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{{Frontpage|isbn=Lloyd_1423|class-"wikitable" cellpaddingtitle="15" 1,423 QI Facts to Bowl You Over<!-- |author=John Lloyd -->, James Harkin and Anne Miller|rating=5|-genre=Trivia| stylesummary="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Lloyd_1423.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0571339107?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0571339107]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[1You may think me lazy, but there is an inherent satisfaction for book reviewers in hitting upon a book such as this – you know you will have very little bearing on its sales, and what's more you hardly even need describe it – just dip in here and there for a few quotes,423 QI Facts to Bowl You Over by John Lloyd, James Harkin and Anne Miller]]=== [[image:5starsit back and relax knowing your job is done.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Trivia|Trivia]] You may think me lazy, but there is an inherent satisfaction ''Only 1% of people who buy marmalade are under the age of 28. Treadmills were once the harshest form of punishment after the death penalty. Naked mole-rats can survive for 18 minutes without oxygen by turning themselves into plants.'' And the whole of page 52. There, job done – and the creators of this book reviewers in hitting upon a book such as this – you know you will have very little bearing on its sales, and what's more you hardly even need describe it – just dip in here and there for a few quotescertainly have done their job to perfection.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Brightside_101|title=101 Things to Take the Stress Out of Christmas|author=Robin Snow|rating=4|genre=Trivia|summary=For many years one of my guiding principles has been that the C word should not be mentioned until the beginning of December but, unfortunately, C seems to be coming earlier each year and sit back and relax knowing your job is done. ''Only 1% of people who buy marmalade there are under even shops where it never ceases to be imminent, which ramps up the age of 28stress levels considerably. Treadmills were once So, a book which promises 101 things to take the harshest form stress out of punishment after C seemed like a good idea. What’s it about? Tips like putting the death penalty. Naked mole-rats can survive for 18 minutes without oxygen by turning themselves into plants.'' And sprouts on to boil in November or joining a religion which avoids the whole of page 52celebration altogether? Well, not quite. There, job done – and the creators of this book certainly have done their job to perfection. [[1,423 QI Facts to Bowl You Over by John Lloyd, James Harkin and Anne Miller}}{{Frontpage|Full Review]]isbn=Brightside_Worry <!-- Snow-->|title=101 Things to do instead of worrying about the world|-author=Felicity Brightside| stylerating="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"4|genre=Trivia[[image:Brightside_101.jpg|left|linksummary=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1780723296?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbagI don't think that I've ever been quite so worried about the state of the world as I have been of late -21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1780723296]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[101 Things to Take and I speak as someone who lived through the Stress Out of Christmas by Robin Snow]]=== [[image:4starCuban Missile Crisis and various other apocalyptic moments.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Trivia|Trivia]] For many years one of my guiding principles has been that the C word should not It almost certainly comes down to a lack of confidence in the people who are supposedly in charge, whether it be mentioned until the beginning from a political point of December but unfortunately C seems to view or of our stewardship of this planet we call home. But what can be coming earlier each year and there are even shops where done about it never ceases to be imminent? We've tried voting, which ramps arguing and demonstrating. Now we're down to pulling up the stress levels considerablydrawbridge and doing our best to think about something else. So}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Lloyd 1342|title=1, a book which promises 101 things to take 342 QI Facts To Leave You Flabbergasted|author=John Lloyd, John Mitchinson, James Harkin and Anne Miller|rating=5|genre=Trivia|summary=I love the stress out of C seemed liked a good idea. What’s it about? Tips like putting way the sprouts on to boil in November or joining a religion which avoids the celebration altogether? Well, not quite. QI elves play games with us with [[101 Things to Take the Stress Out of Christmas by Robin Snow:Category:John Lloyd, John Mitchinson and James Harkin|Full Reviewthese books]] <!-- Brightside -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Brightside_Worry.