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{{Frontpage|class-"wikitable" cellpaddingisbn="15" Lloyd_1423<!-- |title=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 book reviewers in hitting upon a book such as this – you know you will have very little bearing on its sales18 minutes without oxygen by turning themselves into plants.'' And the whole of page 52. There, and what's more you hardly even need describe it job done – just dip in here and there for a few quotes, and sit back and relax knowing your the creators of this book certainly have done their job is doneto perfection. ''Only 1% of people who buy marmalade are under }}{{Frontpage|isbn=Brightside_101|title=101 Things to Take the age Stress Out of 28. Treadmills were once the harshest form Christmas|author=Robin Snow|rating=4|genre=Trivia|summary=For many years one of punishment after my guiding principles has been that the death penalty. Naked mole-rats can survive for 18 minutes without oxygen by turning themselves into plants.'' And C word should not be mentioned until the whole beginning of page 52. ThereDecember but, unfortunately, job done – C seems to be coming earlier each year and there are even shops where it never ceases to be imminent, which ramps up the creators of this stress levels considerably. So, a book certainly have done their job which promises 101 things to perfectiontake the stress out of C seemed like a good idea. [[1,423 QI Facts What’s it about? Tips like putting the sprouts on to Bowl You Over by John Lloydboil in November or joining a religion which avoids the celebration altogether? Well, James Harkin and Anne Miller|Full Review]]not quite.}}<!-- Snow-->{{Frontpage|-isbn=Brightside_Worry| styletitle="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"101 Things to do instead of worrying about the world|author=Felicity Brightside|rating=4[[image:Brightside_101.jpg|leftgenre=Trivia|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 ? We've tried voting, arguing and demonstrating. Now we're down to be imminent, which ramps pulling up the stress levels considerablydrawbridge and doing our best to think about something else. So, a book which promises 101 things to take the stress out of C seemed liked a good idea. What’s it about? Tips like putting the sprouts on to boil in November or joining a religion which avoids the celebration altogether? Well}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Lloyd 1342|title=1,342 QI Facts To Leave You Flabbergasted|author=John Lloyd, John Mitchinson, not quite. [[101 Things to Take the Stress Out of Christmas by Robin Snow|Full Review]] <!-- Brightside -->|-James Harkin and Anne Miller|rating=5|genre=Trivia| stylesummary="widthI love the way the QI elves play games with us with [[: 10%; vertical-alignCategory: top; text-align: center;"John Lloyd, John Mitchinson and James Harkin|[[image:Brightside_Worry.jpg|left|link=https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1780723180?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=1780723180these books]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[101 Things . That's not to do instead say it's a game of worrying about pulling the world by Felicity Brightside]]=== [[image:4star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Trivia|Trivia]]I don't think that I've ever been quite so worried about 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 state of the world as I have been due links you need to search for proof of late - and I speak as someone who lived through their statements. No, the Cuban Missile Crisis and various other apocalyptic momentsgame is Six Degrees of Separation. It almost certainly comes down to a lack of confidence And they're so good at it, they can do most things in the people who are supposedly three. So in chargejust three standalone, but thematically linked, whether it be phrases, you can get from a political point how to make the sound of view or an Orc army for ''Lord of our stewardship of this planet we call homethe Rings'' films to record-breaking nipple hair. But what can be done about it? We've tried voting From illicit wartime barbers in Italy to American founding father bedroom arrangements, arguing is only three steps – and demonstrating. Now we're down to pulling up the drawbridge and doing our best path carries on to think about something elsereach that erstwhile novice stand-up, Ronald Reagan, in two more. It's only two jumps between Donald Trump and Charles Darwin, disconcertingly. [[101 Things to do instead of worrying about the world by Felicity Brightside|Full Review]]}}<!