Reference

Holy Sh*t: A Brief History of Swearing by Melissa Mohr - Book Review

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Holy Sh*t: A Brief History of Swearing By Melissa Mohr Cover Image
$15.95
ISBN: 9780190491680
Availability: Click Title for IN STORE Location
Published: OUP Us - May 1st, 2016

Did you know?:

  • The words "penis" and "vagina" used to be offensive obscenities before some aristocrats pilfered Latin for words poor people wouldn't use?
  • For most of history up until recently, slurs weren't considered curse words?
  • During the Middle Ages, Catholic authorities believed using the Lord's name in vain could physically injure God Himself?

Explore all this and more, in a fascinating dive through the linguistic lineage of modern English profanity. Mohr has an amazing writer's voice, keeping things crisp and accessible while still letting you feel self-satisfied in the knowledge you're reading an academic text. An engrossing read and the perfect gift for any history or linguistics buff, and especially for people into anthropology and religious history. Every person I've lent it has loved it! ~ Reviewed by David Gray-Smith


Advanced Korean: Includes Downloadable Sino-Korean Companion Workbook [With DVD ROM] by Ross King - Book Review

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Advanced Korean: Includes Downloadable Sino-Korean Companion Workbook [With DVD ROM] By Ross King, Jaehoon Yeon, Chungsook Kim Cover Image
$29.95
ISBN: 9780804842495
Availability: Click Title for IN STORE Location
Published: Tuttle Publishing - April 7th, 2015

An in-depth and comprehensive workbook that covers all the bases of advanced Korean. The chapters include a short story, important vocabulary, and grammar points seen in the story. The lessons are thorough and cover most questions you may find yourself asking. This workbook is perfect for those between CEFR levels B1-C2 in Korean. ~ Reviewed by Arielle Baldwin


Reading & Writing Thai: A Workbook for Self-Study: A Beginner's Guide to the Thai Alphabet and Pronunciation by Jintana Rattanakhemakorn - Book Review

It's no secret that Thai is a tricky language to learn. Beginners are commonly intimidated by the complexity and tone driven nature of the language. Knowing where to start can be difficult, but this book makes the daunting task much easier. It is absolutely perfect for those who are looking for a good starting point when learning the Thai alphabet. To get the best experience, I'd recommend utilizing the free audio included in the book and learning each letter while listening closely to native speakers pronounce it as you practice. ~ Reviewed by Arielle Baldwin


Reading & Writing Burmese: A Workbook for Self-Study: Learn to Read, Write and Pronounce Burmese Correctly (Online Audio & Printable Flash Cards) by A. Zun Mo - Book Review

A really fun way to learn the Burmese alphabet! The Mnemonic drawings used to represent each letter are adorable and the vocab taught is handy when you're first learning the language. The book works best when paired with the audio included in the book. I'd highly recommend this to anyone who is just getting into Burmese. ~ Reviewed by Arielle Baldwin


Thai Stories for Language Learners: Traditional Folktales in English and Thai (Free Online Audio) by Jintana Rattanakhemakorn - Book Review

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Thai Stories for Language Learners: Traditional Folktales in English and Thai (Free Online Audio) By Jintana Rattanakhemakorn, Dylan Southard, Patcharee Meeshukon (Illustrator) Cover Image
$17.99
ISBN: 9780804853781
Availability: Click Title for IN STORE Location
Published: Tuttle Publishing - October 25th, 2022

A fantastic resource for those who are starting their Thai language learning journey. Learn the alphabet, sharpen your comprehension skills, and enjoy a glimpse into Thai traditions and culture. Perfect for beginner and intermediate students! ~ Reviewed by Arielle Baldwin


Portable Magic: A History of Books and Their Readers by Emma Smith - Book Review

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Portable Magic: A History of Books and Their Readers By Emma Smith Cover Image
$28.00
ISBN: 9781524749095
Availability: Click Title for IN STORE Location
Published: Knopf - November 15th, 2022

Oxford Professor Emma Smith follows up her refreshing and brilliant This Is Shakespeare with Portable Magic an exceptional look at the “bookhood” or “bookishness” of books–the codex as a form. From a novel read of how Gutenberg is used as a misleading narrative of European exceptionalism to the self-posed photograph of Marilyn Monroe with Ulysses (reading Molly’s soliloquy no less) both symbols of transgressive sexuality to anthropodermic books bound in human skin (she’s just brilliant on that troubling volume of Phyllis Wheatley’s poetry–binding the book of a pioneering African-American to flesh), Smith is invariably engaging and stimulating. Unfortunately, the embossed cover and spine is cheaply made and rubs away with handling, sadly ironic for this book in particular. ~ Reviewed by Dafydd Wood


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