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon That's not to say it's a game of pulling the wool over our eyes, for every entrant in this series has had the equivalent online version for the sources, so every page is replicated with the due links you need to search for proof of their statements. No, the game is Six Degrees of Separation.co And they're so good at it, they can do most things in three.uk/gp/product/1780723180?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1780723180]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[101 Things So in just three standalone, but thematically linked, phrases, you can get from how to do instead make the sound of an Orc army for ''Lord of worrying about the world by Felicity Brightside]]=== [[image:4starRings'' films to record-breaking nipple hair.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Trivia|Trivia]]I don't think From illicit wartime barbers in Italy to American founding father bedroom arrangements, is only three steps – and the path carries on to reach that I've ever been quite so worried about the state of the world as I have been of late erstwhile novice stand- and I speak as someone who lived through the Cuban Missile Crisis and various other apocalyptic momentsup, Ronald Reagan, in two more. It almost certainly comes down to a lack of confidence in the people who are supposedly in charge's only two jumps between Donald Trump and Charles Darwin, whether it be from a political point of view or of our stewardship of this planet we call home. But what can be done about it? We've tried votingdisconcertingly.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Lloyd_1411|title=1, arguing and demonstrating. Now we're down to pulling up the drawbridge 411 QI Facts To Knock You Sideways|author=John Lloyd, John Mitchinson and doing our best to think about something elseJames Harkin|rating=4. [[101 Things to do instead of worrying about the world by Felicity Brightside5|genre=Trivia|Full Review]] <!-- Lloyd -->|-| stylesummary="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Lloyd 1342Handsome is as handsome does. And you know what else benefits from being curt and succinct, alongside old housewives' saws like that one? Trivia.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazonI always thought the QI books such as this one to be handsome things – perfectly presenting trivia, four (on rare occasion, three) statements to the page, in a very nice little cubical hardback. Now they're being represented in paperback, but you know what? They're still handsome things.co.uk/gp/product/0571332463?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0571332463]]}}{{Frontpage| styleisbn="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"Lloyd_1339|title===[[1,342 339 QI Facts To Leave You Flabbergasted by Make Your Jaw Drop|author=John Lloyd, John Mitchinson, and James Harkin and Anne Miller]]=|rating=4.5|genre=Trivia [[image:5star.jpg|linksummary=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Trivia|Trivia]] I love A spermologer ''is a collector of trivia''. Just that sentence tells you a lot – we're once more in the way realm of the QI elves play games with us with [[:Category:John Lloydcurt, John Mitchinson and James Harkin|these books]]. That's not succinct approach to say itthe world's a game information and oddities. It says more, however – beyond the weirdness of pulling the wool over our eyes, for every entrant in this series has had word is the equivalent online version obvious necessity for the sources, so every page is replicated with the due links word to exist – without people that could be called collectors of trivia you would not need to search for proof of their statements. No, the game is Six Degrees of Separationterm. And they're so good at it, they can do most things in threerest assured, there are currently few people that stand as better spermologers than the chief QI elves. So in just three standalone, but thematically linked, phrases, you can get from how }}{{Frontpage|isbn=Metcalf_Skedaddle|title=From Skedaddle to make the sound of an Orc army for ''Lord Selfie: Words of the Rings'' films to record-breaking nipple hairGeneration|author=Allan Metcalf|rating=3. From illicit wartime barbers in Italy 5|genre=Trivia|summary=I have to go a roundabout way to American founding father bedroom arrangementsintroduce this book, is only three steps – so bear with me. It stems partly from dictionaries and the path carries on to reach that erstwhile novice stand-upetymology of the language we use, Ronald Reagan, in two but more. It's only two jumps between Donald Trump so if anything from a different couple of books, and Charles Darwin, disconcertinglytheir ideas of generations. [[1 The authors of those posited the idea that all those archetypical generations – the Baby Boomers,342 QI Facts To Leave You Flabbergasted by John Lloydthe Millennials, and those before, John Mitchinsonin between and since – have their own cyclical pattern, James Harkin and Anne Miller|Full Review]] <!