-- Lloyd -->{{Frontpage|-isbn=Lloyd_1411| styletitle="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"1,411 QI Facts To Knock You Sideways|author=John Lloyd, John Mitchinson and James Harkin[[image:Lloyd 1342|rating=4.jpg5|leftgenre=Trivia|linksummary=https://wwwHandsome is as handsome does.amazon.coAnd you know what else benefits from being curt and succinct, alongside old housewives' saws like that one? Trivia.uk/gp/product/0571332463?ie=UTF8&tag=thebookbag-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=6738&creativeASIN=0571332463]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[1I always thought the QI books such as this one to be handsome things – perfectly presenting trivia, four (on rare occasion,342 QI Facts To Leave You Flabbergasted by John Lloydthree) statements to the page, John Mitchinsonin a very nice little cubical hardback. Now they're being represented in paperback, James Harkin and Anne Miller]]===but you know what? They're still handsome things.[[image:5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Trivia|Trivia]]{{FrontpageI love the way the |isbn=Lloyd_1339|title=1,339 QI elves play games with us with [[:Category:Facts To Make Your Jaw Drop|author=John Lloyd, John Mitchinson and James Harkin|these books]]rating=4. That5|genre=Trivia|summary=A spermologer ''is a collector of trivia's not to say it's . Just that sentence tells you a game lot – we're once more in the realm of pulling the wool over our eyescurt, succinct approach to the world's information and oddities. It says more, for every entrant in this series has had however – beyond the equivalent online version for weirdness of the sources, so every page word is replicated with the due links obvious necessity for the 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 itrest assured, they can do most things in threethere 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 Generation|author=Allan Metcalf|rating=3.5|genre=Trivia|summary=I have to go a roundabout way to record-breaking nipple hairintroduce this book, so bear with me. From illicit wartime barbers in Italy to American founding father bedroom arrangements, is only three steps – 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. [[1,342 QI Facts To Leave You Flabbergasted by John Lloyd The authors of those posited the idea that all those archetypical generations – the Baby Boomers, the Millennials, John Mitchinsonand those before, James Harkin in between and Anne Miller|Full Review]] <!-- LLOYD -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Lloyd_1411since – have their own cyclical pattern, and the 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.jpg|link=http://www.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, for one? ''Somebody must have put out an order'',411 QI Facts To Knock You Sideways by John Lloyd, John Mitchinson as someone here says of something else. But in the same way as generations get defined by collective persons unknown, so do words – and those words are certainly a clue to what was important, predominant and James Harkin]]=== [[image:4of course spoken in each decade.5star.jpg|link=Category:}}{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:TriviaFrontpage|Trivia]]isbn=Halliday_Cathedrals Handsome is as handsome does|title=Cathedrals and Abbeys (Amazing and Extraordinary Facts)|author=Stephen Halliday|rating=4. And you know what else benefits from being curt and succinct, alongside old housewives' saws like that one5|genre=Trivia|summary=What makes a cathedral? Trivia. I always thought It's not automatically the QI books such as this one to be handsome things principal church of anywhere that 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 hardback. Now theyas did Chelmsford. It'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. [[1,411 QI Facts To Knock You Sideways by John LloydIt's not a minster – that's something completely different, John Mitchinson and James Harkin|Full Review]] <!-- Lloyd -->|-| style="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Lloyd_1339if you can understand the sign in the delightful Beverley Minster describing the difference, that I saw only the other month, you'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 so it's only the vast majority of this book that is saddled with the definition problem. It's clearly not a real problem, and those it does have are by John Lloyd-passable, John Mitchinson and James Harkin]]===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:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:TriviaBramley_Shakespeare|title=The Shakespeare Trail|author=Zoe Bramley|rating=4|genre=Trivia]] A spermologer ''is a collector of trivia''. Just that sentence tells you a lot – we're once more |summary=It has been 400 years since William Shakespeare, the man heralded as the greatest writer in the realm of the curtEnglish language, succinct approach to the world's information and oddities. It says moreEngland's national poet, died. Shakespeare has made a profound mark on our culture and heritage, however – beyond the weirdness yet many aspects of his life remain in the word is shadows, and many places throughout England have forgotten their association with him. Here, Zoe Bramley takes the obvious necessity for the word to exist reader on a journey through hundreds of 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 }}{{Frontpage|isbn=Halliday_London|title=London (Amazing and James HarkinExtraordinary Facts)|Full Review]]author=Stephen Halliday <!