Customer Reviews

Anonyponymous: The Forgotten People Behind Everyday Words

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1 star:		(2)

 

 

Warning: this book was obtained through the librarything early reviewers program and thus might represent an ARC which could be slightly different book than the final version.

"Anonyponymous: The Forgotten People Behind Everyday Words" is written by John Marciano who is perhaps best known for being an author in the children's series "Madeline". This, his latest work, is a very easy to read book, most suitable for "word geeks," literature lovers, linguistics students, students of the history of the English language, or anyone who is a fan of trivia.

This book covers the origin of several words that are commonplace in the English language, but originally owed their start to being part of someone's name. Most people are aware of the Earl of Sandwich and his relationship to the food that bears his name, Mr. Crapper and his relationship to the toilet, and the word sadism as coming from Marquis de Sade. What about the pair of pants you are wearing? The word "pants" (originally Pantaloon) were named for Pantaleon, a physician. Shrapnel was named for Henry Shrapnel, the inventor of an exploding cannonball. You can read more about the origin of these words and many more by reading this book.

"Anonyponymous" is an entertaining read, although rather short, and is about the perfect size as a "stocking stuffer" for the holiday season or as a "grab bag" gift. If I had not obtained it as a reviewer, I would have unlikely purchased the book at it's list price which I feel to be too high for the size of the book. I suspect this will eventually find it's place in the bargain bin within the next year or so.

Not only are the stories entertaining, but the sketches are top notch. I did a little research, and this is the same author who illustrates (and writes) the Madeline books. Thanks NPR for broadcasting the interview!

The succinct and vivid biographies of "the forgotten people behind everyday words" are fascinating and surprising, and Marciano's illustrations are absolutely charming.

For the first time in my life I will be able to give a meaningful Christmas present to all of my friends and family.

A fun, brief, light read for anyone who enjoys word origins. These are specifically limited to words originating from people's names (real or fictional), and each essay explores the story of the person as much or more than the story of the word.

A quick read, or a nice book to have around to dip into here and there, Marciano keeps it on the light side, with just enough humor thrown in. Personally, I'd have liked for this book to contain twice as many entries, and, whenever possible, even more about the "forgotton people behind everyday words".

Okay, I admit that I didn't expect to find much I didn't know already in this book. Egotism? Yes. Hubris? Apparently. Do *you* know where "tawdry" came from? or "silhouette"? or "paparazzi"? And that's just from me paging backwards from "t" to "p". The author's research is well done. And his delivery is quirky and fun. Instead of the academic, dry, and erudite but boring approach, Marciano tackles his entries with humor and a wonderfully idiomatic manner. A great little volume to have in the shelf, and a wonderful gift.

This book is a good mix of genuine scholarship and light humor, rather on the lines of Will Cuppy (and a good deal better than Richard Armour). The entries cover the lives of people who are largely forgotten except for the words linked to their names. Most of the words were ones I happen to be familiar with as an English teacher (and long-time dictionary browser) but I thought Marciano was judicious in considering some doubtful cases such as "hooker" and "crapper." (When I first heard the "crapper" story from a London tourist guide many years ago, I thought it was joke, but apparently not. )
The text is enhanced by clever line drawings (again, very much in the tradition of, say, the illustrations for The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody)

To long-time "wordies," much of this book will sound familiar. This is probably inevitable, given that there is only so much to be researched about words of long-standing use.

Having conceded that, it must be said that this is a very appetizing book. Its cover is clever, its illustrations witty, its organization compact and easy to use, and its content neatly packaged.

Although not for the serious scholar - and why on earth should it be? - it'd be great for the guest-room bedside table, or as a gift to an intelligent student who enjoys writing or reading. And I know several crossword-puzzle fanatics who'll find it fun as well as useful.

All in all, an enjoyable literary snack.

The book tells how certain things became named, such as "Pants." It's just chock full of fascinating information to make you the center of attention at parties and lounge gatherings!

The "anonyponymous" words of the book's title are those that once referenced a person, real or fictional, but whose origin is no longer common knowledge. Of course, this is a matter of degree: I knew that "sandwich", "mentor", and "guillotine" began their life as names, but "tawdry", "cardigan", and "paparazzi" surprised me. I expect most readers will find similar surprises awaiting them inside this little book, and that's part of what makes it so delightful. And, obscure or not, Bemelmans Marciano supplies colorful details that makes the words come alive. I can't imagine anyone worth knowing who wouldn't find the topic interesting, so I'm sorry I didn't get around to reading this book before completing my holiday shopping.

Having said that, many of the good bits are hidden in endnotes, making the process of reading Anonyponymous a frustrating one. I found myself flipping back and forth with nearly every page! And, in nearly every case, the notes were material that should have been incorporated into the main body of the text. Worse, the proper citations that ought to have appeared at the end of the book are absent. Given that the author mostly glossed over any controversy about the words' origins, both these shortcomings are regrettable. Finally, many of the 152 pages in this little book are taken up by illustrations that add nothing to the text, and the space could have been more profitably used by an index.

In short, Anonyponymous is an entertaining trifle, but nothing more. I do recommend it as (in the author's words) "crapper material", but look elsewhere if you want a scholarly treatment of the subject.

This book is fun whether you are a avid reader or indifferent to the printed page.
I think all will enjoy the history behind our speach.