-- LLOYD -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Lloyd_1411.jpg|link=http://wwwthe history of humanity has been and will be formed by the interplay of just four different kinds, running (with only one exception) in regular order.amazon.co.uk/dp/0571329845/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[1 I don't really hold much store by that, and I certainly didn't know we'd started one since the Millennials – who the heck decides such things,411 QI Facts To Knock You Sideways for one? ''Somebody must have put out an order'', as someone here says of something else. But in the same way as generations get defined by John Lloydcollective persons unknown, John Mitchinson so do words – and James Harkin]]===those words are certainly a clue to what was important, predominant and of course spoken in each decade.}}{{Frontpage[[image:4.5star.jpg|linkisbn=Category:{{{Halliday_Cathedrals|title=Cathedrals and Abbeys (Amazing and Extraordinary Facts)|author=Stephen Halliday|rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Trivia=4.5|genre=Trivia]] Handsome is as handsome does. And you know what else benefits from being curt and succinct, alongside old housewives|summary=What makes a cathedral? It' saws like s not automatically the principal church of anywhere that one? Trivia. I always thought the QI books such as this one to be handsome things is made a city – perfectly presenting triviaSt Davids is a village of 2, four (on rare occasion000 people and wasn't always a city, three) statements to the pagebut always had a cathedral, in a very nice little cubical hardbackas did Chelmsford. Now theyIt're being represented in paperbacks not the seat of a bishop – Glasgow has the building but not the person, but you know what? Theyand hasn're still handsome thingst had a bishop since 1690. [[1It's not a minster – that's something completely different,411 QI Facts To Knock You Sideways by John Lloydand if you can understand the sign in the delightful Beverley Minster describing the difference, that I saw only the other month, John Mitchinson and James Harkin|Full Review]] <!-- Lloyd -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Lloyd_1339you're a better man I, Gunga Din.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0571308953/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[1Luckily this book doesn't touch on minsters much, and we can understand abbeys,339 QI Facts To Make Your Jaw Drop by John Lloydso it's only the vast majority of this book that is saddled with the definition problem. It's clearly not a real problem, John Mitchinson and James Harkin]]===those it does have are by-passable, for this successfully defines a cathedral as somewhere of major importance, fine trivia and greatly worthy of our attention. }}{{Frontpage[[image:4.5star.jpg|linkisbn=Category:{{{Bramley_Shakespeare|title=The Shakespeare Trail|author=Zoe Bramley|rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Trivia=4|genre=Trivia]] A spermologer ''is a collector of trivia'|summary=It has been 400 years since William Shakespeare, the man heralded as the greatest writer in the English language, and England's national poet, died. Just that sentence tells you Shakespeare has made a lot – we're once more profound mark on our culture and heritage, yet many aspects of his life remain in the realm of the curtshadows, succinct approach to the world's information and odditiesmany places throughout England have forgotten their association with him. It says moreHere, however – beyond Zoe Bramley takes the weirdness reader on a journey through hundreds of the word is the obvious necessity for the word to exist places associated with Shakespeare – without people that could be called collectors many whose connections will come as a surprise to most. Filled with intriguing tidbits of trivia you would not need information about Shakespeare, Elizabethan England, and the term. And rest assuredplaces that she talks about, there are currently few people that stand as better spermologers than the chief QI elvesthis is no mere travel guide. [[1,339 QI Facts To Make Your Jaw Drop by John Lloyd, John Mitchinson and James Harkin|Full Review]]}}{{Frontpage<!-- Metcalf -->|isbn=Halliday_London|-title=London (Amazing and Extraordinary Facts)| styleauthor="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"Stephen Halliday|rating=4.5[[image:Metcalf_Skedaddle.jpg|linkgenre=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/019992712X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] Trivia| stylesummary="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[From Skedaddle to Selfie: Words of What makes a city? Is it the Generation by Allan Metcalf]]=== [[image:3.