-- Metcalf -->|rating=4.5|-genre=Trivia| stylesummary="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Metcalf_Skedaddle.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/019992712X/ref=nosimWhat makes a city?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[From Skedaddle to Selfie: Words Is it the materials, such as the very London Stone itself, of the Generation by Allan Metcalf]]=== [[image:3.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] mythological repute, that has moved around several times, and now forms part of a WH Smith's branch? (This has nothing, of course, on Temple Bar, which has also been known to walk.) Is it the people – the butchers [[Jack the Ripper:CategoryCSI:Trivia|TriviaWhitechapel by John Bennett and Paul Begg|(Jack the Ripper)]] I have to go a roundabout way to introducing this book, so bear with me. It stems partly from dictionaries and the etymology of bakers (or whoever set fire to the language we use, but more so if anything 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 – infrastructure, from the Baby BoomersUnderground, whose one-time boss got a medal from Stalin for his success, to the Millennials, and those beforeLondon Bridge itself, that in between and since – have their its own cyclical patternwanderlust means it's highly unlikely the Thames will freeze again? However you define a city, London certainly has a lot going for it as regards weird and the history of humanity has been wonderful, and will be formed by the interplay of just four different kinds, running (with only one exception) in regular ordertrivial yet fascinating. I don't really hold much store by thatAnd, luckily for us, and I certainly didn't know we'd started one since the Millennials – who the heck decides such things, for one? ''Somebody must have put out an order'', as someone here says of something elseso 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)|Full Review]]author=Julian Holland|rating=3<!-- Halliday -->|-| style|genre="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|Trivia[[image:Halliday_Cathedrals.jpg|linksummary=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1910821047/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Cathedrals and Abbeys How and when did Laurel and Hardy replace the Duke of York (Amazing and Extraordinary FactsGeorge VI) by Stephen Halliday]]=== [[image:4? They reopened the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway when peacetime resumed, at whose launch the latter had officiated before the War.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:History|History]]What's the worst that can happen when you travel internationally and arrive on a London goods train with no further destination documents? Well, [[:Category:Trivia|Trivia]] What makes a cathedral? Itif 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 2invoice turns up to prove you were wanted in Belgium. After so many miles and so much drama,000 people, and wasnit't always a city, but always had a cathedral, as did Chelmsford. Its no surprise odd facts and fun trivia derive from our country's not the seat trains. This book is designed to be an ideal source of a bishop – Glasgow has quick articles and fun mini-essays for use in the building but not the person, and hasn't had a bishop since 1690smallest room. It's not a minster – that's something completely different, and if you can understand the sign in the delightful Beverley Minster describing the difference}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Donald_Words|title=Words of a Feather|author=Graeme Donald|rating=4|genre=Trivia|summary=Words of a Feather. The title alone suggests an engaging read about language, that I saw only and the other monthbook certainly delivers. It pairs seemingly unrelated words, you're a better man I, Gunga Dindigs up their etymological roots and reveals their common ancestry. Luckily this book doesn't touch on minsters muchThe English language, and we can understand abbeysof course, so it's only the vast majority provides rich pickings indeed for a book of this book that type and it is saddled with fascinating to see the definition problemhidden meaning