Anguished English: A Riotous Look at Bloopers and Blunders

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In summary, the conversation discusses the recommendation of a book called "More Anguished English" which includes bloopers from school papers and other sources compiled in a humorous way. The book covers various topics such as history, sports, and language. The speaker highly recommends the book to those with a sense of humor and also mentions another book called "Joy of Lex" which features wordplay and clever puzzles.
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Mentat
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I highly recommend this book, and it's sequel (More Anguished English), to anyone who likes a good laugh.

The writer has taken a bunch of bloopers from children's and adults' school papers, or other such papers and put them together in an ingenius way. For example, there is a section about History, which takes the bloopers from many History papers (by eighth grade-college level students!) and makes them into an utterly different set of events. Here is an excerpt from that "History" section:

The Greeks were a highly sculptured people, and without them we wouldn't have history. The Greeks invented three kinds of columns - corinthian, ironic, and dorc - and built the Apocalypse. They also had myths. A myth is a female moth...

In the Olympic Games, Greeks ran races, jumped, hurled the buscuits, and threw the java. The reward to the victor was a coral wreath...

Julius Ceaser Extinguished himself on the battlefields of Gaul. The Ides of March murdered him because they thought he was going to be made king. Dying, he gasped out the word "Tee-hee, Brutus"...

Then came the Middle ages, when everyone was middle-aged. King Alfred conquered the Dames. King Arthur lived in the age of Shivery with brave knights on prancing horses and beautiful women. King Harold mustarded before the Battle of Hastings. And victims of the blue-bonnet plague grew boobs on their necks. Finally, Magna Carta provided that no free man should be hanged twice for the same offense...

There is much, much, more in this book, and I think pretty much everyone with a sense of humor will enjoy it.
 
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If you liked Anguished English you'd probably like the Joy of Lex. It includes everything from simple wordplay to cunning conundrums, from Malaprope to Yogi Berra.
 
  • #3
Originally posted by kleinjahr
If you liked Anguished English you'd probably like the Joy of Lex. It includes everything from simple wordplay to cunning conundrums, from Malaprope to Yogi Berra.

Thanks, I'll look for that one.
 

1. What is "Anguished English: A Riotous Look at Bloopers and Blunders" about?

"Anguished English" is a book written by Richard Lederer that compiles humorous mistakes and blunders in the English language, such as typos, malapropisms, and misused idioms.

2. Who is the author of "Anguished English: A Riotous Look at Bloopers and Blunders"?

The author of "Anguished English" is Richard Lederer, an American author, speaker, and teacher who has written several books about the English language and its quirks.

3. Is "Anguished English: A Riotous Look at Bloopers and Blunders" suitable for all ages?

Yes, "Anguished English" is suitable for all ages. However, some of the humor may be more appreciated by adults who have a deeper understanding of the English language.

4. Are the bloopers and blunders in "Anguished English" real or fabricated?

The bloopers and blunders in "Anguished English" are real and have been collected from various sources such as newspapers, student essays, and exam papers.

5. Can "Anguished English: A Riotous Look at Bloopers and Blunders" be used as a learning tool for English language learners?

Yes, "Anguished English" can be used as a learning tool for English language learners as it highlights common mistakes and misunderstandings in the language in a humorous way. However, it should not be used as a primary source for learning English.

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