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Trivia|Trivia]] I have to go materials, such as the very London Stone itself, of mythological repute, that has moved around several times, and now forms part of a roundabout way to introducing this book, so bear with meWH Smith's branch? (This has nothing, of course, on Temple Bar, which has also been known to walk. ) It stems partly from dictionaries and Is it the etymology of people – the language we usebutchers [[Jack the Ripper: CSI: Whitechapel by John Bennett and Paul Begg|(Jack the Ripper)]], but more so if anything the bakers (or whoever set fire to the entire city from a different couple of books, Pudding Lane) and their ideas of generations. the candlestick makers? The authors of those posited Is it the idea that all those archetypical generations – the Baby Boomersinfrastructure, from the MillennialsUnderground, and those before, in between and since – have their own cyclical patternwhose one-time boss got a medal from Stalin for his success, and to the history of humanity has been and will be formed by the interplay of just four different kindsLondon Bridge itself, running (with only one exception) in regular order. that in its own wanderlust means it's highly unlikely the Thames will freeze again? I don't really hold much store by thatHowever you define a city, and I London certainly didn't know we'd started one since has a lot going for it as regards weird and wonderful, and the Millennials – who the heck decides such thingstrivial yet fascinating. And, luckily for one? ''Somebody must have put out an order'', as someone here says of something elseus, so has this book. But in the same way as generations get defined by collective persons unknown, so do words – }}{{Frontpage|isbn=Holland_Railways|title=Railways (Amazing and those words are certainly a clue to what was important, predominant and of course spoken in each decade. [[From Skedaddle to Selfie: Words of the Generation by Allan MetcalfExtraordinary Facts)|author=Julian Holland|rating=3|Full Review]] <!-- Halliday -->genre=Trivia|-| stylesummary="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Halliday_Cathedrals.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1910821047/ref=nosimHow and when did Laurel and Hardy replace the Duke of York (George VI)?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Cathedrals They reopened the Romney, Hythe and Abbeys (Amazing and Extraordinary Facts) by Stephen Halliday]]=== [[image:4Dymchurch Railway when peacetime resumed, at whose launch the latter had officiated before the War.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:History|History]], [[:Category:Trivia|Trivia]] What makes What's the worst that can happen when you travel internationally and arrive on a cathedralLondon goods train with no further destination documents? ItWell, if you's not automatically re an unidentifiable Peruvian mummy you can get buried as an unknown corpse before the principal church of anywhere that is made a city – St Davids is a village of 2,000 people, invoice turns up to prove you were wanted in Belgium. After so many miles and wasn't always a cityso much drama, but always had a cathedral, as did Chelmsford. Itit's not the seat of a bishop – Glasgow has the building but not the person, and hasnno surprise odd facts and fun trivia derive from our country't had a bishop since 1690s trains. It's not a minster – that's something completely different, This book is designed to be an ideal source of quick articles and if you can understand the sign fun mini-essays for use in the delightful Beverley Minster describing the difference, that I saw only the other month, you're smallest room.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Donald_Words|title=Words of a Feather|author=Graeme Donald|rating=4|genre=Trivia|summary=Words of a better man I, Gunga DinFeather. Luckily this book doesn't touch on minsters muchThe title alone suggests an engaging read about language, and we can understand abbeys, so it's only the vast majority of this book that is saddled with the definition problemcertainly delivers. It's clearly not a real problempairs seemingly unrelated words, digs up their etymological roots and those it does have are by-passablereveals their common ancestry. The English language, of course, provides rich pickings indeed for this successfully defines a cathedral as somewhere book of major importance, fine trivia this type and greatly worthy of our attention. [[Cathedrals it is fascinating to see the hidden meaning behind common and Abbeys (Amazing and Extraordinary Facts) by Stephen Halliday|Full Review]] <!not-so- Bramley -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Bramley_Shakespearecommon words. Some connections are fairly obvious once you read them.jpg|For example, the link=httpbetween ''grotto'' and ''grotesque'' is easy to grasp://wwwthe word ''grotesque'' derives from unpleasant figures depicted in murals in Ancient Roman ''grottoes''.amazon.co.uk/dp/1445646846/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbagOther connections are just extraordinary, like the so-crazy-you-couldn't-21]]  | style="verticalmake-align: top; textit-align: left;"|===[[The Shakespeare Trail by Zoe Bramley]]=== [[image:4starup link between ''furnace'' and ''fornicate''.