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Home > Categories > Books > Non-Fiction > Anguished English review
Anguished English is filled with accidental misuses of language that will delight and entertain you. This book has all the student bloopers, dangling modifiers, misread headlines, and malapropisms imaginable.
It's a must-have for word lovers everywhere.
• Advertisement: "Dog for sale. Eats anything and is fond of children."
• In a lawsuit: "Doctor, how many autopsies have you performed on dead people?" "All my autopsies are on dead people."
• On a Hong Kong tailor shop: "Ladies may have a fit upstairs."
• Describing an accident: "In an attempt to kill a fly, I drove into a telegraph pole."
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Review by: diogenes (Rob)
Dated: 7th of August, 2006
Anguished English is a gem amongst books. A collection of bloopers from amongst the press, adverts and children's school exams. One or two I had already seen from the numerous emails circulating cyberspace but then I wonder for where they originated - Richard Lederer's website perhaps?
Lederer has trawled the press, newsletters, and school work of thousands of American children (assisted by a vast team of volunteers ready to submit howlers for everyone else's entertainment and enjoyment) ready to illustrate and show how our beautiful language can get massacred and butchered unwittingly by people around the English speaking world.
Lederer has divided his book into convenient sections: from schoolchild bloopers and a rather funny section of some school notes; adverts, signs and church notices; headlines from the press and much, much more.
Each page contains plenty of wit and humour to inspire and brighten the dullest of days and the most boring of hours. One does not need to read the book from cover to cover to enjoy it, just dip between the covers when your mood needs lifting or you dispair of clear, concise headlines and yet another boring news-filled day.
This book will slip into your pocket for quiet moments at work, or will look equally good on your bookcase. For the lovers of English and those who appreciate humour, this book is for you. I can see this one disappearing from my library if I'm not careful.
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