103 of 104 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good introduction to crossword puzzles. A couple of flaws., July 19, 2007
Many people are simply not interested or motivated to solve a crossword puzzle. Ever. This book is clearly not for them. On the other hand, there are people who live and breathe crossword puzzles, doing multiple puzzles every day, competing in crossword tournaments, discussing puzzles daily, or even constructing puzzles. This book is not so much for them, either. This book targets the masses in between, the occasional solver, the one who is trying to get more consistent, the one who wants to be able to tackle puzzles of higher difficulty than those found in "TV Guide" or airline magazines.
So, does it succeed? That depends on your expectations. The title, "How to Conquer The New York Times Crossword Puzzle (Tips, Tricks and Techniques to Master America's Favorite Puzzle)", makes it sound easy -- read this book and KAZAAM, you'll be good at puzzles. The truth is, solving a crossword puzzle requires a combination of general knowledge (vocabulary, literature, pop culture, art, sciences, geography, etc.), crossword conventions (i.e. an abbreviation in the clue implies an abbreviation in the answer), and puzzling logic (recognizing letter patterns, interpreting tricky clues, discovering unconventional tricks, etc.). This book is a great introduction to the latter two, especially for those that are just starting out. The general knowledge part is still up to you.
The book break roughly into sections -- easy, medium, Thursday, hard, and Sunday puzzles. Thursday puzzles are medium but often gimmicky, and Sunday puzzles are medium/hard but considerably larger than weekday puzzles. Each section starts with a couple pages of basic strategy relating to that difficulty level. It's not rocket science, but it sets a nice context for the puzzles that follow. Then follows a "Step-by-Step" solving of a puzzle appropriate for that section. While this may sound like the highlight of the book, I found it to be one of the weaker features. While it's mildly interesting to eavesdrop the brain of a master solver and to see some of the logic applied, the vast majority turns out not to be particularly instructional, as many crossword clues fall into the "you know it or you don't" category. Clearly, Ms. Reynaldo knows it, but that doesn't really help the novice solver. For example, the hard puzzle starts with the 1-Across clue "Sonnet ender". The step-by-step guide starts out "...amazingly for a Saturday puzzle, I think I know the answer: SESTET." Okay, fine, but how does that help those who don't know these things? Even in the easy puzzle, we find things like, "33-Down [Cartoon possum] is POGO, and 34-Down [Greek love god] is EROS." Again, fine if you know these things. But what if you don't? This broad knowledge, as much as puzzle savvy, is what separates the "masters" from the rest.
After each step-by-step solve, there are 10-15 previously-run puzzles for that category. They represent a nice cross-section of the usual suspects that contribute puzzles to the New York Times. (Regular solvers of the New York Times puzzle will often recognize the names and styles of frequent constructors and will thus have a subtle headstart on the type of puzzle to expect.) A nice touch is that each puzzle has a "hints" paragraph at the back of the book, so a solver who is stuck may well get a push in the right direction without resorting to looking at the answers (which, of course, are also there).
Interspersed throughout are short chapters that may truly be the gems of the book. Two in particular are "100 Must-Know Words" and "Top 10 Ways Constructors Try to Trick You". The 100 words are truly crossword staples. These include the short, vowelly words like OLIO and ELIA that appear over and over in puzzles. Learning them up-front would certainly jump start any novice solver. The constructor "tricks" include common ways that clues are written to be deliberately misleading. These are the clues that make you slap your head and/or chuckle when you finally figure them out, and they tend to separate the New York Times and other quality puzzles from the also-rans. The short chapter "Word Banks" introduces another 300 words, names, and abbreviations that show up fairly often in puzzles, grouped in categories. Unfortunately, it is not as well done as the "100 Must-Know Words", in that only about half have any definition at all. The inclusion of two or three common clues for each, as is done in the "100 Must-Know Words" would have made this section much more valuable. As it is, it feels somewhat unfinished. In addition there a several mini-lessons entitled "Think Outside the Boxes". These address issues like recognizing letter patterns and how to recognize when you've made a mistake. Good stuff for the novice, though a Table of Contents would have been nice.
Finally, the book includes two chapters that sound great but are really just throw-ins: "How to Construct a Crossword Puzzle" and "How to Become a Better Solver". I am reminded of the Monty Python skit of the TV show "How To Do It": "How to play the flute. (picking up a flute) Well here we are. You blow there and you move your fingers up and down here." Right. Okay, so, how to be a better solver. Do more puzzles. Read and learn things. Remember them. Got it? Good.
The chapter "How to Construct a Crossword Puzzle" is really a misnomer. This is not something that can be covered in two-and-a-half pages, and this book will not teach you to do it (though it does point to several good references). A better title would be "How Constructors Construct a Crossword Puzzle". The vast majority of people have no idea how puzzles are actually made. This is a nice, high-level overview that gives some insight into the process and perhaps offers solvers a mild appreciation of what is involved.
In summary, despite a couple of weak spots there is a lot to like about this book. It is a great starting point for anyone who wants to start doing New York Times-style crosswords, or for those who have difficulty with all but the early-in-the-week puzzles. Buy it as a gift for someone you love (maybe throw in the DVD "Wordplay" as well) and introduce them into the wonderful world of crosswords. Maybe they'll even get hooked.
And that's a good thing. :)
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Guide for a Crossword Fan, October 14, 2007
As an avid crossword fan of modest ability, I found this to be a most helpful tutorial. It delivers just what the title promises -- all sorts of tips and strategies for solving the NYT crossword (or any crossword for that matter).
I found the list of words any crossword fan must know as well the lists of common crossword answers to be particularly helpful. But perhaps the best praise I can provide is that after reading Amy Reynaldo's book, my solving skills have noticeably improved -- from a confident Tues. solver at best to someone who can now tackle a Thur. puzzle with a relatively high degree of confidence (Fri. and Sat. remain a significant challenge, but I'm working on it).
Also, if you're looking to get a taste of this book, you might want to check out Ms. Reynaldo's blog, Diary of a Crossword Fiend (http://crosswordfiend.blogspot.com/), which provides great daily insight into the NYT and other crosswords.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must-Have for Novice Solvers, April 6, 2008
I received this book as a Christmas gift. And it has changed my world. I was born and grew up in Xi'An, China. Moved to the US when I was 30 years old. So American crosswords were almost impossible for me to crack, until I read Amy Reynaldo's book.
Her chapters on "100 Must-Know Words" & "Word Banks" have saved me hours and hours of google time. Without her succinct explanations on "Crossword Glossary", "Understanding Themes" & the "Constructor's Tricks", I would have been forever lost in the darkness of this puzzling crossword world.
I was so excited about Amy's book that I started my own LA Times Crossword Corner (formerly Star Tribune Crossword Corner) before I even finished her chapter on "Step-by-Step Thursday Puzzle".
I've also emailed Amy (Orange) many times as I constantly encounter all sorts of crazy clues when I am blogging. She has never disappointed me. She always provides me with the concise information I need, always in a very efficient manner. And she is so patient in explaining the WHY and HOW to me (a total stranger to her).
If you want to start doing NY Times, or LA Times, or any crossword, you should consider buying this book. It's full of gems, and so easy to carry around for reference (little over 200 pages).
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