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Trivia|Trivia]] It has been 400 years since William Shakespeare, These two words date back to Ancient Rome when prostitutes took over the man heralded as the greatest writer in the English language, and England's national poet, diedcity's abandoned baking domes. Shakespeare has made And some connections are more than a profound mark on our culture and heritagelittle tenuous, yet many aspects seemingly just a collection of his life remain in words banded together, as is the shadows, and many places throughout England have forgotten their association case with him. Here, Zoe Bramley takes the reader on a journey through hundreds of places associated with Shakespeare – many whose connections will come as a surprise to most''insult'' and ''salmon'' pairing. Filled with intriguing titbits One of information about Shakespeare, Elizabethan England, and my personal favourites: the places that she talks aboutItalian word ''schiavo'' for ''slave'' was used to summon or dismiss a slave; this word became corrupted to ''ciao'', this is no mere travel guide. <!a word the more well-- Halliday -->heeled among us use instead of ''goodbye''.}}|-{{Frontpage| styleisbn="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|Binney_English[[image:Halliday_London.jpg|linktitle=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1910821020/refThe English Countryside (Amazing and Extraordinary Facts)|author=nosim?tagRuth Binney|rating=thebookbag-21]] 4| stylegenre="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"Trivia|summary===[[London (Amazing I live in the countryside and Extraordinary Facts) by Stephen Halliday]]=== [[image:4spend as much time as the weather will allow exploring it, so the chance to read Ruth Binney's ''The English Countryside'' was too good to be missed.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] We've met Ruth [[:Category:TriviaThe Allotment Experience by Ruth Binney|Triviabefore]] What makes a city? Is it the materials, such as the very London Stone itselfat Bookbag and we know that she writes well and interestingly, but just one thing was worrying me about this book. It's a hardback and beautifully presented but its the size of mythological repute, book that has moved around several times, and now forms part of you slip into a WH Smith's branch? (This has nothing, of course, on Temple Bar, which has also been known to walkpocket or handbag.) Is Would it the people – the butchers [[Jack the Ripper: CSI: Whitechapel by be rather superficial?}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Lloyd_1234|title=1,234 QI Facts to Leave You Speechless|author=John Lloyd, John Bennett Mitchinson and Paul BeggJames Harkin|(Jack the Ripper)]], the bakers (or whoever set fire to the entire city from Pudding Lane) and the candlestick makers? rating=5|genre=Trivia|summary=''No US President has ever died in May.'' Is it the infrastructure, from the Underground, whose one-time boss got a medal from Stalin for his success, to the London Bridge itself, that in its own wanderlust means it's highly unlikely the Thames will freeze again? 'There are fewer women on corporate boards in America than there are men named John.'' However you define a city, London certainly has a lot going for it as regards weird and wonderful, ''Dogs investigate bad smells with their right nostril and good smells with their left.'' ''Apollo 11's fuel consumption was seven inches to the trivial yet fascinatinggallon. '' And, luckily for us''The first occupational disease ever recorded in medical literature was 'chimney sweep's scrotum'.'' ''The song 'Yes, so has this book. [[London (Amazing and Extraordinary Facts) We Have No Bananas' was written by Stephen Halliday|Full Review]] <!-- Holland -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Holland_RailwaysLeon Trotsky's nephew.'' ''In the 18th Century, King George I declared all pigeon droppings to be the property of the Crown''. I hardly think I need to say any more.jpg|link=http://www Review over.amazon.co.uk/dp/1910821004/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]}}{{Frontpage| styleisbn="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"Berenson_How|title=How to Speak Emoji|author=Fred Benenson|rating==[[Railways (Amazing and Extraordinary Facts) by Julian Holland]]===4 [[image:3star.jpg|linkgenre=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Trivia|Trivia]] How summary=Emojis are fun, and when did Laurel and Hardy replace there's so much more to them than the Duke smileys of York (George VIdays gone by ;)? They reopened the Romneycan be a language unto themselves, though, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway when peacetime resumed, at whose launch the latter had officiated before the War. WhatI's ve found that some members of the worst that , ahem, older generation can happen when you travel internationally and arrive on find themselves a little troubled by them. This book, then, sounds perfect for anyone who needs a London goods train little help with no further destination documents? Well, if youthis 'language're an unidentifiable Peruvian mummy you can get buried as an unknown corpse before the invoice turns up to prove you were wanted in Belgium. After so many miles and so much drama.