Synopses & Reviews
A charming and whimsically illustrated book of newly invented words—on politics and the media, parenthood, romance, the office, school days, fashion, and city life—that everyone needs in order to navigate the quirks and ever-changing customs of modern culture.Based on her “Wordbirds” blog, Liesl Schillinger’s witty and wise collection of new words at last defines those peculiar truths of modern life that we have all experienced but until now have been at a loss to express. With her finger on the pulse of day-to-day experiences in the technological age, in the office, at home, and among friends, Schillinger has created a funny and inspiring dictionary for the twenty-first century.
This beautiful gift book features a stunning array of full-color bird illustrations that bring to life the spirit of the words, including the irksome E-Quail and Wordpecker. Wordbirds, with its clever embrace of language and astute cultural observations, takes word humor to a whole new level.
Polterguy: An ex-boyfriend who exerts a haunting, destructive influence on a person’s later relationships. Usage: Augusta had just gotten engaged to Sam when her polterguy, Mitchell, called after a long silence and told her he was coming to town.
Cancellelation: The joy felt by someone who frees up his schedule by canceling an appointment or reneging on a social plan. Usage: Davina knew she ought to feel guilty for bailing on Mariel’s dinner at the last minute, but a delicious cancellelation surged through her as Clive brought out the Scrabble.
Review
"I am so into "Wordbirds", that from now on, I am going to use these words when playing Scrabble. If anyone challenges me, I will immediately throw the entire board game in the air. And I will say: 'that's for Liesl Schillinger.'"
Review
and#8220;A lexicon of witty neologisms for the modern age.and#8221;
Review
and#8220;The Oxford English Dictionary adds a short list of new words once a year ("squee" and "selfie" recently made the cut). Writer Liesl Schillinger finds such a change of pace "glacial," and has written an entire delightful book packed with fresh additions to our language. . . . The result is a collection of neologisms that resonates. Why? Underneath Schillinger's wit lies a more pointed commentary on how rapidly our society is changing, so much so that not even language has time to catch up.Anyone whose gotten "parking spaced"and#8212;also known as losing you car in a sprawling multitiered lot after a long, brain-numbing day of shopping at a malland#8212;can relate.and#8221;
Review
If your friend complains when you andlt;Iandgt;blunderscheduleandlt;/Iandgt;, try not to andlt;Iandgt;apologibeandlt;/Iandgt; in response. Liesl Schillinger's witty collection of necessary new words -- with charming avian illustrations from Elizabeth Zechel --will have you on a andlt;Iandgt;jollyrollandlt;/Iandgt;.
Review
and#8220;[Schillingerand#8217;s] lexicon cleverly captures the new normal of the twenty-first century. Some of her neologisms, in fact, may well stand the test of time.and#8221;
Review
and#8220;Schillinger, an esteemed cultural critic, with illustrator Elizabeth Zechel, has crafted a beautiful book that offers 200 witty, newly claimed words that can help us make our way through the ever-evolving cultural language of the new millennium. . . . The words in andlt;iandgt;Wordbirdsandlt;/iandgt; are amusing and clever tools that resonate because they are at once original and familiar. Accompanying the words -- all of which are defined and used in a sentence -- are Zecheland#8217;s stunning illustrations.and#8221;
Review
and#8220;[Schillinger] provides . . . wonderful new words. You'll find yourself plugging them right in to your conversations . . . . [andlt;Iandgt;Wordbirdsandlt;/Iandgt;] is great fun.and#8221;
Review
Literary catnip for bird lovers who also find themselves fascinated and#8211; or annoyed and#8211; by the quirks of modern life.
Review
Schillinger demonstrates a keen talent for zooming in on expressions missing from our vocabulary....[she has] streamlined our language, fast-tracked awkward situations, and refined the humor of word play....You will want to share these clever coinages with your friends, and many of these words may even make it into our expanding collective lexicon.
Review
andlt;Iandgt;Wordbirdsandlt;/Iandgt; is a rare thing: A gift book that's fun, nicely packaged and truly worth reading.
Review
A great gift for pun lovers and playful linguists.
