Customer Reviews

The New York Times Think Outside the Box Crosswords: 75 Specially Selected Witty, Wild Puzzles (New York Times Crossword Collections)

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

 

 

Ok, I'm good at solving crossword puzzles. So a word of warning to those like me: These puzzles are not difficult ones. Some are incredibly easy. Some are moderately easy. A few take a bit of thought. For truly harder puzzles, choose the NYT Ferocious Crosswords instead.

I am enjoying these challenging puzzles, which require a bit of creative thinking. Finding the theme (or trick) is more rewarding than solving a mainstream crossword. Highly recommended for crossword lovers who are looking for something diffferent.

This NYT crossword collection is ideal for fans of the more abstract-themed crossword puzzles that typically appear on Thursdays, like the rebus puzzles (where a picture of say, a face would be used in the answers "facebook" and "face the music"). As such, the collection is top-notch.

The only reason I gave this collection four stars instead of five stars is because there are many repeats from Will Shortz's Favorite Crossword Puzzles. Its disappointing to jump into a crossword and then realize that you've already done it in a different collection.

Regarding the previous reviewer's issue at not having Merl Reagle puzzles: Merl Reagle retains the rights to his own puzzles (probably the only puzzle constructionist to do so), so the only place to get his puzzles are through his own collections. The NYT collections will never have Reagles.

I really don't understand why so many of the NYT crossword books omit the titles that were on the puzzles when they were originally published. They often contain valuable clues to the trick of the puzzle, and in the case of this compendium in particular, there are some puzzles that I, for one, absolutely cannot figure out without some little hint up front. It's very irritating! I hope (perhaps unreasonably) that some bright editor will see this and slap him/herself upside the head. The omission smacks of carelessness! Tch tch tch NYT!

Puzzles are ok, but this book is printed on such low quality porous paper it is a negative for me- ink bleeds though. Prefer to pay more and get a better product.

I bought 2 copies of this book - one for myself and one for my husband's grandmother. As much as she loves crossword puzzles, I won't be giving Gramma the copy I bought for her. It would drive her nuts.

When I read the description of the book I really expected to see some Merl Reagle puzzles in it. He's my all time favorite. I haven't seen any of his puzzles so that disappointed me.

It would have been very helpful if the puzzles contained a title. It would give some sort of direction. I hate looking at the answers but I find myself doing that over & over as I slog thru this book.

Finally, the paper is not the smooth white that I would have liked to have seen. It's more like newsprint.

I really regret this purchase.