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Lloyd_3rd|title=QI: The Third Book of General Ignorance|author=John Lloyd, John Mitchinson, it's no surprise odd facts James Harkin and fun trivia derive from our countryAndrew Hunter Murray|rating=4.5|genre=Trivia|summary=Well done, Hartlepool. You didn's trains. This book is designed to be an ideal source of quick articles t put on trial and fun mini-essays kill a shipwrecked monkey thinking it a Napoleonic spy – any more than the several other places thusly accused ever did. Well done, Italy, for use in making the smallest room. [[Railways (Amazing and Extraordinary Facts) by Julian Holland|Full Review]] <!-- Donald -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Donald_Words.jpg|link=http://www.amazonciabatta such a global phenomenon it seems like a traditional foodstuff, even if it was invented in 1982. And well done to that famous ice hockey player, Charles Darwin – who was probably playing it, seeing as it was a British invention, long before the Canadians ever realised they might be good at it.co.uk/dp/178418814X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Words of Yes, for a Feather by Graeme Donald]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{book that spends a lot of its time saying 'this didn’t happen,' 'hoojamaflip didn't do this,' and 'that was never thus', it's one that's incredibly easy to be most positive about.}}{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:ReferenceFrontpage|Reference]], [[isbn=Taggart_New|title=New Words for Old:Category:TriviaRecycling Our Language for the Modern World|author=Caroline Taggart|rating=3.5|genre=Trivia]] Words of a Feather. The title alone suggests an engaging read about language|summary=I never declare myself off to have a 'kip', as I recall reading that it originally meant the same amount of sleeping – and the book certainly deliversactivity – as happens in a whorehouse. It pairs seemingly unrelated words The word 'cleave' can mean either to split apart or to connect together, digs up their etymological roots and reveals their common ancestry. The English language, I'm sure there's another word that has completely changed its meaning from one end of coursethings to another although I can't remember which. Certainly, provides rich pickings indeed for a book of this type and it is fascinating to see the hidden meaning behind common and not-so-common words. Some connections are fairly obvious once you read them. For example, the link between ''grotto'' and ''grotesque'literally'' has tried its best to make a full switch through rampant misuse. Such is easy to grasp: the word ''grotesque'' derives from unpleasant figures depicted nature of our language – fluid both in murals in Ancient Roman ''grottoes''spelling until moderately recently, and definitely in meaning. Other connections are just extraordinary, like This attempt at capturing a corner of the so-crazy-you-couldn't-make-it-up link between ''furnace'' trivia/words/novelty market is interested in such tales from the etymological world – the way we have adapted old words for our own, modern and ''fornicate''perhaps very different usages. These two words date back to Ancient Rome when prostitutes took Certainly, having browsed it over the city's abandoned baking domes. And some connections are more than a little tenuousweek, seemingly just I can declare it a collection of words banded together, as is the case with the ''insult'' and ''salmon'' pairingpretty strong attempt. One of my personal favourites: the Italian word ''schiavo'' for ''slave'' was used to summon or dismiss a slave; this word became corrupted }}Move on to ''ciao'', a word the more well-heeled among us use instead of ''goodbye''. [[Words of a Feather by Graeme Donald|Full Review]] <!-- Binney -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Binney_English.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1910821012/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The English Countryside (Amazing and Extraordinary Facts) by Ruth Binney]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Trivia|Trivia]], [[:Category:Animals and Wildlife|Animals and Wildlife]] I live in the countryside and spend as much time as the weather will allow exploring it, so the chance to read Ruth Binney's ''The English Countryside'' was too good to be missed. We've met Ruth [[The Allotment Experience by Ruth Binney|before]] at Bookbag and we know that she writes well and interestingly, but just one thing was worrying me about this book. It's a hardback and beautifully presented but its the size of book that you slip into a pocket or handbag. Would it be rather superficial? [[The English Countryside (Amazing and Extraordinary Facts) by Ruth Binney|Full Review]] <!-- Lloyd -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Lloyd_1234.