdote in this beguiling follow-up to "Alphabet Juice." . . Blount's hilarious collection of riffs and raves adds up to a cantankerous ode to the English language in all its shambling grace. "Publishers Weekly (starred review)""

Blount's selection of words is particularly 'sonicky' and is accompanied by amusing facts and anecdotes and crazy stories that show the peculiarities of etymology and definitions and the deep and abiding beauty of words. Writers and readers will love this book. Booklist

The humorist and panelist on public radio's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me pours a tall glass of wordplay, witticism, curmudgeonry, and anecdote in this beguiling follow-up to Alphabet Juice. . . Blount's hilarious collection of riffs and raves adds up to a cantankerous ode to the English language in all its shambling grace. Publishers Weekly (starred review)

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"Blount's selection of words is particularly 'sonicky' and is accompanied by amusing facts and anecdotes and crazy stories that show the peculiarities of etymology and definitions and the deep and abiding beauty of words. Writers and readers will love this book." --Booklist

"The humorist and panelist on public radio's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me pours a tall glass of wordplay, witticism, curmudgeonry, and anecdote in this beguiling follow-up to Alphabet Juice. . . Blount's hilarious collection of riffs and raves adds up to a cantankerous ode to the English language in all its shambling grace." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)