My mother bought me a dictionary for my birthday. I couldn’t find the words to thank her. Next birthday she bought me a thesaurus. I was glad, happy, joyful, delighted.
I read the dictionary (World Book Encyclopedia version, both volumes) when I was 9. My father read his family’s dictionary at roughly the same age. We both enjoyed it, and we both went on to gleefully baffling people with our erudite BS.
In 5th grade (1969), when we ordered books from “book clubs” (anyone remember Arrow or Scholastic?), I ordered a dictionary. I no longer have that one, but I still keep a current one on my bookcase, even though admittedly I look up more words on the internet these days (and enjoy reading my daily Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day email). But I’m happy to know I still have the physical volume on my shelf. And I’m in good company. To wit:
Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda), on an episode of M*A*S*H, responding to an interviewer’s question about creature comforts he brought with him to Korea: “The dictionary. I figure it’s got all the other books in it. I like to read the dictionary.”
Yakety Sax 19 days ago
Plot has a lot of obscure terms…….
oldpine52 19 days ago
It’s an interesting read, but it doesn’t have much of a plot.
a sage 19 days ago
A bit wordy?
franksmin 19 days ago
My mother bought me a dictionary for my birthday. I couldn’t find the words to thank her. Next birthday she bought me a thesaurus. I was glad, happy, joyful, delighted.
silberdistel 19 days ago
Love Clumsy :-D Much better than reading “Bild-Zeitung”
Just-me 19 days ago
Reading the dictionary? The plot is a bit thin, but it is a good read nonetheless.
djtenltd 19 days ago
Malcolm X read a dictionary.
sandpiper 19 days ago
But the ending is fascinating. zzzzzzz
dbrucepm 19 days ago
I’d like to have a word with Wiley
andersjg Premium Member 19 days ago
Give him a copy of The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce.
sew-so 19 days ago
I read the dictionary (World Book Encyclopedia version, both volumes) when I was 9. My father read his family’s dictionary at roughly the same age. We both enjoyed it, and we both went on to gleefully baffling people with our erudite BS.
Hey, everyone needs hobby.
paullp Premium Member 18 days ago
In 5th grade (1969), when we ordered books from “book clubs” (anyone remember Arrow or Scholastic?), I ordered a dictionary. I no longer have that one, but I still keep a current one on my bookcase, even though admittedly I look up more words on the internet these days (and enjoy reading my daily Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Day email). But I’m happy to know I still have the physical volume on my shelf. And I’m in good company. To wit:
Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda), on an episode of M*A*S*H, responding to an interviewer’s question about creature comforts he brought with him to Korea: “The dictionary. I figure it’s got all the other books in it. I like to read the dictionary.”
So there, BC!