For the Love of Words

In this Sunday's issue of The New York Times, Jack Shafer reviewed the book "Alphabet Juice," by Roy Blount Jr. In the article titled "The Joy of English" Shafer calls the book "his personal lexicon, usage manual, writers’ guidebook, etymological investigation and literary junk drawer." In the article, Blount is compared to H.L. Mencken for his ability to "write funny" and as a "superb reporter who possesses an imaginative intellect." From the excerpts and examples we get in the article, it is clear to see that "Alphabet Juice" is a must-have for all the lovers-of-words out there. Blount recognizes interesting aspects of the English language that may not have been thought about otherwise. After reading this article, I am certainly picking up a copy to add to my book shelf!