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0571326684/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[1,234 QI Facts to Leave You Speechless by John Lloyd, John Mitchinson and James Harkin]]=== [[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Trivia|Trivia]] ''No US President has ever died in May.'' ''There are fewer women on corporate boards in America than there are men named John.'' ''Dogs investigate bad smells with their right nostril and good smells with their left.'' ''Apollo 11's fuel consumption was seven inches to the gallon.'' ''The first occupational disease ever recorded in medical literature was 'chimney sweep's scrotum'.'' ''The song 'Yes, We Have No Bananas' was written by Leon Trotsky's nephew.'' ''In the 18th Century, King George I declared all pigeon droppings to be property of the Crown''. I hardly think I need say any more. Review over. [[1,234 QI Facts to Leave You Speechless by John Lloyd, John Mitchinson and James Harkin|Full Review]] <!-- Benenson -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Berenson_How.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/178503202X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[How to Speak Emoji by Fred Benenson]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Trivia|Trivia]] Emojis are fun, and there's so much more to them than the smileys of days gone by ;) They can be a language unto themselves, though, and I've found that some members of the, ahem, older generation can find themselves a little troubled by them. This book, then, sounds perfect for anyone who needs a little help with this 'language'. [[How to Speak Emoji by Fred Benenson|Full Review]] <!-- Lloyd -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Lloyd_3rd.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0571308988/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[QI: The Third Book of General Ignorance by John Lloyd, John Mitchinson, James Harkin and Andrew Hunter Murray]]=== [[image:4.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Trivia|Trivia]] Well done, Hartlepool. You didn't put on trial and kill a shipwrecked monkey thinking it a Napoleonic spy – any more than the several other places thusly accused ever did. Well done, Italy, for making the ciabatta such a global phenomenon it seems like a traditional foodstuff, even if it was invented in 1982. And well done to that famous ice hockey player, Charles Darwin – who was probably playing it, seeing as it was a British invention, long before the Canadians ever realised they might be good at it. Yes, for a book that spends a lot of its time saying 'this didn’t happen,' 'hoojamaflip didn't do this,' and 'that was never thus', it's one that's incredibly easy to be most positive about. [[QI: The Third Book of General Ignorance by John Lloyd, John Mitchinson, James Harkin and Andrew Hunter Murray|Full Review]]<!-- Taggart -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Taggart_New.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1782434720/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[New Words for Old: Recycling Our Language for the Modern World by Caroline Taggart]]=== [[image:3.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Trivia|Trivia]] I never declare myself off to have a 'kip', as I recall reading that it originally meant the same amount of sleeping – and activity – as happens in a whorehouse. The word 'cleave' can mean either to split apart, or to connect together, and I'm sure there's another word that has completely changed its meaning from one end of things to another although I can't remember which. Certainly, ''literally'' has tried its best to make a full switch through rampant misuse. Such is the nature of our language – fluid both in spelling until moderately recently, and definitely in meaning. This attempt at capturing a corner of the trivia/words/novelty market is interested in such tales from the etymological world – the way we have adapted old words for our own, modern and perhaps very different usages. Certainly, having browsed it over a week, I can declare it a pretty strong attempt. [[New Words for Old: Recycling Our Language for the Modern World by Caroline Taggart|Full Review]] <!-- Halliday -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Halliday_London.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1910821039/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[London Underground (Amazing and Extraordinary Facts) by Stephen Halliday]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Trivia|Trivia]] From initial worries about smutty, enclosed air with a pungent smell to decades of human hair and engine grease causing escalator fires; from just a few lines connecting London termini to major jaunts out into Metro-land for the suburbia-bound commuters; and from a few religious-minded if financially dodgy pioneer investment managers to Crossrail; the history of the world's most extensive underground system (even when a majority is actually above ground) is fascinating to many. This book is a repository of much that is entirely trivial, but is also pretty much thoroughly interesting. [[London Underground (Amazing and Extraordinary Facts) by Stephen Halliday|Full ReviewNewest True Crime Reviews]]  <!-- DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE -->|}