Customer Reviews

One-Letter Words, a Dictionary

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this book after hearing the author speak about it on NPR. I have since re-ordered and am online to re-order again as friends who found it on my coffee table could not put it down. It's far more than the clever concept even promises. The author essentially takes you on a journey through literature and you'll see words in an entirely new light.

Can be enjoyed on so many levels. It is fun and scholarly. This is not a 'dry' little dictionary, but an adventure through facts you knew, but had forgotten ("E" is the Roman Numeral for 250); obvious, but hadn't thought about (how prominent the letter "E" is in our electronic world); or just didn't know (most of Emily Dickinson's poems begin with the word "I"). Like me, my friends are surprised at what an entertaining and thoughtful book Mr. Conley has written. Can't wait for his next one.

I borrowed this book from a friend and realized there is much more to it than a once-through read. It is filled with great literary references, spun together by a clearly erudite scholar. I purchased my own and highly recommend it to anyone who has an appreciation for language and/or literature!! FIVE STARS are not enough!!