Customer Reviews

Shakespeare's Hundred Best One-Liners

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If you're looking for a fun read, find "Shakespeare's Hundred Best One-Liners." There's no question, you're in for a treat. Not only do you get the Bard's best one-liners, according to author, Jack W. Thomas, you are also treated to fifty of Shakespeare's words or phrases that have survived over 400-years as today's household words. For example, "Household Words," from "King Henry V," Act IV, or "Eaten me out of House and Home," from "King Henry IV," Part II, Act II. There are 48 more and they're all fun!

In my reviews of videos, plays and books, I often use my Thesaurus. I also use quick-reference publications for easy-to-find ideas. "Shakespeare's Hundred Best One-Liners," is now on my reference book shelf.

Lloyd Roberts, to whom "Shakespeare's" author dedicated this terrific tome, was also my high school drama teacher and I must tell you Jack, Lloyd would be proud.

"Talkers are no good doers," ("King Richard III," Act I), so, I best limit my comments. "Men of few words are the best men," ("King Henry V," Part II, Act III). "Brevity is the soul of wit," ("Hamlet," Act II).

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! For reminding me of the Bard's barbs, Jack. Wonderful idea! Wonderful book! A great gift giver! For me, it has been and always will be.

--Bob Ivers is a former actor, TV and Radio personality, who now reviews books, plays and movies for a group of TV & radio stations, and newspapers in the Pacific Northwest. He currently hosts a three hour Saturday radio talk show that includes his reviews.

SHAKESPEARE'S HUNDRED BEST ONE-LINERS might have been titled "Having Fun With Shakespeare". Jack Thomas's Interpolations certainly prove "Shakespeare had a word for it"! 400 hundred years have past since the Bard wrote, yet his words are ever fresh and meaningfully descriptive, and live on as "Household words".This book entertains the reader as it reveals the great genius that the Bard's writings disclose in regard to his amazing undestanding of the nature of Women and Men. It captures Shakespeare's best lines about Life and Death and our Strengths and Weaknesses. I strongly recommend it to all who would enjoy an entertaining distraction that the merry and pithy Interpolations of Jack Thomas have created!

I obtained a copy of this book and finished it in two hours. Afterwards I rented the movie "Shakespeare in Love". I paid more attention to the lines to see what I could "interpolate".

I'm a Mayor Pro Tem in a large California city and have to make numerous speeches. I am now able to select from this 100 best the necessary quotes that are appropriate for the occasion. Since using these quotes, I have been quoted more frequently in the papers. What a bonus!

Select your own favorites and impress your freinds on how well you know the Bard.

I noticed a previous review by a writer who mentioned using "Shakespeare's Best One-Liners" for research, which is exactly how I happened on to it. Once having achieved that purpose, I began reading it for pleasure. Every page (one-liner)is an educational experience unto itself. I've purchased no less than a dozen copies so far for gifts. I have heard nothing but praise, with no exception, from the giftees. I would like to gently suggest to the author that he give us a sequel. (Although, frankly, I can't see how he can top this one.) I'd like to see more of his work.

If you're taking English Lit. and don't have time to research your term paper or want to impress your parents who are paying your tuition, this is the book for you. The quotes Thomas has taken from the Bard and their interpolations will make you seem intelligent with only a small investment of time. Literate girl friends who climb in your car expecting rap from your stereo will be surprised and hopefully mesmerized when you quote Shakespeare and Thomas instead. I'm a writer always looking for source and reference material, so I'm keeping Thomas' book close at hand. When you need something, riffle the pages and read. Shakespeare floats through the room and your mind. If you don't feel better, at least you're learned something.

For a gift that keeps on giving timeless enjoyment order a copy of Jack's delightful book for each friend or family member on your gift list. Jack's pithy reiteration of each familiar Shakespeare quote adds spice to an all together enjoyable coffee table addition.

Other than the fact that the cover designer(My father, Norman Kingsford Vance)name was mis-spelled the book is a grand source of material for casual argumentative conversations and cross-word puzzles! I was surprised and delighted to find the every day phrases we use are included.