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Diabolically Arcane

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Slamdowns

21 August, 2015

There's a long & vitriolic tradition in theatre circles when it comes to critics borrowing on a production's name to deplore or condemn the show. You know what I mean. This kind of snidery:

Chekhov's Cherry Orchard is the pits.

The Wild Duck is more bull than rush.

The Merchant of Venice deserves to be remaindered.

Peter Panned

Yawn With The Wind.

The Poor Imitation Game

No Country For Old Men, or Old Women, or Middle-Aged People, or Kids Either

At least, that was the tradition. Seems reveiwers tread more carefully, but let's bring the nastiness back, just for a folly. (No snipes will be held accountable, or actionable.) Choose a book, a movie, a play, and use its title as vindictive ammo against the work. Have some fun at an auteur's expense - for today only!

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Rewording The Brain

Focus & memory, lateral leaps & logic - every aspect of cognitive health is lit in Rewording The Brain, a book revelling in how puzzles boost your brain. Part 2 equips your brain to conquer any twisty clue, plus the wild crossword finale. Pop science meets neural gameplay, Rewording is rewarding, and out now.

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Rewording The Brain

Care to renew your noodle? Rewording The Brain explores the latest neural studies, seeing how puzzles (and twisty clues) boost your neurons. Part 2 helps you crack such clues, and prep the grey matter for the crossword showcase to finish. More here

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101 Weird Words (and 3 Fakes)

From Ambidextrous to Zugwang, this mini-dictionary teems with rare or alluring words, plus bonus riddles, puzzles and fun word-facts. Dictionary detective will also nab the collection's three fakes. Ideal for late primary schoolers, or word-nuts in general.

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Gargantuan Book of Words

Sneeze words. Fake pasta. Viking slang. Gargantuan is a jumbo jumble of puzzles & games, mazes & quizzes, tailor-made for that wordy wonderkid in your life. Or anyone in love with letters, secret codes, puns, rhymes, emoji & all things languagey. More here 

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Recent Comments

Riddledom Rave

If you missed my riddle chat with Richard Fidler, then feel free to slurp the podcast at http://ab.co/1I9t1x5

Text-speak is creeping into Scrabble. Where do you sit?
OBVS I'm fine with it
Entrenched stuff - like LOL and OMG - but no more.
Words With Friends, maybe. Scrabble, no
Let the 'real' dictionaries decide first
Just the handy stuff, like FAQ and EUW
I mean, WTF?! No way
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