behind common and not-so-common words. It's clearly not a real problem, and those it does have Some connections are by-passablefairly obvious once you read them. For example, for this successfully defines a cathedral as somewhere of major importance, fine trivia the link between ''grotto'' and greatly worthy of our attention''grotesque'' is easy to grasp: the word ''grotesque'' derives from unpleasant figures depicted in murals in Ancient Roman ''grottoes''. [[Cathedrals and Abbeys (Amazing and Extraordinary Facts) by Stephen Halliday|Full Review]] <!Other connections are just extraordinary, like the so-crazy- Bramley you-couldn't->|make-| style="width: 10%; verticalit-align: top; text-align: center;"|[[image:Bramley_Shakespeareup link between ''furnace'' and ''fornicate''.jpg|link=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1445646846/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[The Shakespeare Trail by Zoe Bramley]]=== [[image:4starThese two words date back to Ancient Rome when prostitutes took over the city's abandoned baking domes. And some connections are more than a little tenuous, seemingly just a collection of words banded together, as is the case with the ''insult'' and ''salmon'' pairing.jpg|link=CategoryOne of my personal favourites:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Trivia|Trivia]] It has been 400 years since William Shakespearethe Italian word ''schiavo'' for ''slave'' was used to summon or dismiss a slave; this word became corrupted to ''ciao'', a word the man heralded as the greatest writer in the English language, and Englandmore well-heeled among us use instead of ''goodbye''s national poet, died. Shakespeare has made a profound mark on our culture }}{{Frontpage|isbn=Binney_English|title=The English Countryside (Amazing and heritage, yet many aspects of his life remain in the shadows, and many places throughout England have forgotten their association with him. HereExtraordinary Facts)|author=Ruth Binney|rating=4|genre=Trivia|summary=I live in the countryside and spend as much time as the weather will allow exploring it, Zoe Bramley takes so the reader on a journey through hundreds of places associated with Shakespeare – many whose connections will come as a surprise chance to read Ruth Binney's ''The English Countryside'' was too good to mostbe missed. Filled with intriguing titbits of information about Shakespeare, Elizabethan England, We've met Ruth [[The Allotment Experience by Ruth Binney|before]] at Bookbag and the places we know that she talks aboutwrites well and interestingly, this is no mere travel guidebut 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?}}<!-- Halliday -->{{Frontpage|-isbn=Lloyd_1234| styletitle="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|1,234 QI Facts to Leave You Speechless[[image:Halliday_London.jpg|linkauthor=http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1910821020/ref=nosim?tagJohn Lloyd, John Mitchinson and James Harkin|rating=thebookbag-21]] 5| stylegenre="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"Trivia|summary===[[London (Amazing and Extraordinary Facts) by Stephen Halliday]]=== [[image:4''No US President has ever died in May.5star.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Trivia|Trivia]] What makes a city? '' ''There are fewer women on corporate boards in America than there are men named John.'' Is it ''Dogs investigate bad smells with their right nostril and good smells with their left.'' ''Apollo 11's fuel consumption was seven inches to the materials, such as the very London Stone itself, of mythological repute, that has moved around several times, and now forms part of a WH Smithgallon.''s branch? (This has nothing, of course, on Temple Bar, which has also been known to walk''The first occupational disease ever recorded in medical literature was 'chimney sweep's scrotum'.) '' Is it the people – the butchers [[Jack the Ripper: CSI: Whitechapel ''The song 'Yes, We Have No Bananas' was written by John Bennett and Paul Begg|(Jack Leon Trotsky's nephew.'' ''In the Ripper)]]18th Century, the bakers (or whoever set fire King George I declared all pigeon droppings to be the entire city from Pudding Lane) and property of the candlestick makers? Crown''. Is it the infrastructure, from the Underground, whose one-time boss got a medal from Stalin for his success, I hardly think I need to say any more. Review over.