Synopsis
andlt;Bandgt;This charming and whimsically illustrated book of newly mintedandlt;Iandgt; andlt;/Iandgt;words--on politics and the media, love and friendship, work, play, family, fashion, and city life--presents a necessary vocabulary for the ever-changing customs of the young millennium. andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;pandgt;Based on her "Wordbirds" blog, Liesl Schillinger's witty and wise collection of neologisms defines the peculiarities of modern life that we recognize, but until now were unable to put into words. With her finger on the pulse of the digital age, Schillinger has created a fresh and funny dictionary for the twenty-first century. andlt;BRandgt;
This beautiful gift book features a stunning array of full-color bird illustrations that bring to life the spirit of each coinage, from the anxious "E-Quail" to the irksome "Wordpecker." With its clever embrace of language and astute cultural observations, Wordbirds takes word humor to a whole new level.
Canonbail:
Synopsis
This charming and whimsically illustrated book of newly minted words—on politics and the media, love and friendship, work, play, family, fashion, and city life—presents a necessary vocabulary for the ever-changing customs of the young millennium. Based on her “Wordbirds” blog, Liesl Schillinger’s witty and wise collection of neologisms defines the peculiarities of modern life that we recognize, but until now were unable to put into words. With her finger on the pulse of the digital age, Schillinger has created a fresh and funny dictionary for the twenty-first century.
This beautiful gift book features a stunning array of full-color bird illustrations that bring to life the spirit of each coinage, from the anxious “E-Quail” to the irksome “Wordpecker.” With its clever embrace of language and astute cultural observations, Wordbirds takes word humor to a whole new level.
Canonbail: To intend to spend one’s leisure hours reading great works of literature, but to end up reading less lofty fare. Usage: Riky packed Moby Dick for the train ride to East Hampton, but at Penn Station she canonbailed and bought a handful of glossy magazines.
Polterguy: An ex-boyfriend who exerts a haunting, destructive influence on a person’s later relationships. Usage: Augusta had just gotten engaged to Sam when her polterguy, Mitchell, called after a long silence and told her he was coming to town.
Synopsis
If youand#8217;ve escaped binary confinement and find yourself rushing cell-mell to a clusterfeteand#8212; slurpwalking as you commutikazeand#8212;then who are you?andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;You are a typical citizen of the young millennium, caught up in the fast-paced megatasking socio-professional whirl of our ever-evolving digitally-enhanced lives.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;If youand#8217;ve ever wondered what to call it when you answer the TV remote instead of the phone, or wished you had a phrase to capture your supervisorand#8217;s stealth campaign to stall your career, here is your guide. Now you can say and#8220;Oops, droidian slip!and#8221; with ease, and call out your boss for the impedimentor that he is. Armed with andlt;I andgt;Wordbirdsandlt;/Iandgt;, you will be able to skillfully talk your way into, or out of, any situation the twenty-first century throws at you.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;With 150 gorgeous, Audubony, highly expressive bird illustrations, these neologisms will have you crowing with delight, and show you that fine feathers make fine words. Why birds, you may ask? Hadnand#8217;t you heard? The bird is the word.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Now stop deliberotting and open this book!
About the Author
andlt;bandgt;Liesl Schillinger andlt;/bandgt;has written for many publications, including andlt;iandgt;The New York Timesandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;The New Yorker, andlt;/iandgt;andlt;iandgt;Theandlt;/iandgt; andlt;iandgt;Washington Postandlt;/iandgt;,andlt;iandgt; andlt;/iandgt;and andlt;iandgt;The New Republic. andlt;/iandgt;She is a regular contributor to andlt;iandgt;Theandlt;/iandgt; andlt;iandgt;New York Times Book Reviewandlt;/iandgt; and translates fiction from French and German.andnbsp; andlt;iandgt;andlt;/iandgt;andlt;bandgt;Elizabeth Zechel andlt;/bandgt;is the illustrator and author of the childrenand#8217;s book andlt;iandgt;Is There a Mouse in the Babyand#8217;s Room?andlt;/iandgt; She has created illustrations for childrenand#8217;s books and cookbooks, as well as for a variety of magazine and literary journals. She lives in Brooklyn.