}}{{Frontpage|isbn=Berenson_How|title=How to the London Bridge itself, that in its own wanderlust means itSpeak Emoji|author=Fred Benenson|rating=4|genre=Trivia|summary=Emojis are fun, and there's highly unlikely so much more to them than the Thames will freeze again? However you define smileys of days gone by ;) They can be a citylanguage unto themselves, London certainly has a lot going for it as regards weird and wonderfulthough, and I've found that some members of the trivial yet fascinating, ahem, older generation can find themselves a little troubled by them. AndThis book, then, luckily sounds perfect for us, so has anyone who needs a little help with this book'language'. [[London (Amazing and Extraordinary Facts) by Stephen Halliday|Full Review]] <!-- Holland -->}}{{Frontpage|-isbn=Lloyd_3rd| styletitle="widthQI: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"The Third Book of General Ignorance|author=John Lloyd, John Mitchinson, James Harkin and Andrew Hunter Murray[[image:Holland_Railways.jpg|linkrating=http://www4.amazon.co.uk/dp/1910821004/ref5|genre=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]] Trivia| stylesummary="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Railways (Amazing Well done, Hartlepool. You didn't put on trial and Extraordinary Facts) by Julian Holland]]=== [[image:3starkill a shipwrecked monkey thinking it a Napoleonic spy – any more than the several other places thusly accused ever did.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Trivia|Trivia]] How and when did Laurel and Hardy replace the Duke of York (George VI)? They reopened the RomneyWell 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, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway when peacetime resumedCharles Darwin – who was probably playing it, at whose launch the latter had officiated seeing as it was a British invention, long before the WarCanadians ever realised they might be good at it. What's the worst Yes, for a book that can happen when you travel internationally spends a lot of its time saying 'this didn’t happen,' 'hoojamaflip didn't do this,' and arrive on a London goods train with no further destination documents? Well'that was never thus', if youit're an unidentifiable Peruvian mummy you can get buried as an unknown corpse before the invoice turns up s one that's incredibly easy to prove you were wanted in Belgiumbe most positive about. After so many miles and so much drama, it's no surprise odd facts and fun trivia derive from our country's trains. This book is designed to be an ideal source of quick articles and fun mini-essays for use in }}{{Frontpage|isbn=Taggart_New|title=New Words for Old: Recycling Our Language for the smallest roomModern World|author=Caroline Taggart|rating=3. [[Railways (Amazing and Extraordinary Facts) by Julian Holland5|Full Review]] <!-- Donald -->|-| stylegenre="width: 10%; vertical-align: top; text-align: center;"|Trivia[[image:Donald_Words.jpg|linksummary=http://wwwI 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.amazon.co.uk/dp/178418814X/ref=nosim?tag=thebookbag-21]]  | style="vertical-align: top; text-align: left;"|===[[Words 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 Feather by Graeme Donald]]=== [[image:4starfull switch through rampant misuse.jpg|link=Category:{{{rating}}} Star Reviews]] [[:Category:Reference|Reference]] Such is the nature of our language – fluid both in spelling until moderately recently, [[:Category:Trivia|Trivia]] Words of a Featherand definitely in meaning. The title alone suggests an engaging read about language, and This attempt at capturing a corner of the book certainly delivers. It pairs seemingly unrelated trivia/words, digs up their /novelty market is interested in such tales from the etymological roots and reveals their common ancestryworld – the way we have adapted old words for our own, modern and perhaps very different usages. The English language Certainly, of coursehaving browsed it over a week, provides rich pickings indeed for I can declare it a book of this type and it is fascinating to see the hidden meaning behind common and not-so-common wordspretty strong attempt. Some connections are fairly obvious once you read them. For example, the link between ''grotto'' and ''grotesque'' is easy }}Move on to grasp: the word ''grotesque'' derives from unpleasant figures depicted in murals in Ancient Roman ''grottoes''. Other connections are just extraordinary, like the so-crazy-you-couldn't-make-it-up link between ''furnace'' and ''fornicate''. These two words date back to Ancient Rome when prostitutes took over the city's abandoned baking domes. And some connections are more than a little tenuous, seemingly just a collection of words banded together, as is the case with the ''insult'' and ''salmon'' pairing. One of my personal favourites: the Italian word ''schiavo'' for ''slave'' was used to summon or dismiss a slave; this word became corrupted 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[[Newest True Crime Reviews]] <!-- DO NOT REMOVE ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE -->|}